Happy Friday and happy Halloween to you,
It’s the witching hour folks! Costumes, jack-o-lanterns, full-sized candy bars, rain, and emergency managers lurking (in a good way).
Grab some good sweets and maybe a handful of candy corn, even though every year I try it hoping it’s improved…and every year it betrays me because it always tastes like regret, crayons, and sweetened candle wax.
Let’s get into it!
Association News
- New WSEMA Treasurer: Please join me in welcoming Adenea Sellars, Director of Emergency Management for Stevens County, as WSEMA’s new Treasurer! The Executive Board voted to appoint Adenea to serve the remainder of the current term through September 2026, when the position will be up for election at the annual conference. We’re thrilled to have her on the Board!
- 2026 Conference: We’re brewing up ideas for the 2026 conference already. We are working on the theme and would love to hear from you. Send me a note if you’ve got a theme idea for the conference! Apparently, my idea of a Golden Girls: Thank you for being a friend theme is not a frontrunner.
- Executive Board Meeting: The new WSEMA Executive Board had our first meeting. We discussed and voted on the Treasurer applications, reviewed representation on the statewide Emergency Management Council, touched on the WSEMA Strategic Plan, WSEMA Committee assignments for board members, and the next general membership meeting, scheduled for December 17th.
Emergency Management in Washington
- ADA and Social Media: Did you know, a new rule under the ADA (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) is requiring state and local governments to make social content accessible beginning on April 24, 2026 (for government entities with 50,000 or more people).
The King County Digital Engagement Manager, Warren Kagarise, recently presented a Social Media Accessibility training and resources webinar to help social media folks begin to not only come into compliance with the law, but also create content that is accessible for everyone. He has graciously agreed to share that webinar recording and his resources with WSEMA for our emergency management community around the state! Attached is a one-pager from him and his team with resource links. I also have a pdf version of his PPT if you want it!
WSEMA is also dedicated to following these best practices, and our social media content going forward is going to be incorporating alt text and working towards full accessibility. If you are curious about how WSEMA is going about that, Lexi would be happy to share. But if you want to talk to the expert on this topic, Warren has agreed to share his contact information with us all, so feel free to reach out: wkagarise@kingcounty.gov Direct: 206-263-0992 | Mobile: 206-678-5828
Wildfires Now an ‘All-of-Washington’ Problem, 90% Human-Caused: Long considered more of an Eastern Washington issue, the head of the state Department of Natural Resources said Monday that about 40 percent of the fires this season were in the western part of the state.
‘Co-responders’ Bring Mental Health Expertise to 911 Calls: A partnership among law enforcement in Grant County and Moses Lake, Wash., as well as the county’s behavioral health organization, sends mental health professionals with police to respond to people in crisis.
Hurricane Milton: Social Media Insights in the Eye of the Storm: Hurricane Milton challenged emergency managers across multiple counties. Join WSEMA member Chris Smith on November 19th from 12-1, for a behind-the-scenes look at social media communication during the storm. Platform will be on Teams.
WA State Healthcare Report from the Northwest Healthcare Response Network: Adult ICU and acute bed availability, while fluctuating, are consistent with previous weeks. COVID hospitalizations are the lowest they have been for some time, currently reported at 66 across the state. ED visits overall have decreased compared to last week. We are starting to see an uptick in Adult Flu Hospitalizations with numbers doubling since last week’s report, currently 13 adult hospitalizations across the state. RSV+ hospitalizations are currently reported at 4 adults and 1 pediatric patient. ARI, RSV, FLU, and COVID should be monitored closely as this could be a signal of the beginning of the respiratory season.
Have something you’d like me feature? Send it my way at president@wsema.org by 8:00 a.m. on Fridays. Trainings, news, shoutouts, or anything you think WSEMA should know about!