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Washington

http://access.wa.gov/

Washington ranks seventh of 50 states in the number of domestically focused counterterrorism and homeland security organizations, and 15th overall in organizations established or newly involved in counterterrorism since 9/11. In dollar amount, the state ranked 17th in fiscal 2009 in federal homeland security spending and 11th in domestic preparedness and antiterrorism programs. Measured per capita, the state ranked 27th in overall federal government expenditures.

U.S. intelligence and homeland security agencies and the Department of Justice measure the potential terrorist threat to Washington by analyzing data, including the following: Washington is one of 13 states or territories where U.S. attorneys secured one terrorism conviction from Sept. 11, 2001, through March 2010, according to the Justice Department. Seattle is one of the 64 urban metropolitan areas that have been designated by the federal government as "high-threat, high-density" with regard to acts of terrorism.

Soon after the December 1999 arrest of "millennium bomber" Ahmed Ressam while he was entering the United States from Canada, Washington state began building a counterterrorism apparatus and had two Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) in place before 9/11. Today it ranks fourth in the nation (tied with Alabama, New York and Ohio) with four JTTFs. Since 9/11, the state has activated a Domestic Security Executive Group, which oversees state counterterrorism efforts, and a Committee on Homeland Security under the Emergency Management Council, which coordinates homeland security and emergency management.

State security snapshot

Organizations working on homeland security and counterterrorism: 115

Organizations that started this work after 9/11: 21

Pre/Post-9/11

Type

Jurisdiction

81.7% Pre-9/11

18.3% Post-9/11

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59.1% Law Enforcement/ Emergency Management

24.3% Homeland Security

9.6% Counter-
terrorism

7.0% Intelligence

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83.5% Federal

9.6% State

7.0% Local

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Organizations

The Washington homeland security regional planning and coordination structure is divided into nine Regional Homeland Security Coordination Districts, each with a designated region lead and a homeland security coordinator. The state is located in FEMA Region X; the Defense Coordinating Office responsible for brokering and arranging federal military support for the state is in Seattle.

Organizations | Federal | State | Local | Total

Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement

Includes organizations at the federal, state and local levels that have the police powers to make arrests and investigate criminal matters.

54

2

7

63

Emergency Management

Emergency Management

Organizations tasked with responding to natural disasters, attacks using weapons of mass destruction and other emergencies.

2

2

1

5

Homeland Security

Homeland Security

Organizations responsible for activities -- such as infrastructure protection, border control and planning for the aftermath of terrorist attacks -- handled mainly by the Department of Homeland Security.

23

5

0

28

Counterterrorism

Counterterrorism

Organizations, such as the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, that work exclusively on terrorism cases.

10

1

0

11

JTTFs

Joint Terrorism Task Force

A multiagency task force, run by the FBI, that has the lead in investigating terrorism within the United States.

4

0

0

4

Intelligence

Intelligence and Fusion

Organizations that collect, analyze and share information about domestic threats.

7

1

0

8

Fusion Centers

Fusion Center

A place where information from multiple agencies in a state or region is sent to be analyzed.

0

1

0

1

Totals | 96 | 11 | 8 | 115

Initiatives

Counterterrorism

Washington has four Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs): the Seattle JTTF (also known as the Puget Sound Counterterrorism Working Group (PSCTWG) or the Puget Sound JTTF (PSJTTF)), the Inland Northwest Regional Terrorism Task Force (INRTTF) in Spokane, and JTTF annexes in Everett and Tacoma. The INRTTF covers northern Idaho, western Montana and eastern Washington. The U.S. attorney chairs Anti-Terrorism Advisory Councils (ATACs) in Seattle and Spokane.

Intelligence

Washington is a member of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) and the Western States Information Network (WSIN). The King County Sheriff's Office operates the King County Regional Criminal Intelligence Group. At the federal level, the FBI operates a Field Intelligence Group (FIG) in Seattle. The Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in Seattle performs criminal intelligence analysis. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Intelligence Group in Seattle has jurisdiction over Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho.

Fusion

The Washington State Fusion Center (WSFC), established in 2003 and formerly called the Washington Joint Analytical Center (WAJAC), is the state-designated all-crimes, all-hazards and counterterrorism fusion center. It is a component of the Washington State Police and a joint effort with the FBI. In 2010, the WSFC was designated as one of 12 state agencies to be part of the new Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative.

