1. science
2. weather
3. meteorological disaster
4. hurricane

National Hurricane Conference
Austin Convention Center
March 30-April 2, 2015
www.hurricanemeeting.com
Following are the Training Sessions, Rap Sessions, General Session and
Workshops for the Conference as of March 29, 2015.
Please use the find or search button to search for a specific training
session, rap session, workshop, or for a general session speaker.
Save The Date for the 2016 National Hurricane
Conference
March 21-24, 2016
Hilton Orlando, Orlando, FL
Public Education/Media Training
“Innovative Perspectives on Effectively Communicating Through the Chaos of
Crisis”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
In times of crisis, emergency messaging content and dissemination methods are
critical to saving people, property and pets. The financial costs to government
agencies and the overall burden on the recovery efforts resulting from failed
evacuations and ineffective response are significant burdens at every level. This
interactive session includes both audience participation and discussion combined
with hands-on activity, which will strengthen the skills of emergency managers and
those tasked with public information responsibilities to better understand the
dynamic communication environment and individual barriers to understanding that
crisis situations create, as well as presenting how to use multiple communication
platforms for sharing important messages.
Instructors:
Angela Clendenin, TAMU, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences,
College Station, TX
Sgt Patrick Swanton, Public Information Officer, Waco Police Department, Waco,
TX
Private Industry Training
“How to Build a Corporate CERT Team”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location:
Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
CANCELLED
Using the FEMA CERT program is a cornerstone in employee preparedness. The
CERT program can be integrated into the corporate preparedness plan, bringing to
bear a well-developed program and learning objectives that can serve as a
cornerstone in the preparedness planning of your company.
This session will introduce you to the CERT program and the 7 modules it contains.
You will learn how to develop a questionnaire to help you focus on the CERT
principles that will be the foundation of your program. You will learn how to
develop contacts with your local response community to assist with making sure
that your program maintains certification standards.
Moderator:
Justen Noakes, Director of Emergency Preparedness, H-E-B, San Antonio, TX
Instructors:
TBA
Evacuation Planning Training
“Hurricane Evacuation Planning Enhancement – from Tabletop to Functional
Exercise Series”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
Virginia’s Hampton Roads area, consisting of a vulnerable population of 1.7 million
with clearance times exceeding 40 hours, completed a series of hurricane
evacuation decision making tabletop and multiple agency coordination/field
functional exercises in 2014. The unique design and conduct of this exercise series
was accomplished through the participation of 22 Virginia and 2 North Carolina
jurisdictions to simultaneously exercise their regional evacuation frameworks and
individual evacuation response plans at varying levels of participation, testing
difference capabilities and validate coordination between the state, private and
non-profit partners. Hear from the Exercise Co-Directors and VDEM leadership
about how the exercise series was designed, the impact on the regional and
individual evacuation plans as a result of the series. Participants will receive a CD
with all exercise materials.
Instructors:
Susan Mongold, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, North
Chesterfield, VA
Aaron Kesecker, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, North
Chesterfield, VA
Robb Braidwood, CEM, Deputy Emergency Manager, City of Chesapeake, VA
Fire/EMS Training
“Incident Management Team Development and Training”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
An Incident Management Team (IMT) is a comprehensive resource to either
augment ongoing operations through provision of infrastructure support, or when
requested, transition to an incident management function to include all
components/functions of a Command and General staff.
The primary goal of the NIMS ICS All-Hazards Position Specific Training Program
is to provide additional training that may be needed by personnel responsible for
managing incidents of greater complexity than those typically encountered during
routine operations. This training is designed to provide all-hazards competencies
and behaviors for Command and General Staff and selected Unit Leader positions
with a Type III and/or Type IV Incident Management Team environment
Moderator:
William A. Wagner, III, CEM, Fire Chief, Retired, Islamorada, FL
Instructors:
Bob Koenig, Director of All Hazard Training, Early Alert, Inc., Longview, TX
Victoria Koenig, Manager, All Hazard Training, Early Alert, Inc., Longview, TX
Mass Care Training
“FEMA Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Planning & Operations Course”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18D, 4th level
This session is based on the FEMA Mass Care/Emergency Assistance (MC/EA)
Planning and Operations training that prepares Mass Care Coordinators and
stakeholders to develop Mass Care/Emergency Assistance response plans and to
provide coordination and support for MC/EA activities pre, post and during
emergencies and disasters. The session focuses on Mass Care/Emergency
Assistance core activities, defining the scope and scale of the disaster and
estimate needed resources to support a MC/EA response and demonstrates how
planning and operations go “hand in hand” to ensure an effectively coordinated and
collaborative whole community approach.
Moderators:
Peggy Mott and Arthur Vliet, Mass Care/Emergency Assistance, FEMA
Headquarters, Washington, DC
Instructors:
Pam Spring, Director, Office of Emergency Operations, MD Dept of Human
Resources, Baltimore, MD
Garry Sitze, Mass Care/Emergency Assistance, FEMA HQ, Washington, DC
Julia Dailey, Texas State Relations Director, American Red Cross, Austin, TX
Alvin Migues, Director, Emergency Disaster Services, The Salvation Army, Dallas,
TX
Engineering Training
“Hurricane Protection for Homes and Commercial Buildings”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
We present a new apparatus to eliminate a roof’s uplift in a storm by a simple wind
force redirection using semi-permeable membranes. Recent wind tunnel
experiments, computer simulations and a field study have proven its functionality.
It is developed to protect homes and commercial buildings. During a training,
workshop and Q&A session you will learn how to install the protection apparatus
and how it works. The presented research and development results will be followed
by an open discussion.
Instructor:
Stefan Siegmund, Professor, Center for Dynamics, TU Dresden, Germany
Evacuation Planning Training
“Partnerships for Animal Mass Evacuation Management”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
Effective mass evacuation management requires planning for the transportation
and care of all creatures, great and small. Animal evacuations can involve
extraordinary resources, including transportation, sheltering, feeding, providing
veterinary care for stressed and/or injured animals. Abandoned and stray animals
can further complicate local evacuation resources.
Identifying local animal
resources and developing partnerships will help local and state jurisdictions manage
their animal mass evacuations.
Instructors:
Jeff Turner, Emergency Management Director, Texas Animal Health Commission,
Austin, TX
T.R. Lansford, Assistant Executive Director, Texas Animal Health Commission,
Austin, TX
Bart Stockbridge, Supervising Inspector, Texas Animal Health Commission,
Beeville, TX
Dawna Michalke, Health Inspector, Texas Animal Health Commission, Fort Worth,
TX
Dwayne Easley, Supervising Inspector, Texas Animal Health Commission,
Hempstead, TX
Dusty Boullion, Health Inspector, Texas Animal Health Commission, Rockdale, TX
Wesley Bissett, Director, Emergency Team, TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine,
College Station, TX
Fire/EMS Training
“New Tools for Managing the Lifecycle of an Incident and Their Advantages to
your Successful Preparedness, Response and Recovery Efforts”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, level 4
Ever wonder how we can do our jobs more efficiently? What technologies are
useful and available?
This session will provide an overview of some of the latest “tools” available that can
help manage the lifecycle of an incident from mitigation and preparation, though
response and recovery. Some of the tools are more complex and some are so easy
you wish you had thought of it!
Moderator:
William A Wagner, III, Fire Chief, ret. Islamorada, FL
Speakers:
Brian Head, Director of Response and Emerging Markets, Buffalo Computer
Graphics, Blasdell, NY
Lance Ross, Emergency Preparedness Resource Group (EPRG), St. Paul, MN
Timothy Masterson, Disaster LAN Product Manager, Buffalo Computer Graphics,
Blasdell, NY (invited)
Justin Hansen, Information Systems Analyst, WSB & Associates, Inc.,
Minneapolis, MN
Engineering
“Designing for Disaster-Resistant Insulated Reinforced Concrete Shell SingleFamily Houses in FEMA Zone V”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19B, level 4
Structural
and architectural approaches to building low-cost single family
CANCELLED
residential units that examine the past half-century successful performance of
thousands of highly disaster-resistant reinforced concrete shell houses subjected
to frequent earthquakes, plus a number of hurricane wind velocities of 180 mph +.
The presentation addresses special considerations for building shell houses, being
noticeably heavier than conventional wood-framed houses on elevated platforms
described in FEMA publication 550 for Coastal Zone V.
