The Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative conducted a community needs survey in summer 2025 to better understand the status of local work on climate preparedness in the Puget Sound region and to identify opportunities for Collaborative support of that work. In addition to general findings, the survey sought to identify specific needs for small jurisdictions and Salish Sea Tribal governments and organizations. Results of the survey offer key insights into how communities and Tribes in the Puget Sound region are approaching climate preparedness and the challenges they face in doing so.

The SCAP serves as King County’s five-year roadmap to address climate change, with updates to three sections: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Sustainable and Resilient Frontline Communities, and Preparing for Climate Change. Since its inception in 2012, King County’s SCAP has led to significant progress in clean energy adoption, sustainable transportation, ecosystem restoration, and community-led solutions.

Concern about higher summer temperatures and the potential for more extreme heat events has grown as the impacts of climate change become more evident. This concern was heightened with the June 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome, an event made 150 times more likely because of climate change. The 2021 Heat Dome currently stands as the single most deadly climate disaster event in Washington State with more than 125 reported heat-related deaths statewide, including 34 deaths in King County.

The Wildfire Smoke Response Plan (Plan) for Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) describes the anticipated actions the department may take before and during a wildfire smoke event to protect community health and limit health disparities.

The Snohomish County Climate Change Vulnerability & Risk Assessment looks into various climate hazards and determines the assumptions, vulnerability and risk, and resiliency strategies. These outcomes are determined through the Snohomish County Climate Vulnerability tool, which synthesizes key climate, environmental, and community data, and the final index is visualized in maps and tables to help identify and prioritize projects that promote climate resiliency across the County.