PNWER Resilience

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) launched the Regional Disaster Resilience and Homeland Security Program in November, 2001 with the goal of improving the Pacific Northwest's ability to withstand and recover and to protect its critical infrastructures from all-hazards disasters. Based in Seattle, Washington, PNWER is a statutory, non-profit public/private organization that was formed in 1991 by legislatures of the northwest states of Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon & Northwest Territories.

Maritime Commerce Resumption After Action Review Conference - Vancouver, BC 11/26/2012

On November 26, PNWER held an After Action Review Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia for the Beyond the Border pilot project regarding the development of communication and information sharing protocols to help swiftly manage bi-national maritime traffic in the event of an emergency. The purpose of this meeting was to review the findings of the October tabletop exercise and develop action items concerning improvements and the next steps forward in the process. For more information about this project please click here.

Rear Admiral Keith Taylor, US Coast Guard, addresses the Maritime Commerce Resumption After Action Review Conference

Cargo industry suffers huge losses in wake of storm

Superstorm Sandy caused an estimated $1 billion in damages to the cargo industry in the Northeast and caused ships to be rerouted to other ports highlighting the crucial importance of developing communication sharing protocols. To read more about the storm's impact click here.

The Beyond the Border Working Group has proposed the development of a frame work for swiftly managing traffic in the event of an emergency, with the goal being to expedite maritime commerce recovery through regional collaboration between Canada and the United States. Development of the Framework will be guided by a Pilot Project in British Columbia (BC) Lower Mainland – United States Pacific Northwest region. Specifically, the pilot project will leverage region-based, cross-border maritime resilience and recovery committees. The outcomes of this pilot will guide similar work in the Atlantic and Great Lakes regions beginning in 2013. Click here for more information

US-Canada Maritime Resilience Tabletop Exercise
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) in conjunction with the US Coast Guard and Transport Canada, held a tabletop exercise focused on developing joint protocols to swiftly manage maritime traffic in the event of an emergency. The objective of this tabletop exercise was to enable collaboration at the regional level (US and Canada) to expedite maritime commerce recovery following an emergency, disaster or disruption.
Click here for more information

USCG Rear Admiral Keith Taylor addresses the audience at the Bi-National Workshop in Seattle.