Speaker:
Kenneth A. Luttrell, P.E., Vice President CYS Structural Engineers, Inc.,
Sacramento, CA
Public Education/Media Training
“Using Storytelling Techniques to Support Your Message”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
The session will cover the basics of storytelling as a critical communication
technique. Research shows that individuals, if approached with a story, are more
likely to remember the conversation and the information shared. The vital
messaging that needs to be shared to communities in cases of hurricanes or
tropical storms, calls for this training. The training will be divided into the
following sessions:
Crafting a Compelling Story
• How to adapt key storytelling techniques
• Telling your organization’s story - strategies to engage the listener
• Tips to tell the right stories that will leverage your strengths
Where to Begin When Creating Your Story
• Distinguish you and your message from others
• Telling your story so it has the maximum impact
• Examples of stories that work
Telling Your Story
• How to cut out the noise from inconsistent messaging
• Which techniques are most relevant in today's world
• How to bring others around your message to share your story
Instructors:
Thad Hicks, The Salvation Army, Jackson, MS
Brian Norcross, Senior Hurricane Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
Michael Lowry, Storm Surge Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
Private Industry Training
“Business Continuity Plan – Let’s Get it Started - Attend, Participate, Plan and
Go Home a Continuity Hero”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
This is not your average sit and listen training session. Attend “Business Continuity
Plan – Let’s Get It Started” and you leave with a basic continuity framework and a
tool kit to carry on the planning effort when you return to your office.
This training session uses a combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on
activities that lead to the development of a basic continuity framework. For those
just beginning their planning efforts, this session will provide an interim level of
preparedness. For the more advanced participants, this session will also provide
innovative concepts that the seasoned profession can apply. This session is
appropriate for public and private sector colleagues.
Moderator:
Justen Noakes, Director of Emergency Preparedness, H-E-B, San Antonio, TX
Instructor:
Kimberly Carty, Senior Emergency Management Consultant, Witt|O’Brien’s,
Washington, DC
Evacuation Planning Training
“It’s Going to be HOW Deep? Plans for Utilizing the NHC’s Inundation
Graphics”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
The National Hurricane Center has introduced a new graphical product indicating
the potential storm surge inundation depth within coastal communities. This is the
first of two sessions in which users will discuss how their organization intends to
use the product in activities related to evacuation decision making.
Moderator:
Stewart Baker, Hurricane Program Manager, VA Department of Emergency
Management, North Chesterfield, VA
Speakers:
Chris Moore, Preparedness Section, Texas Division of Emergency Management,
Austin, TX
Justin Kier, Hurricane Program Manager, SC Emergency Management Division,
West Columbia, SC
Neil Batista, Miami-Dade County Emergency Management, Miami, FL
Frank McCarton, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, NY OEM, Brooklyn, NY
Fire/EMS Training
“Multi-Jurisdictional Training Approach for Response to and Recovery from a
Hurricane or Tropical Storm”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
This workshop highlights the benefits and availability of multi-jurisdictional
training for response to or recovery from a hurricane or tropical storm. This type
of training allows multiple cities, counties, and jurisdictions to participate in
training that will connect multiple organizations and jurisdictions together to
exercise current plans for response to or recovery from a hurricane or tropical
storm. The workshop will focus on the benefits and capabilities of multijurisdictional training and how it can increase readiness and response for a region.
Moderator:
Tony Crites, Program Director, TAMU, College Station, TX
Instructors:
Jason Moats, Program Director, TAMU, College Station, TX
Dan Buchanan, Adjunct Instructor, TAMU, College Station, TX
Recovery
“Funding Recovery: Strengthening Community Recovery by Integrating Federal
Disaster Funds”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
Following major federally declared disasters, a multitude of Federal recovery
funding sources are provided to assist States, local governments and eligible
Stafford Act entities recover. Federal partners who provide funds to address
recovery and mitigation needs now include FEMA, HUD, EPA, FTA, FHWA, and
USACE. These funds need to be coordinated and combined with State and local
resources and the needs of public and private utilities. More often than not,
individual agency regulations, policies and processes make coordinating these
Federal recovery sources difficult and problematic for local applicants and States.
Most disaster response professionals wish to assist applicants implement common
sense solutions that not only return damaged community assets to pre-storm
conditions but make them more resilient to future events. They, along with the
applicants, wish to maximize these mitigation actions without increasing the debt
burden on local municipalities and/or lengthening recovery period. How can these
funds be aligned and programmed to maximize their utility and value to the State,
while avoiding duplication risks and endless paperwork? Representatives from New
York’s Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, one of several State agencies tasked
with the recovery from Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Superstorm
Sandy, as well as 2013 declared disasters, will discuss strategies including “Global
Match” that leverage Federal, State and local resources to the maximum possible
efficiency and efficacy. Case studies provided show how to coordinate FEMA, HUD
and EPA funds along with methods that can be enacted on the ground to speed the
use of multiple funding sources to address recovery needs.
Instructors:
Kris Van Orsdel, Director, Infrastructure and Local Government, NY Governor’s
Office of Storm Recovery, New York, NY
Matt Goldstein, Policy Manager, NY Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, New
York, NY
Utilities Training
“Developing Robust Drills and Exercises Across Utilities and Outside the Utility
Sector”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Drills and exercises are crucial in the preparedness and continuous improvement of
utility companies of all types, that being electric, natural gas, water treatment,
wastewater, cellular and wire communications. As utilities embrace emergency
management methodologies, and as they exercise for homeland security purposes,
they are conducting exercises with other types of utilities in their area. As the
successes in these cross-utility exercises grow, utilities are now reaching outside
the utility arena, and conducting exercises with other critical infrastructure
organizations. Presenters will discuss methods to develop these new types of
exercises, and walk the participants through examples of successful exercises and
opportunities that were identified.
Instructors:
Dennis Connelly, Con Edison Emergency Management, New York, NY
Anthony Hurley, NHC Utilities Chair, Toms River, NJ
Recovery Training
“FEMA’s Public Assistance Division 2015 Initiatives: PA Reengineering and PA
Insurance Update”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
FEMA’s Public Assistance Reengineering: Beginning last summer (2014), FEMA
staff led a multi-month effort to “deconstruct” the current state of the PA
process, and convened focus groups of State and FEMA Regional staff to provide
input on potential changes to the program. In the fall, FEMA leadership undertook
an extensive program of interviews, site visits, and data analysis to break down the
current state of PA even further, using lean management frameworks to examine
the root causes of bottlenecks and pain points in the process. Between January and
March of 2015, FEMA leadership engaged in a comprehensive “Share Session” road
show, holding more than 14 workshop sessions with FEMA and State staff, to share
the diagnostic findings and solicit and capture further input on the most important
take-aways and their implications for the future of PA.
Revising FEMA’s Public Assistance Insurance Policy: FEMA is currently
adjudicating comments for the Public Assistance Insurance Policy and expects to
publish the policy in early summer 2015.
An overall insurance implementation plan is being developed to provide field
guidance for consistently employing existing insurance practices as well as
instruction for deploying the new policy. The first phase of this plan is estimated
to be rolled out in the summer of 2015.
This implementation plan includes:
•
Creation of national level doctrine and broad program implementation
efforts to provide a consistent approach
•
Creation, development, and ongoing refinement of the tools required to
support quality control, direct oversight and standardization/documentation of
insurance reductions and requirements at the Applicant and PW level
•
Development of guidance, doctrine, and curriculum course content and
materials necessary to educate and train current and future insurance specialist
cadre members
•
Detailed position descriptions and technical credentialing criteria
necessary to establish and maintain an insurance specialist cadre able to perform
the professional duties required to analyze all supporting policy, claims and PA
Program documentation to consistently apply statute, regulation and FEMA policies.
Moderator:
Teresa Carter, Associate Vice President, Louis Berger, Raleigh, NC
Instructors:
William Roche, Director of Public Assistance, DHS/FEMA, Washington, DC
Response
“Improving Management of Critical Incident Information in the EOC”
Monday, March 30, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
A primary responsibility – and challenge – for an Emergency Operations Center is
to maintain situational awareness by capturing, synthesizing, and disseminating
critical incident information. Such information is used to guide prioritization and
response efforts for damage assessment, debris clearance and removal, utility
restoration, and more. In this workshop, you will hear about Philadelphia OEM’s
efforts to improve and streamline the creation and maintenance of a citywide
common operating picture through development of a web-based application called
the EOC Data Management System. Specifically, this session will provide a firsthand look at the new application, discuss how it addresses common information
management issues, and share lesson learned in developing applications such as this.
Instructor:
Ryan Abbott, Logistics Program Manager, Philadelphia Office of Emergency
Management, Philadelphia, PA
“ABC’s of EOCs”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
A must-see primer for those interested in learning more about an Emergency
Operations Center, and for those considering constructing and operating such a
facility. Listen to a renowned architect go over design considerations in building
such a center. Also, hear emergency managers provide insight on planning for
operating in an emergency operation center environment, and lessons learned in
building a recently completed emergency operation center facility.
