The university will request assistance from outside agencies according to the City of Tacoma Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The City and Pierce County operate Emergency Operations Centers.

Service requests and campus status reports will be made only by Security Services or the Emergency Operations Center Response Group. The committee also will submit damage assessment reports and damage survey assistance requests to external response agencies.

Puget Sound collaborates regularly with city police, fire, and county emergency response agencies with regard to emergency preparedness. Those agencies have electronic maps of the campus, which include designated response areas such as a helicopter landing zone.