LandslidesWashington State seeks better responses to landslides

The March 2014 Oso landslide in Snohomish County, Washington State, killed forty-three people. In October, the Seattle Times reported that at least ten families who lost relatives in the disaster have sued the county, state government, and a private landowner alleging that the disaster was the result of “actions and inactions” by those parties. A state commission, including experts in emergency management, land planning and development, geology, and hydrology, appointed by Washington state governor Jay Inslee to determine how better to avoid and respond to landslides released seventeen recommendations on Monday.

The SR 530 Landslide Commission has highlighted three of its recommendations as high-priorities. Those three are: increased mapping of potential hazards through aerial scanning, more clarity of laws mobilizing first responders, and better funding and integration of Washington’s emergency management system.

The Times notes that the Washington Department of Natural Resources is working to secure more funding for aerial mapping in the 2015 legislative session. Increased funding would provide the foundation for better public and private land use, planning and decision making. “A few small areas of Washington are covered by landslide inventory and hazard maps where local jurisdictions initiated and/or funded such efforts,” the report states. “However, few if any adequate landslide hazard, risk, or vulnerability maps exist within the state.” In supporting the commission’s report, Inslee has announced that he would include funding for some of the recommendations in his upcoming budget, including $36 million for “landslide mitigation measures, funding for advanced Lidar imagery and risk analysis for priority areas.”

State emergency agencies and emergency responder organizations must develop a better working relationship, the commission notes. During the Oso landslide, emergency responders asked that state firefighting units be mobilized but were denied by the Washington State Patrol (WSP), according to Kathy Lombardo, the commission’s executive director. The state fire marshal, whose office is a part of the WSP, had been told by legal counsel that the law governing mobilization applied only to fires. Commission member Renee Radcliff Sinclair, however, notes that the mobilization law was originally meant for other large disasters including landslides.

The SR 530 commission also wants better funding and integration of emergency management systems around Washington State. “Truly sustainable funding for emergency management is going to be critical going forward,” Sinclair said.