Moderator:
John D. Wilson, Chairman, Planning Committee, National Hurricane Conference,
Fort Myers, FL
“Designing and Funding a New EOC in the 21st Century”
I.S.K. Reeves V, President, Architects Design Group, Winter Park, FL
“Incorporating Emergency/Incident Action Planning into the Emergency Operations
Center”
Gerald Campbell, Emergency Manager, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers,
FL
“The D, E, F & G’s of EOCs – Lessons Learned in Building an EOC”
Robert Fite, Chief, Grand Prairie Fire Department, Grand Prairie, TX
“Atlantic Basin Seasonal Hurricane Prediction and the Outlook for the 2015
Season”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
This presentation will investigate Atlantic basis tropical cyclone activity on a
variety of timescales. The causes of observed multi-decadal variability in Atlantic
hurricane frequency will be examined in detail, followed by discussion of the recent
downturn in US land-falling hurricane activity. The seasonal forecast for 2014 will
be reviewed, followed by initial thoughts on the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season.
Recent forecast innovations, such as the two-week predictions currently issued by
CSU will also be discussed.
Speaker:
Phil Klotzbach, PhD, Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric Science,
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Healthcare: Accessibility & Functional Needs
“Findings from People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers on the Use of
Websites and Social Media to Deliver Accessible Emergency Alerts”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting room 12B, 4th level
Researchers from Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy
(CACP) will present their research funded by the Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Integrated Public Alerts and
Warnings System (PAWS). The research focuses on improving the accessibility of
emergency communications for people with disabilities and others with access and
functional needs. The audience will gain insightful knowledge of how best to
implement accessible strategies, consider the online needs of people with
disabilities, as well as learn about new prototypes, such as Early Bird, that the
research team has created to address many of the common issues.
Speaker:
DeeDee Bennett, PhD, Georgia
Communications Policy, Atlanta, GA
Institute
of
Technology
for
Advanced
Public Education/Media Training
“Social Media Boot Camp”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
The training will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to utilize the
latest social media tools to communicate before, during and after a disaster.
Participants will take part in facilitator-led activities beginning with “boot camp”
for beginners to review the tools to communication information to the public. In
this training, participants will learn the benefit of social media and how to get
started (creating/testing accounts in the classroom). Participants will take part in
more advanced facilitator-led activities including reviewing a comprehensive digital
communications plan and discussing content and ways to create content. Through
the use of social media tools, participants will learn and master skills to
disseminate information and monitor, track, measure and analyze social media
traffic before, during and after an event.
Instructors:
Rebeca Mueller, APR, Client Executive, Voce Communications, Brandon, FL
Greg A Padgett, Strategic Communications Analyst-Emergency Management Sr.
Associate, ICF, International – FEMA Region IV, Atlanta, GA
Ian Feldman, City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland
Security, Houston, TX
Michael Walter, Houston Office of Emergency Management, Houston, TX
Brett Carr, Public Information Officer, Mississippi Emergency Management
Agency, Pearl, MS
Response
“State of Texas Hurricane Response and Planning”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Hurricane Ike and Dolly caused considerable damage to the coast of Texas. These
two storms combined caused more than $30 billion in damage to infrastructure,
housing, and ecological structures plus $142 billion in economic damage. In this
session, three Texas General Land Office studies that serve to both aid in the
recovery from these costly storms and prepare for the Texas coast for future
storm impacts will be discussed. Phil Hampsten, the moderator and project
manager for these three studies at the General Land Office, will provide an
overview of the history and implementation of these projects. Following this, the
individual project managers from each of these projects will present the work
conducted and the lessons learned from each study to date.
Moderator:
Phil Hampsten, Project Manager, Texas General Land Office, Austin, TX
Speakers:
“Texas Coastal Derelict Structure Inventory and Removal Assessment”
Kent Hickingbottom, Senior Project Manager, HNTB Corporation, Austin, TX
“Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District – Storm Surge
Suppression Study”
Chris Sallese, Coastal Programs Coordinator, Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation,
Houston, TX
“Texas Coastal Resiliency Study”
Melany Larenas, Senior Project Manager, CB&I, Boca Raton, FL
Hurricane History
“Texas Hurricane Impact History for Decision Makers – Understanding the
Past to Mitigate the Future”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
Texas has a long history for being struck by devastating hurricanes. Fortunately
the last hurricane to make landfall on its coast now dates back to Ike in 2008.
While good news for coastal residents, such lack of more recent landfalls in Texas
make emergency management planning more difficult as more hurricane-naïve
residents move into coastal areas. This workshop goes into details of devastating
hurricanes of Texas’ past and what we can learn from these to prepare for the
future.
Moderator:
Lew Fincher, Hurricane Historian, Galveston County Historical Commission,
Galveston, TX
Speakers:
“Grasping Texas Hurricane Local Impact History: East Texas”
Roger Erickson, WCM, National Weather Service Forecast Office, Lake Charles,
LA
“Grasping Texas Hurricane Local Impact History: Greater Houston/Galveston & the
Upper Texas Coast”
Dan Reilly, WCM, National Weather Service Forecast Office, Houston, TX
“Grasping Texas Hurricane Local Impact History: Corpus Christi & South Texas
Coast
John Metz, WCM, National Weather Service Forecast Office, Corpus Christi, TX
“Grasping Texas Hurricane Local Impact History: Brownsville & the Rio Grande
Valley”
Barry Goldsmith, WCM, National Weather Service Forecast Office, Brownsville,
TX”
“Myths & Lessons, Clearing up the Facts…The Racer’s Storm of 1837 & Others”
Cary J. Mock, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina, Columbia,
SC
“An Overview of Texas Hurricane History”
David Roth, Editor, NOAA’s Texas Hurricane History, Camp Springs, MD (invited)
“Using Your Local Historical Resources to Fully Grasp Your Local Hurricane Impact
History”
Lew Fincher, Hurricane Historian, Galveston County Historical Commission,
Galveston, TX
Recovery Training
“Overview of CDBG Disaster Recovery”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
The purpose of CDBG-DR is to assist communities that received damages from a
federally declared disaster and have not received enough assistance through other
sources. This training session will cover how to write an unmet needs assessment,
action plan, waivers and the differences in regular DCBG and CDBG-DR. In
addition, this session will cover the allowable activities under CDBG-DR.
Moderator:
TBA
Instructors:
Leslie Bean, CDM Smith, Springfield, IL
Vincent Lintz, Program Manager, CDM Smith, Springfield, IL
“Modeling and Simulation in Support of Hurricane Response”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18C, 4th level
How do you know what will happen before it happens? How do you know what to
protect or restore first to minimize the costs of a hurricane in human and
economic terms? This presentation will give an overview of how the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center
conducts advanced modeling, simulation, and analysis of hurricane impacts to
critical infrastructure for real events, scenarios, and exercises. DHS’s analysis can
be used to help pre-position resources or optimize restoration of infrastructure.
The presenters also hope to hear from the audience about how you are using or
would like to use modeling, simulation, and analysis to support your work.
Speakers:
Marilee Orr, Senior Analyst, DHS Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis,
Washington, DC
Kevin L. Stamber, Principal Analyst, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque,
NM
Lori Dauelsberg, Principal Analyst, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Meteorology/Media Training
“Advanced Hurricane Forecast and Storm Surge Topics for the Media”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
This training session aimed at media and broadcast meteorologists will provide
detailed information on the NHC forecast process and explain new NHC storm
surge products. NHC forecasters will discuss tools that are used in forecasting
tropical cyclone genesis and how probabilities of formation are assigned to tropical
disturbances in the 5-day NHC Tropical Weather Outlook. Participants will also
learn how reconnaissance aircraft data are used to analyze tropical cyclones.
Moderator:
Dennis Feltgen, Public Affairs Officer, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Speakers:
“Forecasting Tropical Cyclone Formation: How NHC Determines Probabilities of
Development”
Eric Blake, Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“How NHC Uses Reconnaissance Aircraft Data to Analyze Tropical Cyclones”
James Franklin, Branch Chief, Hurricane Specialist Unit, National Hurricane
Center, Miami, FL
“Understanding the New NHC Storm Surge Products”
Jamie Rhome, Storm Surge Team Lead, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Healthcare: Accessibility & Functional Needs
“An F4 Tornado Hits Winston Medical Center Nursing Home”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12B, 4th level
April, 28, 2014 started out as any other day at WMCNH with the beautiful
sunshine beaming through the windows. The area had been given notice days prior
to be prepared for severe weather as the day progressed. Even though the
morning showed no evidence of what was to come, we began the work day preparing
for the worst. As history shows, the worst is exactly what happened. Winston
County was hit by an F4 tornado around 4:43 pm, with WMC and WMCNH taking a
direct hit.
Listen as the nursing home administrator describes the how the staff implemented
the Emergency Operation Plan that afternoon and how all 114 residents were safely
evacuated and placed within 24 hours of the storm hitting.
Speaker:
Lacy Vowell, RN, Administrator, Winston Medical Center Nursing Home, Louisville,
MS
Recovery
“The Dark Side of the Public Assistance Program: Humpty Dumpty is Not
Better Off on a Stool”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Disasters are political events and not just during response. The recovery phase will
go on for years, could involve funding in the billions of dollars, and there will be
pressure within and between governments to get money flowing to impacted
communities. However, there are many threats that can derail that funding in the
beginning and especially years later. This presentation discusses the risks to
disaster-impacted communities when any of the “legs of the stool,” FEMA, state,
or sub-recipient,” are weak.
