Video

Video by Staff Sgt. Peter Christian

Oso 1 Year Anniversary

Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National Guard

May 27, 2015 | 2:29

On March 22, 2014, moments after the devastating landslide in Snohomish County, Wash., the State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray was activated. Once the scale of the disaster became apparent, department employees and staff from state partner agencies began reporting to ensure a coordinated, efficient response to a situation that for many people was as devastating as anything they had witnessed in their lifetime. About 30 state agencies played a part in the response to this disaster. In response to the landslide, the Washington National Guard's Homeland Response Force was activated for their first real world mission since its inception in 2011. More than 800 Washington Guardsmen, including many with search and extraction training and experience, worked alongside local first responders and residents during the search and recovery operation.