Emergency Management Once Removed

“Whither Emergency Management?” Emergency Management, Once Removed By Jim Mullen Prompted by a series of racially charged incidents involving the use of force by police, the Seattle City Council is intent on reducing or “redirecting” SPD’s budget resources. Among the Mayor’s counter - proposals is the transfer of the all-civilian Office of Emergency Management OEM “somewhere” outside of SPD’s budgetary control. Clearly there are many important issues under review: but where should OEM go? Responsibility for organizational placement of the emergency management function rests with jurisdictions’ elected officials. Yet most elected officials in most jurisdictions only take “notice” of emergency [...]

Walls or Bridges? By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed News about the COVID-19’s rising infection and mortality count is available 24/7. Overwhelming video evidence of police violence and all-too-frequent indifference of the justice system to police misconduct is both inescapable and nauseating. Despite incontrovertible evidence of a pandemic crisis or the existence of frequently unchecked racially biased policing, some stubbornly doubt what is reliably reported from our streets and our hospitals. Ignorance of uncomfortable truths is exploited by unscrupulous, unethical politicians, journalists, and some activists, all professing moral purity. Racism does not slink away because we have ignored its [...]

“Paranoia Strikes Deep”* in 2020 By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed The attention to a response to a major crisis can obscure a potentially more dangerous underlying threat. The COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a national public health issue, which must be resolved before the national economy can be resuscitated and “normal” life can resume. But the reactions to the pandemic and the protective measures responsible government officials have taken has ripped the band aid off an even more diabolical threat to the stability of our country. A few of our fellow citizens seem to have concluded that [...]

Readers: Occasionally I review previously posts to avoid repeating myself (unless I want to!). The 2016 piece that I wrote entitled “Reconciliation versus Resistance”: Which will Win” seems relevant in 2020. What do you think? Jim Reconciliation versus Resistance: Which will Win? By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed, November, 2016 After this year’s national election, a sizable portion of our population will feel devastated and perhaps even betrayed. When Kennedy defeated Nixon in 1960 (my earliest clear recollection) and in the years since, if your candidate lost there was always the realization that the sun would still rise, the [...]

The Wisdom of Yogi By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably wind up somewhere else” - Yogi Berra What will “recovery” from the coronavirus pandemic look like? Do we know? While it is unfair to expect those responding to the current crisis to think much farther ahead than their next reporting cycle, preparations for long-term recovery will be even more important to the long - term health of our society. These are some of the sectors of society that will merit special attention (and reserve capacity?) Supply Chains • How [...]