Rick LaValla is co-founder and Principal for All Hands Consulting. Rick has 31 years experience in emergency management, disaster response and search and rescue.  He worked for 14 years for the Washington State Department of Emergency Management. Job titles and functions included:  Director, Puget Sound Earthquake Preparedness/Planning Project; Director of Washington State's planning and response to the Mt. St. Helens Disaster; Deputy Director; Operations Manager; and Search and Rescue Coordinator/Assistant Director for Operations.

In 1978, Rick founded ERI International and left government service in 1984 to direct the development of ERI products and services.  Since 1985 Rick has worked for state agencies, federal agencies, local governments, emergency response organizations, foreign countries, and corporations, assisting and directing the development of emergency management programs, hazard vulnerability and risk assessments, mitigation plans, comprehensive emergency management programs, emergency operation center designs, hazard specific response plans, training and education programs, recovery plans, and other related services.

Rick has authored, co-authored, or edited over 40 training manuals and books covering a full spectrum of subjects in emergency management, disaster planning, and emergency response.  He has also assisted state and local governments with designing and implementing emergency management programs, disaster plans and exercises.  Rick participated in numerous state and federal disaster research projects to find practical disaster planning strategies to maximize the use and benefits of a community disaster plans during emergencies; participated in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) "model systems project" to determine the best approaches to local, state, and federal emergency plan coordination; pioneered "let's break the mold for disaster planning and plan writing" courses for the National Coordinating Council for Emergency Management and for state emergency management groups.

Rick developed FEMA's "Capability Assessment for Readiness (CAR)" program that describes the characteristics and "best practices" for emergency preparedness and planning processes and activities.  He also developed a “New State Director’s Orientation Program” for the National Emergency Management Association and FEMA; and produced "best practices" texts and training programs for emergency management, disaster response, emergency preparedness, search and rescue, and survival.

Rick continues to play a major role in the development and dissemination of new and innovative training materials and programs throughout the world on all phases of comprehensive emergency management. He is currently support the VA COOP project and helping a number of local communities develop comprehensive emergency management programs.

Rick holds a B.A., University of Puget Sound, 1971 and is a graduate of numerous professional state, regional, federal emergency management schools.

Books

Blueprint For Community Emergency Management: A Text For Managing Emergency Operations

Instructor Guide For Managing Emergency Operations

Instructor Kit For Managing Emergency Operations.

Establishing a Community Damage Assessment Program and Procedures

Community Emergency Management: Program Development and Strategies

Managing Field Operations: An Introduction To Incident Management.

A Blueprint For Community Incident Management (Making ICS) Work In Disaster Conditions) 

Incident Command System Student Text, Instructor Guide, And Instructor Kit

School Disaster Planning

Disaster Planning Manual: How To Write A Community Disaster Coordination Plan

Exercise Planning And Evaluation

Emergency Preparedness: A Business And Industry Disaster Planning Manual (A Corporate Facility Guide On How To Do It)

Emergency Planning, A Guide For Business And Industry

Affiliations

International Association of Emergency Managers
Board member, Pro Mundani - a not-for-profit designed to educate the public in how to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency situations
The All Hands Consulting Consortium