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Jim has spent 3 decades in emergency management, including 12 years at the local level as director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management and 8 and a half years as Washington State’s Emergency Management Division Director. Jim retired from state service in March 2013. Jim also served as President of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) from January 2011 to October 2012. He is currently sole proprietor of “EM Northwest Consulting” based in Seattle.
Disclaimer
Information on this Blog is provided with the understanding that the authors and publishers are not engaged in rendering professional advice or services. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation with an professional adviser. Opinions expressed here represent the viewpoints of individuals authoring the blog and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the Center of Excellence.
WTO riots and Y2K (1999) Podcast
Thoughts on Harvey, Irma, Maria and, YES, Cascadia! – October 2017
Thoughts on Harvey, Irma, Maria and, YES, Cascadia! - By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Disasters bring consequences, both immediate and long term. Yet they also provide opportunities to address obvious hazards, so that they do not repeat themselves time and again. And such events can provide reminders to policy and decision makers [...]
Things To Come? – September 2017
Things To Come? By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed The Governor of Louisiana recently declared coastal land loss as an emergency, calling for the federal government to assist in restoration efforts. The update I read suggested his intent in declaring an emergency was in part to “pressure” the President and Congress to reexamine [...]
The Passing of Terry Egan – July 2017
The Passing of Terry Egan on July 3, 2017 By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed The passing of Terry Egan on July 3, 2017 merits special attention. Too often great emergency managers at all levels are relatively unnoticed in life, their contributions to the safety of the public seemingly taken for granted. Terry [...]
Government Ain’t Easy – July 2017
Government Ain’t Easy By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Most public sector employees are accustomed to hearing that government workers have it easy, compared to their counterparts in the private sector. For example, even casual conversations with parents of your children’s soccer teammates can provide a glimpse into the perceptions held by many [...]
About Brock Long: An Unsolicited Endorsement – July 2017
About Brock Long: An Unsolicited Endorsement By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Brock Long, the new FEMA Administrator, has a tremendous reservoir of experience in areas like school safety, as a state director of emergency management and a successful stint in the private sector as an executive with Hagerty & Associates. He will [...]
Maybe We Should Take Our Issues To Jared? – May 2017
Maybe We Should Take Our Issues To Jared? By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed It’s sometimes difficult to see too far into the future, particularly when we seem locked perpetually into an uncertain present. While we await the direction the Trump Administration will take in homeland security and emergency management, there are questions [...]
Notes from NEMA Mid-Year – April 2017
Notes from NEMA Mid-Year By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed The National Emergency Management Association held its midyear forum in Alexandria, Virginia March 20-24. As a past president, I serve on standing committees to which past presidents are assigned as liaisons (mine are Response and Recovery, Mitigation and Private Sector, and of course, [...]
Re-Packaging Preparedness Messaging – March 2017
Re-Packaging Preparedness Messaging By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Three days’ preparedness was, and still is, considered reasonable for most disasters we may endure, be it flood, fire, storm or even minor earthquakes. Even in a just - in - time society, it remains a manageable goal for most people. One finding from [...]
2017-2021: The Road Ahead – February 2017
2017-2021: The Road Ahead By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed A new Administration through budget and policy initiatives will soon impact emergency management and homeland security priorities. We must consider what we can support, and how best to oppose and amend what we regard as unwise or unjust. It is emergency management’s responsibility: [...]
The Difference Between “Good” and “Great” – January 2017
The Difference Between “Good” and “Great” By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed A reporter recently asked me this question: With all the information that is available to government officials about seismic vulnerabilities, why is very little ever done about it? The answer to the reporter’s very legitimate question is the difference between having [...]
So, About Earthquakes – December 2016
So, About Earthquakes By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed You may have noticed the Lifelock identity theft TV commercials. In one, a uniformed man is stationed in a bank, when armed men order everyone to the floor. Alarmed customers implore him to “do something!” His response is “oh, I’m not a guard, I’m [...]
Reconciliation versus Resistance: Which Will Win? – November 2016
Reconciliation versus Resistance: Which Will Win? - By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed 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 [...]
On Hearing Without Listening – October 2016
On Hearing Without Listening By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed “Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest…” Paul Simon Elected officials in our state have ignored repeated warnings, suppressed ambitious but necessary proposals, and essentially wagered the long range future of our state in the hope that [...]
Then and Now – September 2016
Then and Now By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed The 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is this month. The terrorist attack on the Pentagon, and the Twin Towers was shocking, and the anthrax attacks thoroughly spooked the national media and Congress. Concern over natural hazard risks receded, super-ceded by a relentless spending [...]
“What If” – Some Thoughts for Late Summer – August 2016
“What If” - Some Thoughts for Late Summer By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Both major political parties have settled upon their respective presidential tickets. It seems reasonable to gauge the impact that a victory for either major party candidate might have on homeland security and emergency management disciplines. Homeland Security may prove [...]