Moderator:
Matthew Herlocker, M.Ed, CEM, Director, Disaster Services, CB&I, Sacramento,
CA
Speakers:
Leslie Luke, Deputy Director, County of Los Angeles Office of Emergency
Management, Los Angeles, CA
Paula Logan, Deputy Assistant Director, Texas Division of Emergency Management,
Austin, TX
Ernest B. Abbott, of Counsel, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz,
Washington, DC
“Hurricane Evacuation Decision Making – What’s on the Horizon, Product-wise
and Otherwise…”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
Emergency managers and decision makers will learn about the latest improvements
or changes to tropical cyclone forecast and operational products, and refinements
to the new storm surge inundation graphic and probabilistic products. The latest
research on ways to communicate the evacuation decision will be presented, along
with new decision-support concepts being considered to improve evacuation
decision-making.
Instructors:
“Improvements/Changes to Track, Wind and Operational Products”
Daniel Brown, Senior Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“Refinements to the New Storm Surge Inundation Products”
Jamie Rhome, Storm Surge Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“Communicating the Hurricane Evacuation Decision”
Dr. Jay Baker, Hazards Management Group, Tallahassee, FL
“What’s New in the Development of Decision Making Structures?”
John D. Wilson, Chairman, Planning Committee, National Hurricane Conference,
Fort Myers, FL
Hurricane History
“History and Future of Observing Hurricanes: From Ships to Aircraft to
Satellites”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
The ability to observe hurricanes has evolved enormously over the last century. In
a space of a few decades, forecasters went from being completely surprised by
hurricane landfalls to now being able to monitor systems from their beginnings over
the open ocean. This session will provide details of how limited meteorologists
were with only ship and coastal measurements available, to the dramatic
improvements possible when aircraft reconnaissance began in the 1940s, to the
equally important advent of satellite imagery in the 1960s. Finally, the session
concludes with a discussion of how hurricanes will be observed in the future.
Moderator:
Lew Fincher, Hurricane Consulting, Inc., Friendswood, TX
Speakers:
“Ships, Coastal Stations and Radar”
Chris Landsea, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“Aircraft Reconnaissance”
Andrew Hagen, ImpactWeather, Inc.- A StormGeo Company, Houston, TX
“Satellites”
Pat Fitzpatrick, Mississippi State University
“Future of Hurricane Monitoring”
Gary Wick, NOAA Earth System Research Lab, Physical Sciences Division
Public Education/Media Training
“Best Practices in Social Media”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
The session will provide participants examples of some Best Practices in Social
Media engagement – in addition to knowledge and skills regarding social media and
its uses; current tools, methods, and models to properly make use of social media
for crisis communication. Some examples will include: a review of the Georgia snow
storm of 2014 and the role Facebook played; how Mississippi Emergency
Management Agency, and City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security
and Emergency Management Agency are applying social media in promoting disaster
preparedness. This training session will also provide an overview of Florida’s VOST
Program and how this partnership is helping monitor social media during major
events.
Instructors:
Rebeca Mueller, APR, Client Executive, Voce Communications, Brandon, FL
Greg A Padgett, Strategic Communications Analyst-Emergency Management Sr.
Associate, ICF, International – FEMA Region IV, Atlanta, GA
Brett Carr, Public Information Officer, Mississippi Emergency Management
Agency, Pearl, MS
Julie Kay Roberts, External Affairs Director, FL Division of Emergency
Management, Tallahassee, FL
David Merrick, Director, Center for Disaster Risk Policy, FSU, Tallahassee, FL
Michael Walter, Houston Office of Emergency Management, Houston, TX
Ian Feldman, City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland
Security, Houston, TX
Response Training
“Emergency Management Assistance Compact: The Process of EMAC”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), established in 1996
stands today as the cornerstone of mutual aid. The EMAC aid agreement and
partnership between member states exist because all states share a common
enemy: the threat of disaster. EMAC is the first national disaster relief compact
since the Civil Defense and Disaster Compact of 1950 to be ratified by Congress.
All 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U. S. Virgin Island
have enacted legislation to become EMAC members. The strength of EMAC, and
the quality that distinguishes it from other plans and compacts, lies in its ability to
move any resource from state to state, including medical resources.
During hurricanes, access to essential resources, enable local government to
manage emergencies more effectively. This training will focus on the 5 phase
EMAC process, Pre-Event Preparation, Activation, Request & Offer, Response and
Reimbursement, which enables local government to request and provide assistance
through EMAC more effectively. This session will also clarify specific actions taken
by local government within each phase as well as the concept of Mission Ready
Packaging, part of pre-event preparation: and whose use will greatly facilitate
identifying, mobilizing and deploying city, county and state resources for both
intrastate and interstate. This session will conclude with and overview of initiating
the reimbursement phase with resource providers, assisting state and deployed
personnel.
Moderator:
Rupert H. Lacy, Harrison County Emergency Management Agency, Gulfport, MS
Instructor:
Leon Shaifer, EMAC Senior Advisor, National Emergency Management Agency,
Brandon, MS
Amateur Radio
“Disaster Communications”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
This training session will discuss general Amateur Radio involvement in the tropical
events of the past several years as well as historic hurricanes of significance.
Specific presentation topics will include National Hurricane Center (NHC) Director
Dr. Rick Knabb who will discuss the importance of Amateur Radio surface reports
to the hurricane forecasting process, an overview of WX4NHC-The National
Hurricane Center radio station, the Hurricane Watch Net, and the VoIP Hurricane
Net. We will also take an in-depth look at the New England and Mid-Atlantic
response to Hurricane Sandy. For the second time at an Amateur Radio Workshop
session at the National Hurricane Conference, a presentation and overview of the
Canadian Hurricane Centre Amateur Radio Operations will be given. An ARRL
Emergency Communication High-Level Overview will be presented and other topics
on Amateur Radio response to significant disaster related events will be presented
as time allows.
Moderator/Speaker:
Rob Macedo, VoIP Hurricane Net, New Bedford, MA
Speakers:
Bobby Graves, Hurricane Watch Net
Dr. Richard Knabb, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Jim Palmer, VoIP Hurricane Net, New Bedford, MA
Bob Robichaud, Canadian Hurricane Centre, Fall River, Nova Scotia
Recovery Training
“Debris Monitoring and Contracting”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
½ day training session on debris monitoring and contracting.
Instructors:
Nelson Lucius, Manager, True North Emergency Management, Fort Worth, TX
Derrick Tucker, Project Manager, True North Emergency Management, Fort
Worth, TX
Kingsley McCallum, Project Manager, True North Emergency Management, Fort
Worth, TX
Jim Garner, Project Manager, True North Emergency Management, Fort Worth,
TX
Shane Stovall, EM Program Coordinator, True North Emergency Management, Fort
Worth, TX
Jason Dobronz, Senior EM Specialist, True North Emergency Management, Fort
Worth, TX
Encore Presentation:
“Atlantic Basin Seasonal Hurricane Prediction and the Outlook for the 2015
Season”
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting room 17A, 4th level
This presentation will investigate Atlantic basis tropical cyclone activity on a
variety of timescales. The causes of observed multi-decadal variability in Atlantic
hurricane frequency will be examined in detail, followed by discussion of the recent
downturn in US land-falling hurricane activity. The seasonal forecast for 2014 will
be reviewed, followed by initial thoughts on the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season.
Recent forecast innovations, such as the two-week predictions currently issued by
CSU will also be discussed.
Speaker:
Philip Klotzbach, PhD, Research Scientist, Department of Atmospheric Science,
University of Colorado, Fort Collins, CO
DELEGATE RAP SESSIONS Wednesday, April 1, 2015 8:30 am to 10:00 am
An opportunity for professionals to meet and share ideas with their
fellow professionals on issues of mutual interest.
Business, Industry & Economic Stability RAP
“Business Survival: Risks, Insurance and Other Preparedness Realities”
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
Reducing risk is important for any business to attain its maximum potential. After
a disaster, either natural or manmade, the steps taken in advance to reduce risk
may be essential to business survival. Insurance is a significant, but not the only,
piece of the preparation process. While there is an insurance product for almost
every type of event that predicates business disruption, the associated costs can
discourage business owners from making the purchase. That’s why a risk
assessment should take place first and businesses need to plan for the times when
calamities cannot be eliminated. This session will address the ways in which
emergency managers and other community leaders can support business
preparedness by sharing steps business operators can take to assess risks,
evaluate insurance options and effectively employ preparedness measures and
recovery resources.
