EWF Member Inducted Into Hall of Fame For International Network of Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Mangement

ANNIE SEARLE SELECTED FOR INAUGURAL INDUCTION INTO HALL OF FAME FOR INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF WOMEN IN HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

November 15, 2011 - Author and risk detective Annie Searle was one of 20 women recognized at the 59th Annual International Association of Emergency Managers conference in Las Vegas on November 12, 2011 and inducted into its inaugural Hall of Fame for Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

“I know how Sir Isaac Newton felt when he said he stood on the shoulders of giants,” said Searle in receiving the award. “To be honored along with Eleanor Roosevelt, the founders of The Salvation Army and the Save the Children Fund is remarkable.”

Searle was recognized for her work in the private sector, In particular for her ten years of work at Washington Mutual, her service on national work groups and international task forces, and for her continuing work in the private sector as the owner of ASA Risk Consultants. Searle is the author of Advice From A Risk Detective: At Home, At Work, Online And On The Road (Tautegory Press, 2011); and editor of a 2012 volume of research notes called Reflections on Risk.

The Hall of Fame is a major initiative, honoring women who are pioneers and leaders in the field of homeland security and emergency management in local, State, tribal and Federal government; and in volunteer, faith and community-based organizations; the private and nonprofit sectors; academia; and the military.

The complete list of inductees is:

1865 – Catherine Booth and husband founded the Salvation Army

1906 - General Evangeline Booth started disaster relief services for The Salvation Army. Also, in

1934, she became the first female General of the Salvation Army.

1919 – Eglantyne Jebb, founded the Save the Children Fund, Jeanne-Aimee De Marrais, Director, Domestic Emergencies Unit, SC

1941 – First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt appointed Assistant Director; the “first woman in Homeland Security/Emergency Management” (formerly Civil Defense)

1950 - National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NACWC, Inc (formerly the National Federation of Colored Women and National Federation of Afro-American Women) participated in the first national “Women and Civil Defense” conference was held in Washington, DC. (President Evelyn Rising)

1981 - Dorothy J. Lewis, International Association of Emergency Managers’ lead liaison for governmental relations and second female President of IAEM

1990 – Margaret Brenda Verbeek, founded the Canadian Emergency Preparedness Association (CEPA), which became IAEM-Canada

1991 - Avagene Moore, emergency management trailblazer and 1987-1988 President of IAEM

1994 - Kay Goss, first female Associate Director of FEMA

1994 - Molly Grant, one of the first Native American females in emergency management

1994 - Rosalita Whitehair, one of the first Native American females in emergency management

1995 - Lynn Canton, first African American, female Regional Administrator of FEMA

1996 - Oluremi Olowu, the first Director of Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

2001 – Lisa Orloff, one of first female founders of an international emergency management program

2001 – Elizabeth Davis one of the first female founders’ of an international emergency management program

2001 - Annie Searle, first female leader in private sector/industry of emergency management

2002 - Rosemary Cloud, first female African-American Fire Chief

2005 - Susan Diehl-Brenits, first female project manager in emergency management at Con Edison

2005 – Kelly Discount founded EMPOWER, the first modern day organization for women in emergency management

2010 - Carmen G. Rodriguez, the first female Fire Chief of the Puerto Rico Fire Department - Bomberos de Puerto Rico (BPR).

For more info:  Annie Searle (206) 465-7849, annie@anniesearle.com