What do you do when your power goes off for more than a couple of hours? If there is a disaster, do you know where to go to charge devices or plug in energy dependent medical equipment? Washington state is trying to prepare for the next great earthquake which could take out power for long periods of time, even in our most populated areas.
However, rural and remote communities face frequent and prolonged outages on any given day. The Washington State Department of Commerce, Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Office has been addressing these questions across the state while working with dozens of communities to define what energy resilience means to them. This session will lead a discussion on energy resilience and what it means to individuals, families, and communities. It will also present information on resilient energy systems options and community resilience hubs.
What Will the Audience Learn:
The audience will develop an understanding of energy resilience in the context of Whole Community and learn about examples of energy resilience strategies. They will learn about resilient energy systems and discuss their value and use in times of emergencies. Finally, participants will take away resources to support their own energy resilience journeys.
Course Level: General Audience
About the Presenter
Deborah (Deb) Witmer serves as the Senior Energy Resilience & Mitigation Program Manager in the Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Office (EREMO), part of the WA State Department of Commerce’s Energy Division. In that role, she is leading a team to build a state-wide Energy Resilience Program, including the design of a Whole Community Resilience Planning Process. Deborah brings to her work many years of public outreach and engagement experience, particularly with vulnerable populations. Her areas of expertise include access and functional needs and emergency management. She holds a BA in Communications from Kent State University as well as a MS in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School/Center for Homeland Defense and Security (NPS/CHDS). She brings a passion for resilience and whole community to her work with the State of WA. Deborah lives in downtown in Seattle with her cat and an overstuffed art studio space.