WA SECURES: Frequently Asked Questions

What is WA SECURES?

WA SECURES is a secure messaging and alerting system.

Who uses WA SECURES?

WA SECURES is supported by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and used by public health organizations and their partners. These include:

  • Local health jurisdictions
  • Tribal government
  • Military bases
  • Department of Health staff
  • Healthcare coalitions
  • Healthcare facilities
  • Neighboring states and provinces
  • State and federal agencies

How is WA SECURES used?

WA SECURES is used to deliver health alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sharing information and messages about emerging public health threats, recovery efforts, and other guidance with partners.

In addition, WA SECURES is used as a staff call-down tool to deliver critical information to key staff members and offer them multiple response options depending upon the nature of the event.

How does WA SECURES know where to contact me during an emergency?

When you create your account, you tell the system where to send messages – at work, at home, on the go. The system will send messages in the formats you chose, including: telephone, text message, and email.

How do I create a WA SECURES account?

To create an account you first have to request account access.

  • If you are DOH employee, contact secures@doh.wa.gov.
  • If you are a partner, contact your WA Secures Regional Lead and they will create an account.

You will get an email once you receive your account access; please follow the instructions in the email to update your account information.

What should I do if I forget my user name or password?

If you've forgotten your user name or password, you can now reset it yourself. Go to WA SECURE.

Who can send WA SECURE messages?

Not everyone has permission to send WA SECURE alerts. Only users assigned as group managers or administrators can send messages.

What should I know about system security?

Keep your login credentials/password secure at all times. Your private contact information is only viewable by your Local Administrator and System Coordinators.

Why do I get so many WA SECURES messages?

WA SECURES will send messages in the format you chose until you confirm receipt of the message, and then the system will stop alerting you.

The Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response sends out quarterly all-staff drills to test the system and reach all employees within 90 minutes.

Why is it important you respond to the WA SECURES message?

It is important you respond because:

  • It allows the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response to fine-tune the system based on the responses received.
  • Employees also become more comfortable with the system with each use.
  • Most importantly, employees will better understand how to respond and react during an emergency.

Who can I contact for help?

For questions regarding how to implement WA SECURES as a staff call-down tool within your organization, or for any other configuration questions, email secures@doh.wa.gov with your questions.