**OFFICIAL PUBLIC NOTICE | November 10, 2026**

**MAYOR DECLARES CITYWIDE STATE OF EMERGENCY FOLLOWING SEVERE STORM DAMAGE, COASTAL EROSION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE DISRUPTIONS**
The City of Ocean Shores is informing residents that Mayor Frank T. Elduen issued **Emergency Proclamation No. 2026-02 on November 9, 2026**, declaring a citywide state of emergency in response to severe storm conditions beginning November 6, 2026.

The storms have resulted in significant shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, prolonged electrical outages, and disruptions to critical municipal infrastructure.

** SIGNIFICANT COASTAL EROSION AND PROPERTY CONCERNS**
Among the most severely impacted locations are the shorelines near Marine View Drive, Neptune Way, Mariner Court SE, and Peninsula Court SE.
Powerful wind-driven waves, elevated water levels, and continued storm activity have caused substantial shoreline deterioration, threatening nearby homes, private property, and public infrastructure.

Previous efforts to stabilize affected shorelines have been compromised by continued storm conditions, increasing concerns regarding additional erosion and potential structural damage.

The City is actively evaluating these conditions and coordinating with appropriate agencies and professionals to identify emergency stabilization measures, engineering assessments, permitting requirements, and potential funding assistance.

** HISTORICAL EROSION FOOTAGE — UNDERSTANDING THE ONGOING CHALLENGES**
To provide the community with additional historical context, the City is sharing a collection of video footage documenting shoreline erosion and changing coastal conditions in Ocean Shores.

These videos offer residents an opportunity to better understand the longstanding challenges associated with coastal erosion and why continued monitoring, emergency mitigation, and long-term shoreline protection are important.

** VIEW HISTORICAL EROSION VIDEO FOOTAGE HERE:**
[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKXPUCWFAJrY]
This footage is being provided as supplemental historical reference to help illustrate erosion concerns over time and provide context for the conditions currently affecting our community.

*Please note: Individual video recording dates, locations, and depicted conditions have not been independently verified. The footage should not be interpreted as a technical assessment of the November 2026 storm damage.*

** ELECTRICAL OUTAGES AND MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE**
In addition to shoreline damage, prolonged electrical outages and power fluctuations have affected City facilities and essential technology infrastructure.

Extended outages have created concerns regarding damage to computer systems, servers, networking equipment, and other critical technology. Loss of cooling systems has also caused elevated temperatures in the City's server room, placing additional municipal systems at risk.

These systems support essential functions, including public safety communications, financial operations, utility billing, records management, and other City services.

** EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY**
The emergency proclamation authorizes the City to take necessary and immediate action to protect public safety, stabilize damaged infrastructure, restore essential services, and address emergency conditions.

City departments, including Public Works, Police, Fire, Information Technology, and Finance, are coordinating response efforts.

The City also recognizes the financial impacts associated with emergency response activities, including employee overtime, specialized equipment, infrastructure repairs, emergency contracts, and technology restoration.

**All emergency-related expenditures will be separately documented and tracked by the City's Finance Department** to maintain transparency, ensure financial accountability, support potential insurance claims, and preserve eligibility for available disaster assistance and reimbursement programs.

The City will continue pursuing available resources to minimize the financial burden on local taxpayers wherever possible.

** IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY REMINDER**
Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to exercise caution around affected shorelines, unstable embankments, and areas experiencing active erosion.

Please avoid hazardous or restricted areas, particularly where storm activity may have compromised the stability of surrounding land or infrastructure.

**OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY**
The City understands the seriousness of these conditions and the concerns of residents and property owners directly affected by shoreline erosion and storm damage.

The emergency declaration is an important step toward ensuring the City has the authority and flexibility necessary to respond promptly, coordinate resources, and pursue appropriate protective measures.

The City will continue working with residents, Grays Harbor County, state agencies, emergency management partners, and engineering professionals as assessments and recovery efforts progress.

**Protecting our residents, safeguarding public and private property, maintaining essential services, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds remain our highest priorities.**

We appreciate the community's patience, cooperation, and understanding as City personnel and emergency responders continue addressing these challenging conditions.

-City of Ocean Shores