Year of Resilience 2024 By Linda Crerar In 2012, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) introduced the Whole Community Emergency Management Strategy to coordinate all levels of government, increase individual preparedness, and engage with members of the as vital partners to strengthen resiliency and security in this country. In January of 2024, FEMA announced the expansion of their efforts to continue building resilient communities. FEMA wants to stop the “cycle of response, recovery, rinse, and repeat”, and thanks to an increased investment of resources this past year, FEMA will b ..read more

Paid Internships in Conservation Law Enforcement By Captain Phil Johnson For the past several years, Washington state has finished last in law enforcement staffing, lagging behind all 50 states and the District of Columbia at 1.35 police officers per thousand residents. This number continues to decline as the State’s population increases and fewer individuals demonstrate an interest in pursuing criminal justice career pathways. There are many factors negatively influencing the declining interest in criminal justice professions among eligible job seekers, and candidates in the contemporary ..read more

Apprenticeships, Internships, and Skill Centers By Nancy Aird What is your future? The future is always part of life. There are no one-size-fits-all plans for career and educational pathways after graduation, unemployment, or changing career goals. For example, my path diverged from my B.S. in Police Science and Administration. I worked 38 years in the Supply Chain field and got an A.A.S. in Homeland Security Emergency Management and now work at the Center as a Program Specialist. Open up to opportunities if they arise. Below are some sites to start looking into for you ..read more

July is Disability Pride Month! About Disability Pride Month: On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed in to law which prohibits any discrimination based on disability. Since then, July has been celebrated as Disability Pride Month. In 1990, the first Disability Pride Day was held in Boston and the first Disability Pride Parade was held in Chicago in 2004. What’s the meaning of the Disability Pride Flag? The Black Field – Mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse The Diagonal Band – Cutting across walls and barriers that disabled ..read more

Strategic Foresight III – “The Quiet Part” Emergency Management Once Removed July 12, 2024 By Jim Mullen  “Strategic foresight’s” absence was evident on January 6, 2021. Warnings signs were clearly “missed. Outnumbered, heroic police officers held the line that day, preventing a coup. Must they stand alone next time? Did we learn anything at all? Can everyone in authority be relied upon to perform and behave as the laws of the nation require? The January 6, 2021 insurrection-rich environment’s  impact was confined to the US Capitol Region. Some members of Congress, many citizens from ..read more

FEMA’s Whole Community Continuity Brochure Every day, individuals, organizations, and government institutions conduct critical services and perform essential functions upon which neighbors and communities depend. The ability to continually perform such services comprises an important component of resilience, the ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and recover rapidly from operational disruptions. The Center will collaborate with local, state, tribal, private sector, and community partners to support the implementation of workforce development initiatives aimed at creati ..read more

*NEW ANNOUNCEMENT* Women in Leadership Symposium 2025 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. This symposium aims to celebrate and empower women in various leadership roles across the all-hazard industries, offering a platform for networking, skill-building, and inspirational dialogue. Stay tuned for more details regarding registration, speakers, and agenda. The post Women in Leadership 2025 Location Announcement app ..read more

Happy Juneteenth! We would like to acknowledge Juneteenth which was on June 19, 2024 About Juneteenth: On June 19, 1865 the Union Army, led by General Gordon Granger, traveled to Galveston, TX where he announced that all enslaved African Americans were free. It was then that the Emancipation Proclamation was actually enforced even though the Proclamation was in effect on January 1st, 1863. Juneteenth symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates the resilience and strength of African Americans who endured centuries of oppression and injustice. Juneteen ..read more

Strategic Foresight II Emergency Management Once Removed June 14, 2024 By Jim Mullen Emergency management agencies frequently are tasked outside their “normal” duties. Even “way back when” I recall being tasked with a mission to avert public panic that was well out of my  Washington State’s Emergency Management Division’s  (EMD) “lane.” The assignment was affirmed, despite my concern it was an unfunded mandate, accompanied by a candid explanation- in a phrase,  “EMD won’t —- it up!” And we didn’t. Such compliments are nice, but too often emergency managers are victims of their o ..read more

Happy Pride Month! By Jasmine May Each June, the LGBTQIA+ community celebrates Pride Month which started after the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York. Pride Month serves as a tribute to the history and influence of the community worldwide while also standing against discrimination and violence. It increases the visibility of LGBTQIA+ individuals, celebrates diversity in gender and identity, and advocates for equal rights. How is emergency management involved? During emergency events and situations, LGBTQIA+ communities as well as communities of color and single parents are among the hi ..read more