Mayor Katie Wilson is expected to announce a new executive order addressing emergency management, information sharing, and preparedness.
As city officials continue to face scrutiny over how they responded to the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting, Mayor Katie Wilson on Thursday announced a new executive order addressing emergency management, information sharing, and preparedness.
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The order is aimed at enhancing the City of Seattle’s emergency management systems, reducing vulnerabilities and fostering resilient communities that can withstand and recover from future disasters. The order was signed during a two-day emergency management symposium for city staff.
NEWS CONFERENCE | Seattle mayor announces new emergency management plan after mass shooting
It comes after the release of text and email records that reveal confusion among Seattle leaders in the hours after gunfire erupted at the Seattle Center, killing two bystanders and one suspect. KOMO News has been covering the fallout from the July shooting, which raised tough questions about how and when police and city leaders shared information with the public.
Newly released messages from city leaders and Seattle police show officials struggled to coordinate a response and delayed sharing details with the public as thousands attended the festival.
The records show that by 7:20 p.m., Wilson's team knew the number of victims and deaths, along with information about suspects in custody and those still sought.
That information did not reach the public until hours later.
Assistant Seattle Police Department (SPD) Chief Tyrone Davis told colleagues about the casualties within half an hour.
"Seven shot, two deceased. Of the five transported, one is a toddler," Davis said at 6:36 p.m. This confirmed information was only released to the public several hours later, during which panic and misinformation spread among Seattleites.
A short time later, Barnes, then police chief, texted from an out-of-state conference.
"I don't know who is in charge, but someone needs to assume command and slow down, then follow active shooting protocols," Barnes said at 6:50 p.m.
As the night wore on, Assistant Chief Nicole Powell wrote at 9:13 p.m., "This is a gang-related beef." Officials did not confirm to the media and the public that the shooting was gang-related until 2 full days later.
Through the night, the debate continued over when and how to brief the public. The texts indicate there was no plan to issue electronic alerts or hold a press conference for hours after the shooting, even after police knew basic details. Internal communications also showed officials delayed the news conference until Mayor Wilson could arrive.
During the delay, the city's emergency notification system, AlertSeattle, was not activated.
Wilson defended not using AlertSeattle at the time, explaining the city wanted to avoid unnecessary fear. She has since ordered the city’s Office of Inspector General to conduct an independent after-action review covering how communication was handled.
City officials said the new executive order combines lessons learned from a 2025 outside assessment, planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Bite of Seattle shooting, with the goal of addressing gaps and building coordination so the city and residents are ready “when something goes wrong.”
The order is organized into three sections: creating a shared vision for emergency management across city government, directing city actions to improve training and readiness, and strengthening community preparedness through partnerships.
Shared vision and defined roles
Under the executive order, the Mayor’s Office will take an active role in coordinating the city’s emergency planning, response and recovery efforts, with an emphasis on ensuring departments are engaged and communities stay informed.
The Office of Emergency Management will create a strategic plan intended to address future growth, emerging threats and the implementation of citywide response and preparedness plans. By the end of 2027, every city department is expected to have a defined role in strengthening Seattle’s emergency readiness, including maintaining plans to sustain essential services during a crisis and participating in citywide recovery and hazard mitigation efforts.
“Emergency management only works when it's a team effort," Office of Emergency Management Director Curry Mayer said. "This executive order directs every City department to partner with OEM, not just in name, but in practice, through shared training, coordinated exercises, and accountability for continuity of operations, continuity of government, and hazard mitigation. Collaboration ensures that when an emergency happens, whether it's an earthquake, a flood, or something we haven't yet imagined, we work together. Because when emergencies happen, people don't care which department is doing what. They care about how the City shows up."
The city also plans to strengthen its review process after emergencies and major events, using lessons learned to improve preparedness. Officials said the city will pay special attention to heightened risks in Seattle, including vulnerable infrastructure and the potential for large-scale emergency deployments.
Training, staffing and alert standards
The executive order calls for strengthening how city employees and departments prepare to respond to emergencies. OEM will lead an interdepartmental team that includes police, fire, transportation, utilities and human resources to establish citywide training requirements and help ensure personnel are prepared for their roles during incidents.
Plans include mandatory preparedness training for new employees and annual refreshers, along with advanced certification for specialized roles aligned with industry standards. The city also plans to conduct regular exercises to strengthen readiness and coordination.
"Seattle Fire personnel respond to fires, medical emergencies and rescues that occur within our city on a daily basis, but we know during significant and widespread emergencies, it takes a multi-departmental team,” Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said. "Coordinating together with other City departments and the Office of Emergency Management on preparedness, response and recovery is required for an efficient response. Conducting training and exercises and building community partnerships in advance of disasters also play a critical role in the outcome of an event,"
The order also addresses how the city sends emergency alerts. The AlertSeattle Operating Board, co-led by OEM and the Mayor’s Office, will implement standards across alerting departments for who sends alerts, when to send them, what to say and who should receive them. OEM will establish regular AlertSeattle training for staff and public tests intended to help the community understand what to expect.
Anyone who lives, works or visits Seattle can sign up for emergency alerts or learn more at seattle.gov/alert.
Community preparedness and partnerships
The city said it will expand disaster preparedness efforts with a focus on ensuring every community, regardless of language or risk level, has training and resources to respond to and recover from emergencies.
Planned work includes integrating emergency preparedness education with Seattle Public Schools through the Department of Education and Early Learning; developing neighborhood-specific preparedness plans with the Department of Neighborhoods and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs; and launching a targeted tsunami awareness outreach campaign, including signage for waterfront residents and businesses, with the Department of Transportation.
Officials also cited uncertainty around federal disaster funding and operational support as a reason to strengthen coordination with regional and state partners. OEM will continue working with the King County of Emergency Management, Washington State Emergency Management, the University of Washington and other partners across the Puget Sound region.
