Educational and professional development opportunities are available this summer for teachers interested in expanding their curriculum to include an emphasis on Cascade Range volcanoes.  The USGS-CVO, in cooperation with other agencies, offers these workshops and resources for community and classroom educators.

• Mount St. Helens Teacher Workshop, June 24-26, 2013. This three-day workshop, offered at the Coldwater Science and Learning Center, provides information and resources for your school’s field trip to Mount St. Helens.  More information will be posted soon by the Mount St. Helens Institute at http://www.mshinstitute.org.
• Mount Rainier Teacher Workshop, July 29-August 2, 2013.  This five-day classroom and field-based workshop at the Mount Rainier Education Center offers information, classroom activities, and resources for Mount Rainier and other Cascade Range volcanoes.  More information will be posted soon on the Mount Rainier Teacher Professional Development, at http://www.nps.gov/mora/forteachers/professionaldevelopment.htm.
• STEM Fest Vancouver Science Festival, September 21-23, 2013.  This will be a fun filled three-day Vancouver, WA, community science festival.  Watch the STEM Fest website, http://www.stem-fest.com, for schedule details as the date approaches.
• National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), October 24-26, 2013.  While participating in NSTA conference in Portland, OR, sign up for a half-day field trip to USGS-CVO and visit USGS-CVO’s volcano session during the NSTA meeting. NSTA information is available by clicking NSTA webpage, http://www.nsta.org/conferences/2013por/

Last year the Center and our over 75% (twenty-five) of our SBCTC colleges and members of our SSEM Council partnered with state Emergency Management Division (EMD) and Pierce College’s Homeland Security Emergency Management Degree Program (HSEM) to support the involvement of our community and technical colleges in The Great Washington Shakeout. This is the state’s largest earthquake preparedness drill and helps colleges meet state and federal requirements for preparedness drills and exercises. Forty four Washington colleges and universities reached more than 158,000 participants.

Again this year the HSEM Degree student interns from Pierce College are working with State EMD to support the ShakeOut event which will be held on October 17.    We look forward to having even more of our colleges participate in this year’s event.  The link to register is below along with additional information.

Register now for the largest drop, cover, and hold drill in history at
http://www.shakeout.org/Washington

May 18, 1980 remains a vivid memory for millions of Washington’s residents as the day that Mount St. Helens propelled volcanic ash skyward to an altitude of 80,000 feet in just 15 minutes.   Volcanic ash clouds traveled across our state and around the world, as did the message that Cascade Range volcanoes can erupt. They can disrupt our lives, our state’s economy, and entire regions of our nation. Eruptions in the Cascades have occurred at an average rate of twice per century during the past 4,000 years, and future eruptions are certain.   Many of those eruptions, lasting weeks to years, would have caused considerable property damage and loss of life if they had occurred today. The USGS and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network monitor the Washington Cascade volcanoes to detect subtle changes that may herald the next eruption and work closely with local, State and Federal emergency managers to prepare for the next volcanic eruption in Washington.

We invite you to learn more about volcanoes and volcanic hazards in Washington State by visiting the USGS website at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/cvo/ .  NEW!  Now, you can register to receive regular volcano activity updates and be notified of new activity via the Volcano Notification System (VNS) http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/status.php, and keep informed about USGS-CVO current events at home page HOT STUFF. 

 When: 1:00-4:00 June 4^th

Location: RCECC, Coordination Room

Open to all ESFs and regional partners – highly recommended for ESF 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13 & 15, city and school emergency managers

Purpose:  To explore, through facilitated discussion, the responsibilities expected of a city or county Emergency Operations or Coordination Center (EOC/ECC) in response to an active shooter event once the scene has been secured.  In addition, there will be a brief presentation on the EOC impacts and responses from the event at Sandy Hook Elementary School from Mary Schoenfeldt, Everett OEM.

ESF Coordinators and Zone Coordinators, please share this invite with others whom support your ESF or zone.

