2025 Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Center of Excellence for Homeland Security-Emergency Management

EXPERIENCE VERUS YOUTH: A CAUTION

Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:10:45-07:00

"EXPERIENCE VERUS YOUTH: A CAUTION" By Jim Mullen Older people, yes, like me, often marvel at the intelligence, energy and technological expertise that new hires bring to emergency management. Being “experienced” doesn’t mean one has all the answers; nor does being “smart, energetic and ambitious” guarantee a rapid ascent and automatic credibility within an organizational hierarchy. The gap between old and new can create tension: beyond the obvious impediment to good working relationships, nuance and perspective are often lost when the communications divide is too wide. Young pros should balance impatience with respect for what they do not know [...]

EXPERIENCE VERUS YOUTH: A CAUTIONKyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:10:45-07:00

CHILDREN OF A COMMON MOTHER

Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:13:09-07:00

"CHILDREN OF A COMMON MOTHER" * By Jim Mullen Though I am an American citizen, from 1959-1968 my legal residence was Vancouver, and later, New Westminster, British Columbia. After President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Canada’s Prime Minister asked residents in Vancouver to turn on their porch lights at exactly 11 pm the night of the funeral. Standing on the porch of our fourth-story apartment I was stunned to observe hundreds of lights switched on at precisely 11 pm! In our national grief, Canada had the US’s back. It wasn’t always that way. The US’s encroachment on Canada’s natural resources [...]

CHILDREN OF A COMMON MOTHERKyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:13:09-07:00

Whither FEMA? Whither Emergency Management?

Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:13:59-07:00

Whither FEMA? Whither Emergency Management? By Jim Mullen FEMA is about to experience a radical reassessment of its mission, or even its reason to exist. Such a review is the prerogative of any incoming administration. It would serve the nation best if the professional emergency management community, as politically and socially diverse as it is, were allowed to conduct a reasoned, professional review process to identify improvements. But, couched in buzzwords like “efficiency” and “accountability” it is difficult to believe that anything resembling a reasoned, professional approach will be forthcoming. This proposed FEMA “review” builds on campaign-generated lies about FEMA’s [...]

Whither FEMA? Whither Emergency Management?Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:13:59-07:00

Two “Modest” Proposals

Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:15:35-07:00

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ONCE REMOVED Two "Modest" Proposals By Jim Mullen As the Trump administration searches for greater efficiencies in “discretionary” funding, local and state governments must, of necessity, “step up” and invest more substantially in programmatic disaster mitigation, preparedness, and recovery. Happily, there are cost-effective measures could help prepare individuals and families to navigate that uncertain and anxiety-prone period between a disruptive event and the restoration of whatever constitutes the jurisdiction’s new normal post disaster. Two initiatives might help: Targeted Exercises with the Public Consulting has its place. As someone who’s been there, done that, perhaps I should apologize [...]

Two “Modest” ProposalsKyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:15:35-07:00

Community Resilience Focus Group

Jasmine May2025-03-06T01:19:48-08:00

Community Resilience Focus Group March 14, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm “A resilient nation is created and sustained through thriving communities with secure and adaptable social, economic, environmental, housing, infrastructure, and institutional systems. Addressing resilience from only one perspective or through only one resilience lens will not be successful.” Nation Resilience Guidance COE HSEM Community RESILIENCE WORK group agenda As 2024, our “Year of Resilience”, came to a close, our Center’s staff, Volunteers, and Advisory Board Members at our February 12, Board meeting, re-confirmed their commitment to building resilient communities to secure our future. Demand for talent [...]

Community Resilience Focus GroupJasmine May2025-03-06T01:19:48-08:00

Light a Candle or …

Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:17:09-07:00

Light a Candle or ... By Jim Mullen "Much of the strength and efficiency of any government in procuring and securing happiness to the people depends ... on the general opinion of the goodness of government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors." (Benjamin Franklin) Franklin was on to something. And natural disasters are unique tests of natural resilience. Elected leaders are often judged harshly on the quality of their response to a crisis; a widely perceived failure to provide swift assistance to help communities heal undermines faith in our political system's stability. And yet, [...]

Light a Candle or …Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:17:09-07:00

Mutual Aid in Times of Disaster: Navigating EMAC in Emergency Management

Kyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:18:21-07:00

Mutual Aid in Times of Disaster: Navigating EMAC in Emergency Management By Jim Mullen Credit Note: the bulk of the information below is taken from the National Emergency Management Association. Note: The outpouring of mutual aid support to California’s wildfires, as well as North Carolina and Georgia and other disaster impacted states, is not an uncoordinated, spontaneous reaction. What the nation sees in major disasters is the activation of a “well- established capability of state-to-state mutual aid exists in the form the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Ratified by the US Congress in 1996 (Public Law 104-321) 50 states, [...]

Mutual Aid in Times of Disaster: Navigating EMAC in Emergency ManagementKyle Winslow2025-06-24T17:18:21-07:00

Women in Leadership Symposium 2025

Jasmine May2025-05-12T22:25:09-07:00

2025 Women in Leadership Symposium May 16, 2025 Free Virtual Event This event is virtual May 16, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM Price: FREE This year’s symposium will center around the importance of fostering robust and dynamic relationships and partnerships with women in fields such as security, safety, emergency/risk management, and disaster preparedness. The symposium will delve into topics including diverse leadership in decision-making, relationship cultivation, engagement, inclusion, and diversity. Participants will have the opportunity to connect, explore, and engage, with a focus on empowering women to assume leadership positions, advance their [...]

Women in Leadership Symposium 2025Jasmine May2025-05-12T22:25:09-07:00

Women in Leadership 2025

Jasmine May2024-07-30T19:18:21-07:00

We are thrilled to announce the Women in Leadership Symposium 2025, hosted by the Center of Excellence - Homeland Security Emergency Management, will be held at Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA.

Women in Leadership 2025Jasmine May2024-07-30T19:18:21-07:00

Women in Leadership 2025 Location Announcement

Jasmine May2024-06-21T18:44:12-07:00

We are thrilled to announce the Women in Leadership Symposium 2025, hosted by the Center of Excellence - Homeland Security Emergency Management, will be held at Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA.

Women in Leadership 2025 Location AnnouncementJasmine May2024-06-21T18:44:12-07:00

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