Facilitators:
Lynne McChristian, Insurance Information Institute, Tampa, FL
Barry Morgeson, Enterprise Manager, Time Warner Cable, Coppell, TX
Recovery RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
Facilitator:
William Roche, Director of Public Assistance, DHS/FEMA, Washington, DC
Public Education/Media RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
A gathering of key media personalities instrumental in the forecasting and
reporting of hurricanes to discuss issues and answer questions about the upcoming
season. The session will also take a look at how social media plays an important role
in communicating information on natural disasters.
Facilitator:
Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President/CEO, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc.
(FLASH), Tallahassee, FL
Participants:
Dr. Rick Knabb, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Max Mayfield, Hurricane Specialist, WPLG-TV, Pembroke Park, FL
Bryan Norcross, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle Science Writer, Houston, TX
Bill Read, Hurricane Specialist, KPRC-TV, Houston, TX
Alex Garcia, Chief Meteorologist, FOX 29, San Antonio, TX
Insurance RAP
“Are Seasonal Forecasts Echoes in the Wind? Getting People to Pay Attention
and React”
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am.
Location: Meeting Room 12B, 4th level
Facilitator:
Mark Hanna, Manager, Insurance Council of Texas, Austin, T
Utilities RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room, 15, 4th level
Facilitator:
Anthony Hurley, Utilities Professional, Toms River, NJ
Volunteer Agencies RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Facilitator:
Patrick Crawford, Director, Feeding America, Chicago, IL
Fire/EMS RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
Facilitator:
William Wagner, III, President, Early Alert, Inc. & All Hazard Training,
Tavernier, FL
Healthcare/Accessibility and Functional Needs RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18D, 4th level
Facilitator:
Elizabeth Davis, Executive Director, EAD & Associates, LLC, Brooklyn, NY
Engineering RAP
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
Facilitator:
Laura Ghorbi, P.E. CFM, Civil Engineer, AECOM, Germantown, MD
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Dedicated time to tour Exhibit Hall
GENERAL SESSION
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: Ballroom D, Level 4
Moderator: John Wilson, Chair, National Hurricane Conference
1:00 pm
2014 Hurricane Season Review - Dr. Rick Knabb, Director, National
Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
1:30 pm
Craig Fugate, Administrator, FEMA, Washington DC
2:00 pm
Nim Kidd, Assistant Director, Texas Division of Emergency
Management, Austin, TX
2:30 pm
Annual Awards Presentation
3:00 pm
Coffee Break
3:30 pm
Panel: Insights Learned from Hurricane Events over the Past Decade
“Trends in Coastal Property Risk in the Post-Katrina Decade” -- Dr.
Steven Weisbart, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist, Insurance
Information Institute
“Challenges in Achieving Hurricane Resiliency for Critical
Infrastructure” -- Bill Read, Former Director, National Hurricane
Center; and Senior Fellow, Stephenson Disaster Management Institute
“Losses Avoided as a Result of Adopting and Enforcing HurricaneResistant Building Codes” –- Ed Laatsch, Chief, Building Science
Branch at DHS FEMA, Washington, DC
“Building Code Safety and How Hurricane-Prone States Measure Up” –
- Julie Rochman, President & CEO, IBHS, Tampa, FL
5:00 pm
Adjourn
A1 Meteorology/Hydrology Workshop
“The State of Hurricane Forecasting”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
This workshop will discuss the current state of tropical cyclone track and intensity
forecasting. NHC hurricane forecasters will talk about recent forecast challenges
and trends in NHC forecast accuracy. The session will conclude with a look at what
is being done to improve hurricane forecasts.
Moderator:
Chris Landsea, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Speakers:
“Track Forecasting at the National Hurricane Center” Dr. Michael Brennan, Sr Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami,
FL
“Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasting”
Eric Blake, Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“Recent Trends in Forecast Accuracy and Future Prospects”
James Franklin, Branch Chief, Hurricane Specialist Unit, National Hurricane
Center, Miami, FL
B1 Private Industry Workshop
“Advanced Tornado Detection and Warning Capabilities”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
With the increased tornado activity over the past five years, tornado warning
fatigue can lead to reduced readiness and delayed response from citizens. This
session will talk about the advancements in tornado detection capabilities and
technology from both the public sector and the private sector, what makes it
better, and how it can save lives..
Moderator:
Justen Noakes, Director of Emergency Preparedness, H-E-B, San Antonio, TX
Speakers:
Hans K. Wagner, CPM, CEO, Early Alert, Inc. and All Hazard Training, Palm City,
FL
John Metz, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service,
Corpus Christi, TX
C1 Recovery Workshop
“Ins and Outs of CDBG Reimbursement Program”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Learn about the new CDBG Program available to assist homeowners affected by
hurricanes. The 2013 Federal Register allows Homeowner Reimbursement as an
eligible activity for the first time. During this presentation, you will learned about
the federal requirements, application requirements, pros and cons of running a
reimbursement program and what is needed to run a reimbursement program.
Speaker:
Leslie Bean, CDM Smith, Springfield, IL
D1 Response Workshop
“The Texas Animal Response Operations Coordination Center (AROCC) – Animal
Management in Tropical Cyclone Situations”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
The Texas AROCC was founded in 2006, in response to Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, to integrate state level emergency management and animal industry partners
to serve animal needs during disasters. It is the first such center in the United
States and can be activated physically and/or virtually. The AROCC is staffed
with veterinary professionals who provide assistance and advice. It coordinates
the Agency’s mission ready packages, including animal branch management teams,
expedient sheltering and animal search and rescue operations.
Speakers:
Dee Ellis, Texas State Veterinarian/Executive Director, Texas Animal Health
Commission, Austin, TX
T.R. Lansford, Assistant Director, Texas Animal Health Commission, Austin, TX
Amanda Bernhard, Asst to Executive Director, Texas Animal Health Commission,
Austin, TX
Jeff Turner, Emergency Management Director, Texas Animal Health Commission,
Austin, TX
E1 Business, Industry & Economic Stability Workshop
“Economic Recovery and Resiliency: Tools, Tips and Trends”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 19A, 4th level
The last decade has marked a number of catastrophic disasters that have revealed
business recovery resource gaps and significant challenges to economic resiliency.
The experience has also ignited the engagement of new private sector partners,
integrated disaster preparedness in economic development planning and inspired
creative thinking to develop tools that support more effective economic recovery
and resiliency in communities. Speakers will address the progress that has been
made to address the economic challenges facing communities in disaster and will
share specific examples of recovery and resiliency tools that can be replicated in
communities across the country.
Moderator:
Tom Serio, Sr. Consultant, Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery, Verizon
Wireless, Boca Raton, FL
Speakers:
Mickie Valente, President, Valente Strategic Advisers, LLC, St. Petersburg, FL
Jeffery Sjostrom, President, Galveston Economic Development Partnership,
Galveston, TX
John Johnson, Executive Director, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments,
Oklahoma City, OK
F1 Evacuation Planning Workshop
“The HURREVAC Decision Support Tool: Today and the Future”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18D, 4th level
This session will cover the status of the current Operation, Maintenance, and
Training program; provide an overview of recent features that have been added to
the software; and look at the ongoing project to develop the next generation of
HURREVAC. Government emergency managers who use HURREVAC are encouraged
to attend.
Moderator:
TBA
Speakers:
“Status of HURREVAC for the 2015 Season”
Chris Penney, NHP Manager, US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, MD
“New HURREVAC Enhancements from the Developer”
Karen Townsend, President, Sea Island Software, Richmond, VA
“The Next Generation of HURREVAC”
Robert Hallowell, Associate Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
G1 Evacuation Planning Workshop
“Our People are Different! Comparisons of Evacuation Behavior from Place to
Place and Storm to Storm”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
A summary of empirical findings by social science researchers who have completed
studies of evacuation behavior in a variety of locations and storms.
Moderator/Speaker:
Jay Baker, Hazards Management Group, Inc., Tallahassee, FL
Speakers:
Mike Lindell, Seattle, WA
Hugh Gladwin, Florida International University, North Miami, FL
Don Lewis, Atkins Global, Tallahassee, FL
H1 Tropical Islands/Latin America Workshop
“Youth as a Valuable Disaster Risk Reduction Resource: An Exploration of the
Youth Emergency Action Committee Model in Jamaica”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
Catholic Relief Services, with support from USAID/OFDA and in partnership with
CARITAS, is implementing the Youth Emergency Action Committees (YEAC)
project in vulnerable communities in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada and the Dominican
Republic. This project is based and built upon the experiences and successes of
the Community Risk Reduction through Youth Emergency Action Committees in
Urban Neighborhoods of Kingston, Jamaica project (YEAC 2009-2011). Project
activities include the formation and strengthening of YEACs in highly vulnerable
communities; engaging youth as leaders in a process of community risk reduction;
training community members in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management
(DPMM); developing community hazard risk reduction plans and selecting, planning
and implementing hazard risk mitigation activities. Specific accomplishments of
each island-nation will be detailed in this session by YEAC members themselves.