Homeland Security

Washington relies on two executive-level policy and advisory groups to oversee its homeland security efforts. The Emergency Management Council Committee on Homeland Security advises the governor on all hazards issues and counterterrorism. The Domestic Security Executive Group (DSEG) advises on all matters pertaining to state domestic security. The Homeland Security Section of the Emergency Management Division is the operational agency; it is assisted by Regional Homeland Security Coordination Districts. To assist in critical infrastructure protection (CIP), a DHS Protective Security Advisor is located in Seattle, and one of nine national DHS CIP Teams is located in Washington to conduct assessments of selected critical assets. Federal Protective Service (FPS) Region 10 headquarters is located in Federal Way.

Law Enforcement

The Washington State Patrol is the statewide law enforcement agency. The Washington Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) is the clearinghouse for the state's criminal justice information. The FBI's Seattle field office operates resident agencies and satellite offices in Bellingham, Everett, Everett, Olympia, Richland, Silverdale, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Yakima.

Emergency Management

The Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD), a component of the Washington Military Department, is the state agency for coordinating disaster/emergency preparedness. The EMD manages the state's Emergency Operations Center, located on Camp Murray, near Tacoma. Washington is a member of the Pacific Northwest Emergency Management Arrangement (PNEMA), along with three other states, British Columbia and the Yukon. The Emergency Management Council advises the governor and state director on all matters pertaining to state and local emergency management.

Sourcing: Department of Homeland Security, Justice Department and state government documents.

