Benton County Emergency Services
covid-19 information
Information about COVID-19 can be accessed at the links below, by calling the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127, or our local Benton-Franklin Health District at 509-460-4200.
Novel Coronavirus Benton-Franklin Health District – Benton-Franklin County Health District
WWW.CORONAVIRUS.WA.GOV – 2020 Washington State Coronavirus Updates
2019 Novel Coronavirus – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
State and local health officials continue to advise businesses and school districts to take the same preventative measures they normally would to prevent the spread of viruses during the regular cold and flu season. Common preventative measures recommended for employees, students and staff include:
Staying home when they are sick and/or running a fever.
Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after they blow their nose. If hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water to clean hands.
If soap and water are not readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Advising persons to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash and cleaning hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available).
Urging family, friends, co-workers, students and staff to get a flu shot during the flu season.
Providing adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional hand washing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
In addition, have your custodial and maintenance programs continue to emphasize and implement best practices in cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing methods
Benton County Emergency Services is made up of two divisions: the Southeast Communications Center (SECOMM) and Benton County Emergency Management (BCEM). SECOMM and BCEM work together to assist emergency responders and promote community safety.
SECOMM is the 9-1-1 dispatch center for Kennewick Police and Fire, Richland Police and Fire, Pasco Police and Fire, West Richland Police, Connell Police and Fire, Port of Pasco Police, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Prosser Police, Benton County Fire Protection Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, West Benton Fire and Rescue (Prosser), Franklin County Fire Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, Walla Walla Fire District 5, Columbia Basin Dive Rescue and Franklin County Public Hospital District 1. Dispatchers at SECOMM answer all 9-1-1 calls throughout Benton and Franklin County.
BCEM works to minimize the impact of disasters on the people, property, economy and environment of Benton County, through comprehensive disaster planning, preparedness education, training and resource coordination. In addition to hazards such as wildfires and floods, BCEM plans and prepares for emergencies at the Hanford site and the Columbia Generating Station.
Good News! Currently, we have no emergencies within Benton County. We will update this information as emergencies arise.
LET'S VOLUNTEER!
Looking to Volunteer with Benton County Emergency Services? You can do that here!! Simply download and complete our Volunteer Application and Background Form and return it to us. We'll process your application and do a quick background check. Once clear, we'll send you a Benton County Emergency Management Volunteer Card. You'll need to keep this with you while participating as a volunteer. Curious about what volunteers do? Find that information here.
TIME TO RENEW? LOOK HERE.
Volunteer cards expire every five years. We will send you notifications via email when it's about time for you to renew your card. At that time, simply fill out the application and background check again and resubmit it to us. Easy right? We'll update your information (if there are any changes) and send you your new card! Are you asking yourself "why do I need to fill these out again?" I can answer that for you! We require you to fill out the Application so we can update any information that may have changed. For example, if your contact information's changed, emergency contact's changed, or address has changed then we want to make sure our records are current. We require the background check to be completed at time of renewal to make sure that you are still lawfully eligible to be a volunteer.
TO SUBMIT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS CLICK HERE.
LET'S SIGN UP FOR CODE RED!
Benton County Emergency Management believes in keeping our citizens informed. Therefore, we use Code Red to inform Benton County Residents of any natural disasters and significant events that may occur in your area. For example, when the Yakima River floods, we will send out a notification to all residents in the affected areas. There are various methods of contact for you to choose from (text, email, and/or phone call). You have the ability to add multiple contact numbers. This is helpful for residents who have multiple numbers (landline, cell, and/or business line) and those who would like to add their families contact information to their account.
We encourage all of our Benton County residents to sign up for Code Red so that you are always alerted when an emergency notification is issued in your area. Please note, this is a free service to our residents. If you have any questions related to Code Red, please do not hesitate to call us! If you would like to sign up for Code Red, click here.
Stay Informed, sign up for Code Red.
