Center of Excellence

A 5.4 earthquake is reported to have shaken the Los Angeles area mid-morning July 29.

20+ aftershocks have been reported but as of this posting, no one is reported injured or killed.

Testimony of Jeffrey W. Runge, MD addressed the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology.

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/testimony/testimony_1216677175660.shtm

The Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza states that in an influenza pandemic, the primary response will come from states and localities. To assist them with pandemic planning and exercising, Congress has provided $600 million to states and certain localities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established five federal influenza pandemic regions to work with states to coordinate planning and response efforts. GAO was asked to (1) describe how selected states and localities are planning for an influenza pandemic and who they involved, (2) describe the extent to which selected states and localities conducted exercises to test their influenza pandemic planning and incorporated lessons learned as a result, and (3) identify how the federal government can facilitate or help improve state and local efforts to plan and exercise for an influenza pandemic. GAO conducted site visits to five states and 10 localities
Link here: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08826.pdf

TRB Special Report 294: The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation explores the roles that transit systems can play in accommodating the evacuation, egress, and ingress of people from and to critical locations in times of emergency. The report focuses on major incidents that could necessitate a partial to full evacuation of the central business district or other large portion of an urban area.

PDF here: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr294.pdf

“D.C. Homeland Security Chief Predicts Chaos in Event of Nuke Attack.” by Jeff Stein. CQ Homeland Security, July 18, 2008.

Link here: http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=hsnews-000002921429

Article recommended by the COE - HS:

Klinenberg, Eric. “Are you Ready for the Next Disaster? NYT Magazine, July 6, 2008.

At: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/magazine/06wwln-idealab-t.html?ex=1216008000&en=28d240a9d32555da&ei=5070&emc=eta1

From July 18 letter from Representative Bennie G. Thompson to DHS Secretary Chertoff and FEMA Administrator Paulison:

Read the entire letter here: http://homeland.house.gov/SiteDocuments/20080718155723-52042.pdf

From a recent FEMA press release:

The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act called for a National Disaster Housing Strategy and provided FEMA with the opportunity to describe how the Nation provides housing to those affected by disasters and chart a new direction to better meet the needs of disaster victims and communities. A draft version of the Strategy is available for public comment and is being reviewed by key partner, including FEMA’s National Advisory Committee, the National Council on Disabilities, Federal Departments and Agencies, the American Red Cross and organizations representing tribal, State and local governments for review and comment.

More here: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45191

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and policy analysts at The Workforce Alliance state in a recently released paper that middle-skill jobs - those that require more than high school but less than a four-year degree -continue to make up half of all jobs in our state today. The paper is part of a national initiative called Skills2Compete in partnership with The Workforce Alliance-a Washington D.C.-based organization. The initiative is encouraging “America to address U.S. competitiveness in a way that includes the vast majority of America’s future workers-that is, adults already in the workforce-and the largest portion of jobs in the U.S. economy-that is, jobs in the middle of the skilled labor market.” http://www.seakingwdc.org/pdf/s2c/forgotten.pdf

TVW taped last week’s Workforce Board meeting including a staff presentation of the 2008-2018 draft of the High Skills, High Wages plan, the Workforce Board’s strategic workforce development plan for Washington state. The public is welcome to comment on this draft and will have an opportunity to do it in person at a series of public forums in Eastern Washington next week. Western Washington forums will be scheduled in August. Please note the locations for the Moses Lake and Omak sites have changed. http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Activities_HighSkills.asp.

he 2008 edition of “Where Are You Going?” is available in print and available for download through our website. This popular 80-page publication provides a step-by-step guide for making career choices-whether you’re selecting your first career or your next one. To order copies, call 360.753.5662. Or view online: http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Pubs_Publications.asp.

Washington Technology Center awarded Research and Technology Development funding totaling $512,269 to seven projects developed between companies and Washington researchers.
Read more about it here: Washington Technology Center Awards $512,269 in Research Funding.

The Center of Excellence Homeland Security has posted an excellent reference (provided by FEMA) on preparing for Hurricanes. You can find it here on our Best Practices page.

Or you can download the PDF directly by clicking here: FEMA Hurricane Preparedness

SENATOR MURRAY WIA LETTER PLAYS ROLE IN BUDGET PROCESS

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee passed a 2009 workforce spending plan in late June, increasing Workforce Investment Act funding by $25 million over fiscal year 2008 levels. Prior to that decision, Senator Patty Murray of Washington joined with Senators Edward Kennedy, Barbara Mikulski, Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama and others in a letter to Senators Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter asking the committee to reject WIA cuts proposed by the administration. The appropriations bill now must go to the Senate floor for consideration. To read the letter: http://murray.senate.gov/labor/wia-letter.pdf.

Reserve your seat for the Governor’s 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Conference in Lynnwood, Sept. 3-4. The conference features an update from Gov. Chris Gregoire on The Next Washington along with presentations on everything from the power of industry clusters to reaching unemployed youth. Sign up at: http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/economy/conference/.

Eastern Washington residents have a chance to comment later this month on the 2008 draft plan of High Skills, High Wages, Washington state’s strategic plan for workforce development. Meetings will be held the week of July 21 in Spokane, Wenatchee and Yakima, with live videoconferencing links available in Walla Walla, Omak, Moses Lake and Pasco. Get more details at: http://www.wtb.wa.gov/Activities_HighSkills.asp.

The Center of Excellence Homeland Security has published their Final Skills Panel Report. You can review the report by clicking here: Skills Panel Formation for Homeland Security.

The Washington state Governor’s Office invites nominations from workforce professionals for the Governor’s Economic and Workforce Development Awards. Nominations are due July 15. There are three award categories, including a Workforce Best Practices Award. Awards will be presented at the Governor’s 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Conference, Sept. 3-4, in Lynnwood. Get a nomination form at: Governor’s Economic and Workforce Development Awards

See conference details at: Governor’s 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Conference.

A new report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office shows how community and technical colleges are integrating with one-stop career centers to better meet state workforce needs. The GAO visited 20 colleges in six states, including Washington and Oregon, to arrive at the results. Washington colleges included: Bates Technical College, Bellingham Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College District, Skagit Valley College, Tacoma Community College and Whatcom Community College. Read the PDF report by clicking here.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell has penned a letter to ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of job training funds that were cut during the 2008 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) rescission. The $250 million rescission required states to return unspent funds from workforce programs aimed at youth, adults and dislocated workers. Read the letter at: Click here.