FacebookYouTubeLinkedIn

Imagine This…

2022-06-28T17:45:54+00:00

Imagine This... by Dr. Mary Schoenfeldt Trauma, Resilience, Self-Care, Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, PTSD and Post Traumatic Growth… all common words these day, aren’t they? They have become such everyday familiar words we use them freely in conversation, but what do they really mean? And more importantly, why does it matter to you? Imagine this… your home is destroyed in a disaster… or your community is shattered by an unimaginable act of violence against innocent people. You watch responders of all kinds drive 100 mph hour with lights and sirens blaring to the scene to help. You think this is the [...]

Imagine This…2022-06-28T17:45:54+00:00

Acknowledgment of Recent Events

2022-06-28T17:19:37+00:00

We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge recent events by Center Staff We are shocked by the most recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. No matter what, we cannot become accustomed to these heinous acts of violence. During the pandemic, our county and the world experienced unprecedented losses, forcing many of us into relative seclusion. Some have attributed the health crisis as a possible explanation for angry, disturbed individuals suddenly taking out their angst on unsuspecting, often defenseless persons. Because these acts are so far removed from common decency and respect for human life, it is easy, in [...]

Acknowledgment of Recent Events2022-06-28T17:19:37+00:00

Who Needs to be Educated About Emergency Management? Who doesn’t?

2022-06-21T22:13:38+00:00

Who Needs to be Educated About Emergency Management? Who doesn’t? By Jim Mullen Emergency managers often lack the political clout, or even the bureaucratic standing, to have much of an impact on policy decisions societies make. We’re there to try to mitigate, within our means, prepare the community and ourselves to the extent limited funds allow, coordinate a multi-disciplinary response, and manage (steer?) the process of recovery. And then we assess our performance and start over. Far too often, we fail to educate the public that mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery are their responsibilities too. For years, emergency managers landed [...]

Who Needs to be Educated About Emergency Management? Who doesn’t?2022-06-21T22:13:38+00:00

Climate Change: A Practical Guide

2022-04-28T19:39:45+00:00

Climate Change:  A Practical Guide By Linda Crerar & Nancy Aird How are more extreme weather, rising temperatures, and climate change affecting our health, homes, finances, safety, and day-to-day activities? What can we do about it? Every year, Washington faces floods, wildfires, landslides, tornadoes, and snow. Our Confluence staff has talked with experts and reviewed current studies to assess the risks. What are some risks and possible gains that are being noted today so mitigation steps can be initiated before issues become more severe? Remember some of these extremes: Wildfire: Labor Day 2020 - Wildfires in eastern WA destroyed Malden [...]

Climate Change: A Practical Guide2022-04-28T19:39:45+00:00

Volunteers: Partners in Emergency Management Preparedness

2022-04-28T19:40:18+00:00

Volunteers: Partners in Emergency Management Preparedness By Linda Crerar April is National Volunteer Month and we are recognizing the work and service of the many dedicated volunteers like those who have been so instrumental in establishing, supporting, and implementing the Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference every year. Volunteers have built this organization for 31 years and it is important to understand the history of the organization and the contributions volunteers have made to sustain it. Partners is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1991 and is the largest and most successful regional emergency management preparedness conference in the Pacific Northwest. [...]

Volunteers: Partners in Emergency Management Preparedness2022-04-28T19:40:18+00:00

Washington’s Workforce Development Boards: How They Connect Employers to Job Seekers

2022-04-28T19:40:49+00:00

Washington’s Workforce Development Boards: How They Connect Employers to Job Seekers By Kellie Hale What are Workforce Development Boards (WDBs)? I kept hearing about them during my time at the CoE-HSEM. However, I never had the chance to interact with them personally or professionally. It wasn’t until I began working at Pacific Mountain (PacMtn) Workforce Development Council that I began to have a better understanding of WDBs. As a part of the Public Workforce System, WDBs are a network of federal, state, and local offices designed/functioned to support the expansion and development of talent that benefits the workforce and economy. [...]

Washington’s Workforce Development Boards: How They Connect Employers to Job Seekers2022-04-28T19:40:49+00:00

Some Modest, Hopefully Post-Covid Suggestions

2022-04-28T19:41:30+00:00

Some Modest, Hopefully  Post- Covid Suggestions By Jim Mullen In the spirit of the theme for this month’s Confluence, I thought that  I would “volunteer” some thoughts about the situation in which we find ourselves as COVID – hopefully, fingers crossed – has begun to ease into endemic status. And, even if not, the recovery process should be kick-started. Now. My May 2020 Emergency Management Once Removed blog offered these thoughts, drawing upon the words of one of the subtler “philosophers” of another day Like Yogi, I just wanted us to map out a desirable destination before our journey ended.. [...]

Some Modest, Hopefully Post-Covid Suggestions2022-04-28T19:41:30+00:00

Women in Leadership Profile: Frances Whalen

2022-03-24T22:37:46+00:00

Women in Leadership Profile: Frances Whalen By Deb Moller Every emergency manager knows that FEMA expects a “whole community” approach to preparedness. This guiding principle is sometimes seen as less critical than other doctrine. But it’s impossible to develop strong situational awareness, the foundation for effective planning and response, without engaging broad representation across a jurisdiction. Most emergency managers struggle to operationalize this principle. They don’t have time for a lot of community events. They don’t have funding to make it possible. It’s a huge task. It’s hard to know where to start. A colleague of Frances Whalen’s, familiar with [...]

Women in Leadership Profile: Frances Whalen2022-03-24T22:37:46+00:00

Growing Our Own: How can we find the next wave of Emergency Managers?

2022-03-24T21:57:22+00:00

Growing Our Own: How can we find the next wave of Emergency Managers? By Jim Mullen “ My goal for our discipline is that 20 years from now, my resume won’t qualify me to do the job I currently have” – a truly iconic (now retired) state director - not me! How can emergency management directors assure opportunities for those people who, over the next 20 years, will hopefully make people wonder why any of us ever had those jobs? A career in emergency management, once an afterthought or an accident, has become an attractive possibility for people in mid-career [...]

Growing Our Own: How can we find the next wave of Emergency Managers?2022-03-24T21:57:22+00:00

International Women’s Day 2022

2022-03-23T23:06:14+00:00

International Women’s Day 2022 By Linda Crerar The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2022 was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow. ” Many events recognized how women around the world are responding to climate change. The International Women’s Day website provides a platform to help forge positive change for women. It has chosen the theme #BreakTheBias and asks people to imagine a gender-equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. Instead, imagine a diverse, equitable, and inclusive world where difference is valued and celebrated. International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8 to highlight the achievements [...]

International Women’s Day 20222022-03-23T23:06:14+00:00
Center of Excellence for Homeland Security   |   © 2020   |   All Right Reserved   |    1.253.912.3689
FacebookYouTubeLinkedIn
Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Skip to content
Go to Top