Moderator:
John Kimbrough, Regional Advisor, U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance,
USAID/OFDA/LAC, Aruba, Dutch Caribbean
Speakers:
Jody-Ann Anderson, Program Manager for the English Speaking Caribbean at
Catholic Relief Services
Dwayne “Major” Francis, Project Manager, St. Patrick’s Rangers, Kingston,
Jamaica
I1 Fire/EMS Workshop
“Sandy – Lessons Learned Two Years Later”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
Two years after the passage of the storm there are still lessons the fire service
can learn, not only from the heavily impacted areas in the surge inundation zone,
but from areas that suffered less damage to the infrastructure. Sandy proved to
be a real test of all the years of fire service action planning by the Nassau County
Fire Service. In this session we will discuss the problems related to the “newness”
of plans, on-going plan training and getting confidence in plan application, along with
testing technologies. After Action Reports revealed current needs and shortfalls
during this type of emergency. Planning must be on-going and always building on a
foundation of incident management functional disciplines. Post storm exercises
were done to reinforce confidence in the plan as well as to stress the plan to reveal
its problems. This presentation will show attendees that the NHC “lessons
learned” sessions can be very important tools as they prepare for the next storm
to hit their community.
Moderator:
Chief John Baroni, Co-Chair, Nassau County Fire Commission, BEOCC, Long Island,
NY
Speakers:
Commissioner James Mezey, Vice Chair, Nassau County Fire Commission, Long
Island, NY
Stephen Kluck, Assistant Fire Marshall, Nassau County Fire Marshall’s Office,
Long Island, NY
Honorary Chief John Frasier, Co-Coordinator, 2nd Battalion EOC, City of Long
Beach
J1 Mass Care Workshop
“State Credit for Mass Care Donated Resources”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 18C, 4th level
This session addresses how whole community mass care partners can support State
and local governments through donated resources (staff time and material) credit
to offset the 25% state/local cost share after a major presidential declaration or
an emergency declaration. This credit may be applied towards category-bemergency protective measures. The presentation will include an overview of
FEMA’s Donated Resources Policy, and discuss the types of staff time (paid and
volunteer) and material resources and the appropriate documentation required by
whole community partners to ensure that states can benefit from the credit.
Moderator:
Peggy Mott, Program Specialist, FEMA Recovery, Washington, DC
Speakers:
Dante Gliniecki, Emergency Preparedness Manager, Fire Department,
Independence, MO
Howard Stronach, Branch Chief, FEMA Public Assistance Division, Washington, DC
Marty McKellips, Regional CEO, American Red Cross, Austin, TX
K1 Insurance/Mitigation Workshop
“Communicating Risk: Is Anyone Listening”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 am
Location: Meeting Room 12B, 4th level
The average homeowner or business owner typically does very little to proactively
protect their property. Despite repeated weather warnings, the prospect of
potential insurance savings and other financial and safety incentives, most people
are fairly ambivalent about the importance of being proactive with mitigation.
People want a nice place to live, but structural integrity is rarely on their radar.
What does it take to make people mitigate? This session will focus on what’s
working and what’s not in continued combined efforts to build a disaster-resilient
population. Both the Institute for Business & Home Safety and the Insurance
Information Institute have done considerable research into how people view risk
and what motivates them to prepare for disaster. Those insights and survey
results will be shared at this session to provide steps necessary to gain the
attention of vulnerable populations and combat complacency.
Moderator and Speaker:
Lynne McChristian, Insurance Information Institute, New York, NY
Speakers:
Tiffany O’Shea, Director of Public Affairs, Insurance Institute for Business &
Home Safety, Tampa, FL
Mark Hanna, Manager, Public Relations & Membership, Insurance Council of Texas,
Austin, TX
L1 Mitigation Planning
HUD National Disaster Resilience Programs
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 8:30 am to 10:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12A, 4th level
This session will highlight recent disaster recovery and resilience efforts of the
US Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the current $1 billion
National Disaster Resilience Competition and $14 billion in disaster recovery funds
allocated in the past two years.
Moderator/Speaker:
Marion Mollegen McFadden, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs
US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
A2 Meteorology/Hydrology Workshop
“NWS Storm Surge Products – Plan for 2015 and Beyond”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
The NHC has introduced new graphical storm surge products within the past few
years. These products will be discussed during this session and participants will
have a chance to share their first impressions of the new potential storm surge
flood map that debuted during Hurricane Arthur in July 2014. The session will
conclude with information on plans for a new storm surge watch/warning graphic
for 2015, and an experimental NWS storm surge watch/warning planned in 2016.
Moderator:
James Franklin, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Speakers:
“How Storm Surge Prediction are Made”
Robbie Berg, Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“First Impressions of the New Potential Storm Surge Flood Map”
Robbie Berg, Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“Storm Surge Watch/Warning: What are the Plans for 2015 and Beyond?”
Jamie Rhome, Storm Surge Team Lead, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
B2 Public Education/Media Workshop
“The Risk Communication Challenge”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
One of the greatest challenges facing forecasters and emergency management
officials is to design natural-hazard communication strategies that successfully
encourage individuals in threatened areas to take appropriate protective actions—
both in their responses to immediate threats as well as their long-term decisions
about housing and personal risk management. Behavioral studies - both pre-event
and post-hurricane - suggest that communication efforts have not been as
effective as they might be. Individuals living in areas prone to flood risk have been
found to chronically underinsure, individuals fail to evacuate in the face of explicit
warnings when faced with hurricane risks and few take protective actions to
mitigate impacts. This workshop will focus on the findings of recent post-storm
survey and will present some innovative strategies to address our public
education/outreach challenge.
Moderator:
Bryan Norcross, Senior Hurricane Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
Speakers:
“The Dynamics of Hurricane Risk Perception: Real-Time Evidence from the 2012
Atlantic Hurricane Season”
Dr. Jay feld, Hazard Management Group, Tallahassee, FL
“How Does the Public Perceive Risk?”
Dr. Laura Myers, Deputy Director and Research Scientist, Center for Advanced
Public Study, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
“Mobile Risk Communication System”
Bryan Norcross, Senior Hurricane Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
“Communicating Storm Surge Probabilities”
Michael Lowry, Storm Surge Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
C2 Recovery Workshop
“Office of the Inspector General: We Really are Here to Help—REALLY!!”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Looking at the past is no longer enough. Since 2013, the DHS Office of Inspector
General has transitioned to a more balanced, proactive approach to auditing
disaster relief funds. This approach addresses problems before grant applicants
have spent the majority of taxpayer funds, while focusing on the root causes of
problems. We designed our new audit business model to help FEMA and its state
and local partners develop solutions early, not just deal with the aftermath of our
audit reports.
Moderator:
Paige Hamrick, Audit Manager, Office of the Inspector General-Audit,
Department of Homeland Security, Frisco, TX
Speaker:
Tonda Hadley, Office of the Inspector General-Audit, Department of Homeland
Security, Frisco, TX
D2 Response Workshop
“Defense Support of Civil Authorities”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
The Defense Support of Civil Authorities, or DSCA, workshop will focus on key
aspects of DoD’s multifaceted role in hurricane preparedness and response,
covering such topics as requesting DoD assistance, immediate response, mutual aid
agreements, planning, as well as the role of the U.S. Northern Command, the
National Guard, Defense Coordinating Officers, Defense Agencies, and DoD
installations.
Moderator:
Clark R. Lystra, Civilian Advisor, Defense Support of Civil Authorities,
Department of Defense, Washington, DC
Speakers:
Joe Mayorga, Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of
Defense, Washington, DC
Don Lapham, Director, Domestic Preparedness Support Initiative, Department of
Defense, Washington, DC
Tim Russell, Deputy, Future Operations, U.S. Northern Command, Colorado
Springs, CO
Colonel Wes McClellan, National Guard Bureau, Colorado Springs, CO
Colonel Michael Oliveri, Defense Coordinating Officer, FEMA, Region VI, Denton,
TX
Mark Roupas, Policy Analyst, USACE, Washington, DC
E2 Business, Industry & Economic Stability Workshop
“Essentials of an Economic Recovery Action Plan”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19A, 4th level
What happens when a community faces a major economic disruption? Whether it is
natural (fire, tornado, floods) or manmade (plant closures); what are some best
practices public and private stakeholders should understand to rebuild communities
and building resilience? This session will engage participants in an exercise to
develop an action plan to instill resiliency and accelerate economic recovery.
Trainers will share plans and practices that have successfully support economic
recovery in communities throughout the country.
Speaker:
Mickie Valente, President, Valente Strategic Advisers, LLC, St. Petersburg, FL
F2 Engineering Workshop
“Resilient Design Outreach”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18D, 4th level
This session will include three presentations that introduce programs and
publications that can be used to make resilience possible for a variety of
stakeholders. This session will highlight programs for design professionals, at-risk
communities and homeowners.
