Happy Friday, WSEMA!
This week’s update comes to you courtesy of some unexpected life wisdom, a little fear, and a lot of laughter.
I was hanging out with my nieces when one of them asked, very casually and a little challengingly, “Can you do a cartwheel?” Without hesitation, I said, “Heck yeah I can do a cartwheel.”
And then – about half a second later – it hit me: Oh gosh… can I still do a cartwheel?!
Was it wisdom creeping in as I approach 50, quietly reminding me that my body is not what it once was? Or was it fear of falling, hurting myself, or fear of embarrassing myself? Either way, I did it. It wasn’t pretty. There was no Olympic form. But by gosh, I did it. And it was pure, unbridled joy! So, I did another one.
That moment has stuck with me this week as the legislative session gets underway.
I think the legislative process can feel a lot like that cartwheel. It’s not always graceful. It can be awkward. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable, sometimes messy, and sometimes we’re not entirely sure how it’s going to land. But that doesn’t mean we don’t try. Wisdom helps us slow down and be thoughtful. Fear reminds us that what we’re doing matters. And sometimes, the joy comes simply from showing up, engaging, and being part of the process…even when it feels imperfect.
As bills start moving, being discussed, amended, and debated, WSEMA is doing exactly that: showing up. Monitoring. Listening. Asking questions. Engaging on behalf of our profession and our communities. And just like my cartwheel, progress doesn’t always look pretty or polished, but effort and participation matter.
Let’s do this!
Association News
- WSEMA Membership: Please renew your WSEMA membership if you’re able. Otherwise, we’ll have to cartwheel you off the membership list and while we’d manage, it would truly make me sad.
- Legislative Watch: We’re actively monitoring the bills listed below and would love your thoughts. Member feedback helps us decide where to support, where to oppose, and where to ask for adjustments. Helps us ensure our advocacy reflects the collective wisdom of WSEMA. Am I missing a bill? Let me know!
· HB 2089 (Supporting wildfire mitigation): https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?year=2025&BillNumber=2089
· HB 2181 (using CCA funding for repairing road damage from winter storms): https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2181&Year=2025&Initiative=false
· HB 2183 (heat response plans): https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?year=2025&BillNumber=2183
· HB 2203 (Creating the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations): https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2203&Year=2025
· HB 2275 (wildfire prevention council and fund): https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2275&Year=2025&Initiative=False
· HB 2351 (protecting emergency responders): https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2351&Year=2025
· HB 2357 (Civil Air Patrol): https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=2357&Year=2025&Initiative=false
· HB 2379 (suspension of tolling in an emergency) https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2379&Year=2025
· SB 6000 (governing body and action during an emergency) https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6000&Year=2025
Survey link to provide input on bills: WSEMA Legislative Bill Survey
Emergency Management in Washington
- Same Event, Different Realities: Building Accessibility Into Special Events: The article talks about planning for large public events and how it often overlooks individuals with access and functional needs (such as those with disabilities or limited English proficiency). Reminder that accessibility and language access must be intentionally built into planning, training, and exercises from the outset to ensure safety and inclusivity for everyone, not treated as an afterthought or add-on.
- What WA Gov. Bob Ferguson said, and left unsaid, in his State of the State address: Gov. Bob Ferguson’s January 13 address highlighted Washington’s resilience following late-2025 disasters, called for bold action on infrastructure, housing, tax reform (including a millionaire’s tax), and supported statewide bills addressing law enforcement identification and other priorities, while critics noted shifts in tone and unsaid elements around bipartisan cooperation and legislative focus..
- WA State Healthcare Situational Awareness Brief: Hospitalized influenza cases overall remain elevated with a small decrease in Western WA and Central/Eastern WA remaining steady. RSV continues to be variable but slowly trending upward. Hospitalized COVID+ cases remain low across the State. Adult and pediatric ED visits remain elevated and report an increase in visits. Hospital and ED boarders have decreased overall across the state but varies by region. Adult ICU bed availability has been variable but remains steady relative to last week, while staffed available acute beds have slightly increased. Pediatric ICU bed availability has decreased while acute bed availability has improved some.
- Have something you’d like me to 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!
National EM Updates and Misc.
- Trends That Impact Emergency Management in 2026: Emergency Management trends in 2026 highlights increasing use of AI in damage assessment and equity considerations in response operations.
- The Long and Uncertain Road to Recovery in Altadena: One year after the devastating Eaton Fire in California, recovery in Altadena remains slow and uneven. Most homeowners haven’t begun rebuilding, renters struggle with displacement, and inequities in insurance and resources mean progress is largely limited to the well-insured, highlighting ongoing gaps in long-term disaster recovery and housing resilience.
- Supreme Court Information as of January 14: Highlights of what was happening with the Supreme Court this week.
- Okanogan County: Did you know Okanogan County is the largest county in Washington? It is bigger than three U.S. states – Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island!
Closing Note
Here’s to doing the things that feel a little uncomfortable, even if they’re not pretty, and finding joy along the way. Unsolicited advice: Do the cartwheel – even if it’s the metaphorical one.
Have a great weekend, WSEMA friends.
Kyle