WSEMA! Friday came in hot this week! I’m not sure where the last few days went, but here we are. I’ll try to make this week’s update a fast one for you.
The Artemis crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean around 5pm today!
Let’s do this!
Emergency Management in Washington
- Washington VOAD: The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is offering, at no cost, an in-person Disaster Case Management Training from May 19-21, 2026, in Mount Vernon. This training is designed to support survivors of the December 2025 floods and help communities prepare for long term recovery.
If you are part of a community recovery and are interested, please contact Kathy Bryson, UMCOR/PNW United Methodist Church Disaster Response Coordinator at brysonpnw@gmail.com or (cell/text) 539-2978, as soon as possible for more information and registration guidelines. - WA State Healthcare Situational Awareness Brief: The number of hospitalized patients with influenza continue to decline slowly; while RSV hospitalizations are low compared to the last few months but remain steady and in the community. COVID+ inpatient numbers continue to remain low. Adult ED visits remain elevated compared to last week’s numbers, while Pediatric ED visits have decreased some. Pediatric ICU and acute bed availability have both decreased significantly, while adult ICU and acute bed remain variable but similar to trends. Hospital and ED boarders show a small decrease this week.
National EM Updates and Misc.
- DHS Staff to Get Back Pay: DHS employees are set to receive back pay through April 4 thanks to re-directed funding, but future paychecks likely depend on Congress ending the shutdown.
- Technology Boosts Disaster Evac Process: During a disaster, the San Bernardino County, Calif. Sheriff’s Department used to track evacuations using paper forms and radio calls. Now, deputies can document and track evacuation points in real-time through the county’s Evacuation mobile app.
- Wahkiakum County: Learn all about Wahkiakum County!
Training and Resources
- ICS Courses: I was hopeful DHS was going to be back up and running. ICS courses are still unavailable.
- WA State Training: There are still trainings and courses happening across the state. To view and register for training, visit the Washington State EMD Training Calendar.
Closing Note
Have a good weekend, everyone. See you on the other side of it.
Kyle