Speakers:
“Engineering – Resilient Design Guide”
Tim Smail, Senior Vice President, Engineering, FLASH, Tallahassee, FL
“Strategies for Bringing Resilient Building Practices to At Risk Communities”
Alex Cary, Manager, Fortified Coastal Programs, IBHS, Tampa, FL
G2 Evacuation Planning Workshop
“Can You Hear Me Now? Evacuation Notice Dissemination in the Smartphone
Age”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
Examples from state and local emergency managers as to how they disseminate
evacuation notices and other real-time information to cell phone and other digital
users.
Moderator:
John Wilson, Planning Committee Chair, National Hurricane Conference, Fort
Myers, FL
Speakers:
Mark Lucero, Engineering Branch Chief, IPAWS, FEMA, Washington, DC
Lesley Turner, Sr Account Executive, Everbridge, Inc. Glendale, CA
Adam Norige, Asst Group Leader, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA
Paul Winter, Advanced Solutions Architect, Verizon Wireless, Tallahassee, FL
H2 Tropical Islands/Latin America Workshop
“Building Resilience through Community Participation – A Youth Perspective in
Saint Lucia”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
The Youth Emergency Action Committees (YEACs) of Saint Lucia which is made up
of At Risk Youth in three target communities has evolved over the period 20112015 with a number of community interventions in the area of disaster risk
reduction. This presentation will focus on the formation of the youth, ranging
from 12 to 35 years, who have received training in leadership skills, selfempowerment, emergency management, community simulations and the building of
partnerships with a number of agencies. It will also highlight the myriad challenges
faced by the young people, who despite the challenges, strive to make positive
contributions to community development and to their own personal growth.
Moderator:
Clive Lorde, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, USAID/OFDA LAC/IRG,
Barbados
Speakers:
Marcia Haywood, Regional Coordinator, CARITAS, Antilles
Allister Marina Phillip, Project Manager for the Youth Emergency Action
Committees of Saint Lucia
I2 Fire/EMS Workshop
“Fire Rescue Support with Coastal Evacuations”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
An overview of the evacuation process will be presented with a focus on possible
responsibilities of the fire service. A timeline development tool will be discussed
and recommendations on how to incorporate it into a local response.
Local fire officials will discuss specific actions they have undertaken in previous
events where a coastal evacuation was possible and in situations where coastal
evacuations were ordered and implemented. Additionally, best practices will be
presented concerning fire personnel safety in a coastal evacuation.
Upon conclusion of the workshop, participants will be able to:
Identify milestones that must be accomplished in order to alert, mobilize and
complete a coastal evacuation.
Develop a timeline of actions that must be completed prior to the initiation of an
evacuation.
What the fire department’s responsibility is, may be or should be in support of a
coastal evacuation.
Moderator/Speaker:
Chuck Lanza, retired Chief, Broward County Fire Department, Fort Lauderdale, FL
J2 Mass Care Workshop
“Infectious Disease in Congregate Care”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18C, 4th level
This session will provide an overview of past experiences in congregate disaster
shelters and discuss potential factors that may contribute (crowding, population
characteristics, etc.) and mitigate (eg role of surveillance, hygiene and sanitation)
spread of communicable disease and conditions. Potential challenges for shelter
operations will be offered. In addition, the role of local and state public health in
emergency response and sheltering activities will be outlined.
Moderator:
Neil McGurk, Division Disaster Director, American Red Cross, Austin, Texas
Speakers:
Dr. Umair Shah, Executive Director, Harris County Public Health & Environmental
Svcs, Houston, TX
CDR Miguel A. Cruz, PhD, MPH, Office of Environmental Health Emergencies,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jeff Hoogheem, Deputy Director of Preparedness, Texas Department of State
Health Services, Austin, TX
K2 Insurance/Mitigation Workshop
“Flood Insurance: Government Backed vs Private Market Alternatives”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12B, 4th level
Private market flood insurance is nothing new. Many insurance companies have long
histories offering flood protection to their own policyholders, particularly to
owners of high-dollar-value homes where it is part of a comprehensive insurance
package. This session will provide an update on the National Flood Insurance
Program and offer insight into the flood options currently available from the
private marketplace. Federal legislation requires that flood coverage from private
insurers be at least as broad as the coverage from the federal government;
however private flood coverage allows for more flexibility by offering options for
additional coverage not contained in the federal program. Private flood coverage
for a wide-ranging population is currently available from surplus lines carriers, such
as certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Surplus lines carriers are not
regulated by state insurance departments and must overcome several barriers of
entry into the marketplace. As a result, unlike the federal program, they can
selectively choose which risks that want to insure. This may, in fact, be the
alternative that creates the tipping point for the inevitable privatization of the
majority of the national flood insurance program. This session presents the
similarities and differences between federal and private-market flood insurance.
It will also provide insight into the overall flood threat which is the #1 natural
disaster in the U.S.
Moderator:
Lynne McChristian, Florida Representative, Insurance Information Institute,
Tampa, FL
Speakers:
Evan Hecht, CEO, The Flood Insurance Agency (TFA), Gainesville, FL
Jeanne Salvatore, Senior VP, Insurance Information Institute, New York, NY
L2 Utilities Workshop
“All Hazards Consortium and the Fleet Movement Initiative”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12A, 4th level
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a multi-state Fleet Response Working Group
was established at the recommendation of the All Hazards Consortium, an
independent entity guided by private sector representatives from multiple sectors
and states. The All Hazards Consortium, in partnership with the Edison Electric
Institute (EEI), supports efforts and organizations that can help expedite the
movement of private sector repair and supply line fleets and resources across
state and international borders, in response to both major disasters and day-today disruptions. In this workshop, you will hear from professionals who represent
fleet owners, from a range of businesses and industries. They will share thoughts,
experiences and provide examples of success stories due to these efforts.
Moderator:
Anthony Hurley, NHC Utilities Chair, Toms River, NJ
Speaker:
Richard (Dick) Price, Industry Liaison, All Hazards Consortium (AHC), Fairview, TX
A3 Meteorology/Hydrology Workshop
“What’s Next from the National Hurricane Center?”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
This session will discuss potential future improvements to NWS and NHC products
and services.
These changes include refined NWS WFO Hurricane Local
Statements and a new local watch/warning product. The new NHC 5-day Graphical
Tropical Weather Outlook (GTWO) will also be discussed and planned changes to
the categorical bins in the Outlook will be presented. The session will end with a
discussion of a proposed plan to give the NWS the option to issue tropical storm
and or/hurricane warnings for pre-tropical cyclone disturbances that are expected
to impact land within 36 hours. Plans for a national tropical cyclone watch/warning
product that is expected to debut in 2016 will also be covered.
Moderator:
Eric Blake, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
Speakers:
“Changes to Local NWS Tropical Cyclone Products and Services in 2015”
David Sharp, Science Operations Officer, National Weather Service, Melbourne,
FL
“Impression of the 5-day Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook and Changes for
2015”
Michael Brennan, Sr Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“Issuing Tropical Storm Warnings for Pre-Tropical Cyclone Disturbances”
Daniel Brown, Sr Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
B3 Public Education/Media Workshop
“The Generational Outreach “Tool Box”: Newer Approaches to Public
Awareness”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
Join communication veterans and rookies to discuss how the combination of
experience and new ideas can advance the future of disaster safety and
preparedness for generations to come. This work will offer a variety of examples
for building our capacity among the nation’s youth and children, young adults and
families, baby boomers and those in-between for disaster preparedness.
Moderator/Speaker:
“Reaching a Mobile Audience with Emergency Messages”
Bryan Norcross, Senior Hurricane Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
Speakers:
“AARP”
Mary Hudak, External Affairs Officer, FEMA Region IV, Atlanta, GA
“Florida’s Hurricane Preparedness Programs for Families, Businesses and Kids”
Julie Roberts, External Affairs Director, Florida Division of Emergency
Management, Tallahassee, FL
Tim Smail, SVP Engineering and Technical Programs, Federal Alliance for Safe
Homes, Inc. (FLASH), Tallahassee, FL
C3 Recovery Workshop
“Debris Plan and Recovery Plan? Why Have Both?”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
All communities benefit from planning efforts. For many years we had a push on
debris planning and started introducing recovery planning, not just long-term, but
the actual disaster recovery those first few weeks to many month/years or so
when the long-term recovery plans kick in. This workshop will walk you through the
“why’s”, the “how’s” and the importance of both of these very different plans.
Moderator:
Kelly De Schaun, Executive Director, Galveston Park Board, Galveston, TX
Speaker:
Teresa Carter, Associate Vice President, Louis Berger, Raleigh, NC
D3 Response Workshop
“Hurricane Arthur Response Operations”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 15, 4th level
Hurricane Arthur made landfall on the North Carolina coast the late evening of
July 3rd in far eastern Carteret County as a Category 2 hurricane. The July 4th
weekend and an intensifying, land falling early season storm made hurricane
evacuation decision making particularly challenging. This workshop explores the
use of new studies and tools that supported the decision making and evacuation of
residents/tourists out of harm’s way. Other response topics will be discussed;
including specific challenges associated with response in a disaster where it was
evident that federal government disaster reimbursement would not be available.
