The East Pierce Regional Lahar Evacuation Exercise 2024 was the largest volcanic evacuation exercise conducted in the world. Over 45,000 students and staff participated in the exercise – those in the lahar evacuation zone practiced their walking routes and those outside of the lahar evacuation zone practiced their shelter in place procedures. The 2024 exercise built on previous exercises including the regional exercise conducted in 2022 and many years of lahar drills held by the Orting School District and Puyallup School District. The East Pierce Interlocal Coalition for Emergency Management (EPIC-EM) conducted the 2024 regional exercise in partnership with 5 school districts, activating three local jurisdictions Emergency Operations Centers, to practice lahar evacuation procedures throughout the Puyallup Valley.This workshop will guide participants through the comprehensive planning process that the EPIC jurisdictions engaged in with school districts and jurisdiction first responders to ensure the priority of safety was met for all exercise participants. This “how-to” approach will include planning timelines, training considerations, communications planning, and strategies to engage all partners. The workshop will also include an overview of the design and implementation of the online/interactive tools used to track the participating schools and facilities participating in the exercise.
What Will the Audience Learn:
Participants will learn about the comprehensive planning that was required to deliver the 2024 East Pierce County Regional Lahar Evacuation Exercise.
Course Level: Intermediate
About the Presenter
Kirstin Hofmann is the Emergency Manager for the City of Puyallup. Kirstin previously served as the Office of Emergency Services Director for the County of Santa Clara (Silicon Valley) in California. Kirstin has also worked for the American Red Cross, the United Way Silicon Valley as the 2-1-1 Santa Clara County Director, and the Emergency Preparedness Manager for a consortium of federally qualified health care clinics in San Jose, California. Kirstin is originally from Seattle, Washington, completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Washington and her graduate studies at Seattle University. Kirstin has responded to many natural disasters (hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, storms) and public health, domestic terrorism, and civil disobedience emergencies. Kirstin is a member of the East Pierce Interlocal Coalition for Emergency Management (EPIC-EM) and the Pierce County Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT).