Emergency Management brings together staff to tackle messy situations
Suquamish Emergency Management was put to the test during a recent sewage spill, bringing together the combined efforts of the Suquamish Tribe’s Community Development, Fisheries, and Communications departments to assess risks to the community and environment. By sharing real-time information and coordinating each department’s role, the tribe was able to keep the community informed and manage the incident before it had larger impact.
“When emergencies happen, no single department or agency can manage everything alone. Whether it’s severe weather, a power outage, a public health concern, or a larger incident, keeping the community safe takes coordination and strong partnerships,” says Cherrie May, who leads the Suquamish Tribe’s Emergency Management team. “That’s why collaboration is at the center of everything we do.”
Emergency management starts with teamwork inside the Tribe. The Office of Emergency Management works closely with departments such as Public Safety, Community Development, Natural Resources, Health Services, Facilities, Communications, and IT. By planning together, meeting regularly, and sharing information, the goal is to have each department understand its role before an emergency occurs.
“This preparation helps us to respond quickly, reduce confusion, and keep services running when the community needs them most,” says May.
Because emergencies often affect more than one community, Suquamish also works closely with regional partners. The tribe is part of the Olympic Regional Tribal-Public Health Collaboration and Mutual Aid Agreement, which connects tribes, cities, and counties across the area. This agreement allows local health agencies and tribal governments to share staff, equipment, and other resources when an incident grows beyond the capacity of any single jurisdiction.
“This ensures that help can move quickly and everyone is ready to support one another,” says May.
Partnerships are strengthened through training and exercises. That’s why Suquamish Emergency Management regularly works with regional agencies to practice how they would respond together during an emergency.
A recent exercise with the Kitsap Public Health District and Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management focused on coordination, communication, and decision-making during a public health incident. Practicing together helps partners understand each other’s roles and builds the trust needed to work effectively during real events.
A real-world example of this coordination happened in late 2024 after a major wind storm disrupted power across most of the Port Madison Reservation. The outage affected a critical water well system serving tribal housing. Emergency Management immediately coordinated with Puget Sound Energy’s Emergency Coordination Center to prioritize work restoration efforts with lights and water turned back on within six hours.
“Because these relationships are already in place, resources can be requested quickly, information moves more smoothly, and the community receives clear and consistent updates and support,” says May.
At its core, emergency management is about relationships. By working together across tribal departments and with regional and state partners, the Suquamish Tribe is strengthening its ability to protect the community, ensure sovereignty is upheld, and build long-term resilience.
