VashonBePrepared 101 is a few hour course taught as needed for new or prospective VashonBePrepared volunteers. Topics include a rundown on the risks Vashon faces, who all these various groups are and what role they've taken on, an introduction to many of the groups, and the Vashon Emergency Operations Center (EOC). It is probably the single best best to learn about the overall disaster preparedness movement on Vashon and figure out how you can best play a contributing role. Inquire about future courses with an email to volunteer@VashonBePrepared.org.

Consider taking the advanced training available from CERT. Our Vashon program is a regional model and the free course is 40 hours long - double the normal national curriculum. Contact CERT to inquire about upcoming courses.

Medical Reserve Corps volunteers have additional training programs.

Additional training opportunities are available from each of our partner organizations too. Check their web sites and national affiliates for specifics.

Disaster management is a profession and there are a huge number of training resources available - for free - to those motivated. The following will lead you to many of those. Unless you are aspiring to this profession though, be forewarned that you'll likely want to set some limits and focus on just those lessons that help you with your chosen volunteer role!

National Emergency Management Training

• Emergency Management Institute (EMI): training.fema.gov
• Emergency Management Institute (EMI) online courses: training.fema.gov/IS
• Emergency Management Institute (EMI) NIMS courses: training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp
• Emergency Management Institute (EMI) National Response Framework courses: training.fema.gov/nrfres_IS.asp
• DHS Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) online classes: https://cdp.dhs.gov/online_course
• National Emergency Learning Center's Learning Resource Center: www.lrc.fema.gov
• International Association of Emergency Managers - Certification Courses: www.iaem.com/certification/CEMPrepCourse.htm

Washington Training

• State of Washington Emergency Management Division:
  https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division
• or https://reg.abcsignup.com/view/cal1a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=&sid1=&sid2=&as=38&wp=127&
• tz=&ms=&nav=&cc=&cat1=&cat2=&cat3=&aid=WSEMD&rf
• Suggested training & classes for WA radio folk:
  www.waraces.us/training

Regional Disaster Training Links

• King County OEM has periodic training opportunities as listed at:
  www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare/EmergencyManagementProfessionals/TrainingandExercise.aspx
• Seattle OEM has also kindly allowed Vashon volunteers to attend some of their trainings in the past. See their current schedule at: www.seattle.gov/emergency/events/
• Pierce County OEM has additional training opportunities listed at https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/986/Training-Exercises
• our events calendar might be used to note training opportunities (in the future)

General Board and Non-Profit Training

• United Way: www.uwkc.org/nonprofit/default.asp
• Blue Avocado: www.blueavocado.org

Learn the formal infrastructure and vocabulary

All VashonBePrepared volunteers with any of our partners are expected to take the online ICS-100 (Introduction to the Incident Command System) and ICS-200 (Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response) courses to learn some of the basic vocabulary and process used by emergency personnel nationally.

ICS 700 (NIMS and Introduction) and ICS-800 (National Response Framework, An Introduction) classes are also recommended and focus more on the national systems that guide all emergency operations in the country.

All the above courses are free can be done at home in an hour or two over the Internet. Click on the course names above to launch the course.

IS-2200 (Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions) is highly recommended for all EOC personnel and liaisons to the EOC. IS-2300 (EOC Intermediate Functions) is is suggested for anyone interested in a leadership position within the EOC. These courses are free, available online, but are several days long each.

Vashon EOC Section Chiefs should take the ICS-300 (ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents) course. The ICS-400 (Advanced ICS) course, though great, focuses on an incident more complex than we anticipate on Vashon - so is NOT required.

ICS-300 & ICS-400 are in-person, 2 day instructor led courses, taught periodically through the year. Free, search under the Washington Training  section on this page for future offerings in the state.

Full descriptions of these and other basic courses can be found at https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials/.

We've also a list of the myriad acronyms you may encounter.