Register: http://eccsupportteam.org/registration/

Contact Information:

Stephanie Supko
Emergency Management Program, Senior Manager Plans, Training & Operations
King County Office of Emergency Management
(206) 205-4089 office
(206) 707-5433  cell
(206) 205-4056 fax

The full agenda and more featured speakers can be
viewed here:

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/seattleemsummit/2013

I hope that you can join us for this important
event! There is no cost to attend and you can register online here: www.emergencymgmt.com/seattleemsummit/2013/register

For more information contact Marty Pastula, Publisher & Vice President, Emergency Management Media
http://www.emergencymgmt.com

• Threats & Claims to your email – Threat & Claim Monitor (TCM) - http://www.intelcenter.com/tcm/

• Analysis, Claims Threats, Video & More – IntelCenter Database (ICD) - http://www.intelcenter.com/icd/

For additional information and questions, email info@intelcenter.com or call 800-719-8750. You can also visit us at http://www.intelcenter.com

*Food & Clothing
*Housing & Temporary Shelter
*Rent Assistance
*Health Clinics & Screening Services
*Volunteer & Employment Opportunities
*Individual & Family Support Groups
*Child Care & Children’s Activities
*Counseling & Addiction Services
*Legal Services

Call Monday-Friday
Check out 211 online at: www.win211.org

“I’ve seen the devastation that can occur from floods. They can happen at any time, anywhere across the United States, which means we all need to be prepared now,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “In addition to obtaining a flood insurance policy for your home or business, there are simple steps folks can do now to be prepared for flooding – develop a family emergency plan and have an emergency supply kit ready to go.”

Floods are the most common hazard in the United States.  However, not all floods are alike. Floods typically occur when too much rain falls or snow melts too quickly. Chunks of ice from a thawing river can block its normal flow and force water out of its banks. While some floods develop slowly, flash floods develop suddenly.  Hurricanes can bring flooding to areas far inland from where they first hit the coast, as we witnessed two years ago from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, and last year from Hurricanes Isaac and Sandy.

There are simple steps citizens can take today to reduce their risk to all types of floods.  Flood Safety Awareness Week is an excellent time for people and communities to learn about their flood risk and implement precautions to mitigate the threat to life and property.

“Flooding is dangerous and costly, killing nearly 100 people and causing an average of eight billion dollars in property damage in the United States each year,” said Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, director, NOAA’s National Weather Service, which produces an array of flood outlooks and forecasts, including watches and life-saving warnings. “A weather-ready nation is a prepared nation; one that will reduce flood losses by planning ahead, staying abreast of weather forecasts, and heeding the warnings.”

Dr. Uccellini emphasized that a primary flood killer is flooded roadways. People should never attempt to drive through them, but should “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” NOAA’s flood safety slogan.

NOAA will issue the 2013 U.S. Spring Outlook and flood assessment on March 21.

FEMA and NOAA will provide the public with key information related to flood hazards, and ways to protect yourself and your property each day of National Flood Safety Awareness week.

Follow FEMA on social media (Facebook and Twitter) throughout the week to stay informed and to share the information with your social networks. For more information on flood safety tips and information, visit www.ready.gov.  For information on how to obtain a flood insurance policy, visit http://go.usa.gov/2RdJ.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.  Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.

As you know the Homeland Security-Emergency Management (HSEM) profession is still an emerging field.  Since October 2011, HSEM jobs have increased by 11% (SimplyHired.com) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment to grow by 22% over the decade.  Emergency Management careers were reported to be one of the “50 Best Jobs of 2011”, with a strong growth rate expected over the next decade as reported by US News.  There is also a continuing move toward the professionalization of this field.

The HSEM Center’s role, guided by industry and labor, is to lead statewide education, curriculum, and training efforts that build a highly skilled workforce.  The Center is hosting an “Industry Skills Gap Forum” April 2, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tacoma Convention Center which supports the work of Washington’s community and technical colleges.  Key industry leaders like yourselves are being invited to this important event.  The purpose of this meeting is to obtain from you “real time” information about the expected job growth trends over the next three to five years and to discuss workforce skills gaps that make filling job vacancies difficult for employers.  The Forum is part of the pre-conference activities during the Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference.

Feedback from the Forum participants will help the State’s community and technical colleges make good decisions about their workforce programs to help ensure we educate a highly skilled and competitive workforce.  A summary report will be available to all participants.

The agenda including the link to the map and directions are attached.  Please RVSP by March 29, to me at lcrerar@pierce.ctc.edu.  I would appreciate your help in getting the word out about the Forum and look forward to seeing you at the Forum and please contact me if you have any questions.