FEMA Region 10

FEMA Region 10
Name	FEMA Region 10
Jurisdiction	Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
Headquarters	Bothell, Washington
Parent	Federal Emergency Management Agency
Chief	Regional Administrator

FEMA Region 10

FEMA Region 10 is the Pacific Northwest regional office of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, responsible for coordinating federal disaster response and recovery across Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The office interfaces with state executives such as the Governor of Alaska, Governor of Idaho, Governor of Oregon, and Governor of Washington as well as tribal governments including the Tulalip Tribes, Yup'ik people, Nez Perce Tribe, and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Region 10 operates within the framework set by the Stafford Act, the National Response Framework, and interagency partners like the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Communications Commission, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overview

Region 10 serves a geographically diverse area that includes the Aleutian Islands, the Columbia River, the Cascade Range, and the Coast Range. Its mission aligns with national initiatives such as the National Preparedness Goal, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and collaborations with the National Weather Service, United States Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for hazards including earthquakes related to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, volcanic activity at Mount St. Helens, tsunamis affecting the Pacific Northwest, and extreme weather events like Pacific Northwest heat wave. The region coordinates with state emergency management agencies: Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, and Washington Military Department.

Jurisdiction and Offices

Region 10’s statutory jurisdiction encompasses the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, with primary offices in Bothell, Washington (regional headquarters), field offices in Anchorage, Boise, Portland, and coordination centers embedded with state Emergency Operations Centers such as the Alaska Emergency Operations Center and the Washington Emergency Management Division headquarters. The region liaises with municipal partners including the City of Seattle, Portland, Anchorage Municipality, and county emergency management offices like King County, Washington and Multnomah County. It maintains Memoranda of Understanding with tribal organizations including the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and regional NGOs like the American Red Cross.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Leadership is provided by a Regional Administrator who reports to the FEMA Administrator, coordinating with national leaders such as the Secretary of Homeland Security and the President of the United States. The regional organizational chart includes divisions for Response and Recovery, Mitigation, Preparedness, Logistics Management, and External Affairs, working with subcomponents like the Incident Management Assistance Team and the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force system—examples include Washington Task Force 1 and Oregon Task Force 3. Region 10 engages subject matter experts from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Small Business Administration during recovery operations.

Programs and Services

Region 10 administers federal assistance programs such as Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, coordinating with state grant processes like the Oregon Disaster Relief Fund and the Washington State Emergency Reserve Fund. It runs preparedness initiatives tied to the Ready Campaign, community resilience projects with organizations such as the Federal Transit Administration, and continuity planning aligned with the National Incident Management System. Technical assistance includes seismic retrofitting guidance informed by Pacific Northwest Seismic Network research and floodplain mapping in partnership with the National Flood Insurance Program administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency national offices. The region supports training delivered by entities including the Emergency Management Institute and the Red Cross National Headquarters.

Major Disasters and Responses

Region 10 has coordinated federal responses for major incidents such as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens recovery operations, responses to the 2001 Nisqually earthquake impacts, tsunami preparedness and response after events like the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami which affected Pacific Rim readiness, and wildfire seasons impacting Oregon wildfires and Washington wildfires. The region has supported floods such as the 2015 Pacific Northwest floods and extreme weather events including the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave. Operations have included debris removal with the United States Forest Service, temporary housing programs in coordination with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and infrastructure repairs coordinated with the Federal Highway Administration.

Preparedness and Mitigation Initiatives

Region 10 advances mitigation through grant programs supporting seismic resilience projects in the City of Seattle and tsunami evacuation route planning in Oregon Coast communities, collaborating with academic partners like the University of Washington, Oregon State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and research centers including the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and the Coastal Hazards Center. Exercises and planning include regional drills with the National Guard Bureau, multi-agency coordination exercises involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency national teams, and public education campaigns linked to the Ready Campaign and National Weather Service tsunami warnings. The region promotes resilient infrastructure projects funded via the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and interagency grants with the Economic Development Administration.

Category:Federal Emergency Management Agency