Organization | City | Started since 9/11
Colville Station (Border Patrol) | |
Metaline Falls Station (Border Patrol) | |
Tri-Cities Office (Drug Enforcement) | |
Bellevue Police Department | Bellevue | x
Bellingham Air and Marine Branch (Customs) | Bellingham | x
Bellingham Aviation Operations (Customs) | Bellingham |
Bellingham Resident Agency (FBI) | Bellingham |
Bellingham Station (Border Patrol) | Bellingham |
DHS Office of Investigations Field Office Bellingham | Bellingham | x
ASAC Blaine (ICE) | Blaine |
Blaine Office (Drug Enforcement) | Blaine |
Blaine Sector (Border Patrol) | Blaine |
Blaine Station (Border Patrol) | Blaine |
Blaine/Bellingham Coastal Site (Customs) | Blaine |
Bonners Ferry Station (Border Patrol) | Bonners Ferry |
Defense Coordinating Officer/Element FEMA Region X (NORTHCOM) | Bothell | x
FEMA Region X Federal Regional Center | Bothell |
FEMA Region X MERS | Bothell |
NCIS Resident Agency Bremerton (Navy) | Bremerton |
State of Washington Emergency Management Division | Camp Murray |
Wash. Counterdrug Task Force (Nat'l Guard) | Camp Murray |
Wash. National Guard JFHQ | Camp Murray | x
Washington Army National Guard | Camp Murray |
Washington Military Department | Camp Murray |
Curlew Station (Border Patrol) | Curlew |
Eureka Station (Border Patrol) | Eureka |
Everett JTTF Annex (FBI) | Everett | x
Everett Resident Agency (FBI) | Everett |
NCIS Resident Agency Everett (Navy) | Everett |
Northwest Wash. Regional Terrorism Working Group | Everett | x
AFOSI Det 322 (Air Force) | Fairchild AFB |
FPS Region 10-Federal Way, Washington (Fed. Protective Service) | Federal Way |
44th Military Police Detachment (CID) (U.S. Army) | Ft. Lewis |
6th Military Police Group (CID) (U.S. Army) | Ft. Lewis |
Fort Lewis Resident Office (Military Intel.) | Ft. Lewis |
DHS Office of Investigations Field Office Seattle | Kirkland | x
Lynden Station (Border Patrol) | Lynden |
AFOSI Det 110 OL-F (Air Force) | McChord AFB |
AFOSI Det 305 (Air Force) | McChord AFB |
NCIS Resident Agency Whidbey Island (Navy) | Oak Harbor |
Olympia Resident Agency (FBI) | Olympia |
Wash. State Fusion Center (WSFC) / Washington Joint Analysis Center (WAJAC) (State Police) | Olympia | x
Washington State Citizen Corps | Olympia | x
Washington State Patrol | Olympia |
Oroville Station (Border Patrol) | Oroville |
RA Oroville (ICE) | Oroville |
Port Angeles Border Patrol Station (PAW) | Port Angeles |
RA Port Angeles (ICE) | Port Angeles |
Pasco Sub-Station (Border Patrol) | Richland |
RA Pasco/Richland (ICE) | Richland |
Richland Regional Office (Dept. of Energy) | Richland |
Richland Resident Agency (FBI) | Richland |
ATAC Western District of Wash. (U.S. Attorney) | Seattle | x
FIG Seattle Office of Intelligence(ICE) | Seattle | x
IRS Criminal Investigation, Seattle Field Office | Seattle |
King County Sheriff's Department | Seattle |
N.W. Great Plains Customs Management Center | Seattle |
Northwest HIDTA (Nat'l Drug Control) | Seattle |
Port of Seattle Police Department | Seattle |
Protective Security Advisor Seattle District (DHS) | Seattle | x
Puget Sound Counterterrorism Working Group (PSCTWG) / Puget Sound JTTF (PSJTTF) / Seattle JTTF (FBI) | Seattle |
Resident Agent in Charge - Seattle (ICE) | Seattle |
SAC Seattle (ICE) | Seattle |
Seattle Division (FBI) | Seattle |
Seattle Division (Postal Inspection) | Seattle |
Seattle Electronic Crimes Task Force (Secret Service) | Seattle |
Seattle Field Division (ATF) | Seattle |
Seattle Field Division(Drug Enforcement) | Seattle |
Seattle Field Office | Seattle |
Seattle Field Office (Defense Sec.) | Seattle |
Seattle Field Office (ICE) | Seattle |
Seattle JTTF (Coast Guard, FBI) | Seattle | x
Seattle JTTF 308th Military Intelligence Battalion Liaison | Seattle | x
Seattle Office of Emergency Management | Seattle |
Seattle Police Department | Seattle |
Seattle Resident Agency (Defense) | Seattle |
Seattle Resident Office / Office of Investigations and Counterintelligence (Diplomatic Sec.) | Seattle |
USAO Western District of Washington (U.S. Attorney) | Seattle |
USMS Western District of Washington (Marshals) | Seattle |
USSS Seattle (Secret Service) | Seattle |
Western Region Security Office (Dept. of Commerce) | Seattle |
NCIS Northwest Field Office (Navy) | Silverdale |
NCIS Polygraph Site Northwest (Navy) | Silverdale |
NCIS Technical Services Det Bangor, Wa. (Navy) | Silverdale |
Silverdale Resident Agency (FBI) | Silverdale |
Eastern District of Wash. ATAC (U.S. Attorney) | Spokane | x
Inland Northwest Regional Terrorism Task Force (INRTTF) / Inland Northwest JTTF (FBI) | Spokane | x
RAC Spokane (ICE) | Spokane |
Spokane Area JTTF Annex of INRTTF (FBI) | Spokane | x
Spokane Aviation Operations (Customs) | Spokane |
Spokane County Sheriff | Spokane |
Spokane Office(Drug Enforcement) | Spokane |
Spokane Police Department | Spokane | x
Spokane Resident Agency (FBI) | Spokane |
Spokane Riverine Site (Customs) | Spokane |
Spokane Satellite Office/Industry Operations | Spokane |
Spokane Sector, Wash. (Border Patrol) | Spokane |
USAO Eastern District of Washington (U.S. Attorney) | Spokane |
USMS Eastern District of Washington (Marshals) | Spokane |
USSS Spokane (Secret Service) | Spokane |
10th Civil Support Team (Nat'l Guard) | Tacoma | x
AFOSI Tacoma JTTF (Det 305) (Air Force) | Tacoma | x
Tacoma JTTF (FBI) | Tacoma |
Tacoma Office (Drug Enforcement) | Tacoma |
Tacoma Resident Agency (FBI) | Tacoma |
Washington Air National Guard | Tacoma |
Portland Fraud Resident Agency (U.S. Army) | Vancouver |
Vancouver Police Department | Vancouver |
Vancouver Resident Agency (FBI) | Vancouver |
RA Wenatchee (ICE) | Wenatchee |
Wenatchee Sub-Station (Border Patrol) | Wenatchee |
RAC Yakima (ICE) | Yakima |
Yakima Office (Drug Enforcement) | Yakima |
Yakima Resident Agency (FBI) | Yakima |
Yakima Satellite Office (ATF) | Yakima |

