As you are aware, WASPC notified you on June 10, 2016 that due to a funding shortage, Washington’s Critical Incident Planning and Mapping System (aka “school mapping”) would be suspended effective June 30, 2016. The Governor’s Office has made emergency funding available to enable us to continue the program through state fiscal year 2017, which begins July 1, 2016 and ends June 30, 2017. Because of this funding, the school mapping program will continue in its current form through that time period.

We obviously heard from some stakeholders who were concerned regarding the proposed shutdown of the school mapping program. These stakeholders urged us to find a way to continue the program. We would ask those concerned about the continued viability of the program to become active during the legislative process and make your concerns known to legislators and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction...

As the Fourth of July approaches, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding the public that there’s no safe way to use consumer fireworks. According to NFPA, coordinator of the Alliance to Stop Consumer Fireworks, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 18,500 fires caused by fireworks between 2009 and 2013. These fires included 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, 16,900 outside and other fires, and killed two people per year. Last year, two NFL players made headlines by losing fingers in accidents involving fireworks. The two separate high-profile incidents raised awareness about the dangers of consumer fireworks...

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation issued on June 12, 2016, Governor Inslee hereby directs that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff immediately, in honor of the victims of the attack in Orlando, Florida.