State leaders learn the foundations of emergency management

State leaders learn the foundations of emergency management

When a disaster strikes, seconds count - and so does leadership. The day before the annual Great Washington ShakeOut, nearly 100 executives from 20 state agencies gathered at Camp Murray for an intensive new training to ensure they're ready to lead when the next big emergency occurs.

"In a crisis, Washingtonians expect their government to act as one team - and every state agency and leader has a vital role to play," said Kevin Wickersham, EMD response section manager. "That unity doesn't happen by accident. Training and preparing together builds the trust and coordination needed to serve our communities when it matters most."

During nearly every state emergency, agency staff from across the state enterprise support the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and provide critical assistance to our state, local and tribal partners. Standing processes are followed to ensure a disaster response is coordinated, timely and effective.

Agency leaders learn about the state Emergency Operations Center.

To ensure state leaders are familiar with how a state emergency response is often coordinated, the state's Emergency Management Division developed a new, four-hour SEOC Foundations for Executive Officials course. The training equips state agency leaders with strategies to help lead effectively during disasters by providing a deeper understanding of the state's emergency management system and how state agencies work together to coordinate response to emergencies and disasters.

The course is held at Camp Murray and includes modules on the emergency management system, the SEOC, agency roles and responsibilities, emergency policy coordination, public information coordination and a tour of the SEOC. October's session was the second time the course was conducted. Dozens of state agency leaders attended a session earlier this year.

State Patrol Chief John Batiste speaks with WA EMD Director Robert Ezelle.

"We are happy that so many representatives from nearly two dozen agencies were able to attend," said Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezelle. "It is critical that we can all work together and speak the same language when we need to help Washington residents after a disaster."