“Our analysis revealed four tiers of risk posed by hazards. Earthquakes and floods present the highest risk to Washington. Terrorism, epidemic/pandemic; chemical incident; volcanic ashfall or lahar; drought; urban fire; and wildland fire are in the second highest risk tier. Radiological incident; Columbia Generating Station incident; dam failure/levee break; pipeline incident; avalanche; infestation; landslide; and severe storm are in the third tier. Tsunami and Umatilla Chemical Depot incident are in the fourth risk tier.”
Source: 2009-2014 Washington Statewide All-Hazards Emergency Preparedness Strategic Plan

“A terrorism incident could occur at any time and/or location in the state of Washington, causing significant human suffering, injury, death, damage to public and private property, demolishing infrastructure, environmental degradation, loss of essential social services, economic hardship, and disruption to federal, state, local, and tribal governments. The events of September 11, 2001, in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania and the subsequent anthrax mailing heightened American concern, awareness, and security. Airports, nuclear power facilities, businesses, border crossings, and governmental, military, and private facilities have implemented or enhanced security. Additional measures have been taken to ensure increased terrorism mitigation and preparedness is implemented nationwide.”
Source: State of Washington Integrated Fixed Facility Radiological and Chemical Protection Plan, 2008

State-Recognized Threats:

Public Safety | Extreme heat; Floods; Landslide and debris flow; Thunderstorms; Tornadoes; Winter storms; Extreme cold; Volcanoes
Domestic Security | Earth Liberation Front; White supremacists

Sourcing: Natural hazards are taken from DHS documents and State Emergency Operations Plans. Domestic terrorist threats are based upon U.S. government intelligence documents and actual attacks undertaken since 2001.

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Part 1: July 19, 2010

A hidden world, growing beyond control
July 19, 2010

Photo gallery: An alternative geography
July 18, 2010

December 20, 2010

Monitoring America
Dec. 20, 2010

Photo gallery: Counterterrorism on Main Street
Dec. 20, 2010

Part 2: July 20, 2010

National Security Inc.
July 20, 2010

Photo gallery: The role of private contractors
July 20, 2010

Video: Help Wanted: Professionals with security clearances
July 20, 2010

Part 3: July 21, 2010

The secrets next door
July 21, 2010

Photo gallery: In our back yards
July 20, 2010

Reference

Types of top-secret work
July 19, 2010

Gallery: Anti-deception technologies
July 18, 2010

Methodology and credits
July 18, 2010

A note on this project
July 18, 2010

Frontline video
July 18, 2010

The Washington Post's press release
July 18, 2010

Updates & changes
July 18, 2010

"Top Secret America" is a project nearly two years in the making that describes the huge national security buildup in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. | Read More »

More than a dozen Washington Post journalists spent two years developing Top Secret America. | See the details »

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The reporters

Dana Priest

Investigative reporter Dana Priest has been The Washington Post's intelligence, Pentagon and health-care reporter. She has won numerous awards, including the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for public service for "The Other Walter Reed" and the 2006 Pulitzer for beat reporting for her work on CIA secret prisons and counterterrorism operations overseas. She is author of the 2003 book, "The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace With America's Military, (W.W. Norton).

William M. Arkin

William M. Arkin has been a columnist and reporter with The Washington Post and washingtonpost.com since 1998. He has worked on the subject of government secrecy and national security affairs for more than 30 years. He has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books about the U.S. military and national security.

Project Credits

Stephanie Clark, Ben de la Cruz, Kat Downs, Dan Drinkard, Anne Ferguson-Rohrer, Justin Ferrell, David Finkel, Jennifer Jenkins, Robert Kaiser, Laris Karklis, Jacqueline Kazil, Lauren Keane, Todd Lindeman, Greg Manifold, Jennifer Morehead, Bonnie Jo Mount, Larry Nista, Ryan O’Neil, Sarah Sampsel, Whitney Shefte, Laura Stanton, Julie Tate, Doris Truong, Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso, Michael Williamson, Karen Yourish, Amanda Zamora.

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