Moderator/Speaker:
Robert (Chip) Patterson, J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
Speakers:
Mike Daniska, NC Department of Public Safety, Raleigh, NC
Doug Haas, NC Department of Public Safety, Raleigh, NC
Charles (Tom) Collins, Director, Pender County Emergency Management, Burgaw,
NC
Katie Webster, NC Division of Emergency Management, Raleigh, NC
E3 Private Industry Workshop
“The Changing Face of Hurricane Meteorology and What it Means to
Businesses”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19A, 4th level
This session will discuss some of the changes to the way meteorologists forecast
hurricanes and changes to the tools they use to communicate impacts to residents
at risk. It will also look at how these changes impact the way businesses prepare
and respond to hurricanes.
Moderator:
Justen Noakes, Director of Emergency Preparedness, H-E-B, San Antonio, TX
Speakers:
Chris Hebert, Manager, TropicsWatch, Impact Weather, Houston, TX
Barry Goldsmith, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service,
Brownsville, TX
John Metz, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service,
Corpus Christi, TX
F3 Engineering Workshop
“Codes and Standards”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18D, 4th level
This session will include three presentations on the current state of building codes
and design standards. Two presentations will discuss the progress made with
regards to disaster resilience in building codes, and one presentation will discuss
the latest research contributing to the design standards for the FORTIFIED
Home program.
Moderator:
TBA
Speakers:
“RICOWI Field Research and Evolving Construction Codes”
Michael Fischer, Director, Building Codes, Kellen Company, New York, NY
“FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Building Code Successes”
Daniel Bass, FEMA Building Science Branch, Washington, DC; and Laura Ghorbi,
AECOM, Germantown, MD
“FORTITIED: Preventing Wind Driven Water Intrusion Through the Roof System”
Alex Cary, Manager, Fortified Coastal Programs, IBHS, Tampa, FL
G3 Evacuation Planning Workshop
“It’s Going to be HOW Deep? Plans for Utilizing the NHC’s Inundation
Graphics”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
The National Hurricane Center has introduced a new graphical product indicating
the potential storm surge inundation depth within coastal communities. This is the
first of two sessions in which users will discuss how their organization intends to
use the product in activities related to evacuation decision making.
Moderator:
Brandon Bolinski, Hurricane Program Manager, FEMA Region IV, Atlanta, GA
Speakers:
“Local Use of Surge Products During Arthur”
Justin Gibbs, Hyde County Emergency Services Director, Swan Quarter, NC
“Hurricane Liaison Team Perspective”
Rebecca Jennings, HLT Team Lead, FEMA, Atlanta, GA
“Communicating the Storm Surge Hazard”
Michael Lowry, Hurricane Specialist, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, GA
H3 Tropical Islands/Latin America Workshop
“YEAC Grenada – A Youth Perspective: Preparing Our Communities”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
This presentation will focus on the formation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
youth groups in three communities in Grenada and their journey from inception to
the present. It will provide a real picture of the various issues surrounding
community DRR with youths as the focal points. From the engaging, organizing,
training phases to actual mobilization of communities. Along the way issues such as
meaningful partnership, commitment, employment, conflict resolution, leadership
and a host of others had to be confronted to ensure success of the ultimate
objective - realizing communities that are more resilient to disasters..
Moderator:
Cecil Shillingford, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, USAID/OFDA
LAC/ENGILITY, Dominica
Speakers:
Francis Darius, Diocesan Coordinator, CARITAS Antilles, Grenada
Dwayne Mitchell, Community Promoter, Youth Emergency Action Committee,
Grenada
I3 Fire/EMS Workshop
“Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) NIMS Typing and the Development of the
National US&R Standard”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19B, 4th level
The FEMA National Integration Center (NIC) has released the updated NIMS
Typing Standards for the Urban Search and Rescue resource (508) as well as some
modifications to the position requirements (509). These new typing standards
introduce new definitions for Type II, Type III, and Type IV US&R Task Forces
that emergency preparedness and response agencies at the local, state, regional,
and national levels need to be aware of when considering a request for these
resources.
The FEMA US&R Branch, along with the FEMA National Preparedness Assessment
Division, the National Integration center, the Emergency Management Assessment
Program, and the State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance have been working
together to develop a new assessment standard for the National US&R System.
This presentation will focus on updating the attendees to the changes in the US&R
Resource types and an overview of the development of the EMAP assessment
standard.
Speaker:
Steven D. Coffman, President, State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance, Dallas,
TX
J3 Mass Care Workshop
“The National Mass Care Exercise”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18C, 4th level
The National Mass Care Exercise held in Florida in 2014 addressed the call in the
National Mass Care Strategy for “an annual national Mass Care system exercise
that focuses on establishing state to federal coordination systems and integrating
staff from key federal, NGO, faith-based organizations and the private sector
into an effective Mass Care multi-agency coordination structure.” This workshop
will review the lessons learned from previous National Mass Care Exercises as well
as review the upcoming 2015 Exercise.
Moderator:
Michael Whitehead, State Mass Care Coordinator, FL Department of Business and
Professional Regulation, Tallahassee, FL
Speakers:
Pam Spring, Director, Office of Emergency Operations, MD Department of Human
Resources, Baltimore, MD
Julia Dailey, Texas State Relations Director, American Red Cross, Austin, TX
Larry Shine, State Mass Care Coordinator, TX Division of Emergency Management,
Austin, TX
K3 Insurance Workshop
“Enter the Drones: Using Unmanned Aircraft in Disaster Recovery”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12B, 4th level
Imagine an unmanned aircraft hovering over a disaster scene moments after the
winds have calmed down. A drone takes photographs of damaged communities and,
instantly, first responders and insurance companies know exactly where to send
resources first. It’s not a scene from science fiction. It’s technology that is
happening now. The use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will increase
dramatically in the near future. The Federal Aviation Administration has allocated
billions to modernize the air traffic control systems nationwide, and part of that
funding is intended to accommodate the commercial use of UAS. There are
numerous regulatory and legal issues to address before UAS become common place,
specifically liability insurance and possible invasion of privacy concerns. This
workshop looks at research into the use of drones, examines how they would be
deployed and what the expected benefits would be, as robots take to the skies to
help professionals on the ground.
Moderator:
Lynne McChristian, Insurance Information Institute, New York, NY
Speakers:
Katy M. Ross, Associate, Wiley Rein, LLP, Washington, DC
Mario D. Mairena, Sr Governmental Relations Manager, Assn for Unmanned
Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Arlington, VA
L3 Healthcare/Accessibility & Functional Needs Workshop
“Disaster Related Reimbursement for Healthcare Facilities”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12A, 4th level
This presentation will orient participants to the basic requirements of the FEMA
Public Assistance Program as it applies to healthcare facilities. Oftentimes
hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities are unaware or have little
familiarity of the types of disaster-related expenditures that may be reimbursed
through the PA program. The discussion will focus on the aspects of the PA
program that are most applicable to healthcare facilities and will discuss specific
requirements organizations will need to meet in order to be eligible for
reimbursement. Additionally, potential conflict arising from other initiatives such
as coalition building will be discussed.
Speaker:
Richard Smith, Yale New Haven Health, New Haven, CT
A4 Hurricane History Workshop
“Eastern Pacific Hurricanes of Baja California and Mainland Mexico”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 17A, 4th level
In 2014, hurricanes of the Northeast Pacific severely impacted both Baja
California and mainland Mexico. With growing coastal populations as well as the
region being an increasingly popular destination for tourists, hurricane strikes in
the area can be devastating. How often do strong hurricanes strike these portions
of Mexico? What are the main impacts? How well are hurricane track and
intensity predicted for the Northeast Pacific basin?
Moderator:
Lew Fincher, Hurricane Consulting, Inc., Friendswood, TX
Speakers:
“Track and intensity Forecast Skill for Northeast Pacific Hurricanes”
Eric Blake, Hurricane Specialist, National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL
“The Great Mexico Hurricane of 1959: Revisiting the Eastern North Pacific’s
Worst Catastrophe”
Andrew Hagen, ImpactWeather, Inc. – A StormGeo Company, Houston, TX
“Chasing Odile: The Ultimate Baja California Hurricane”
Josh Morgerman, iCyclone
B4 Public Education/Media Workshop
“How FEMA’s AMERICA’S PREPARE-ATHON! Campaign is Building Community
Resiliency”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16A, 4th level
America’s PrepareAthon! is a national, grassroots campaign for action to increase
community preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group
discussions, and exercises. The campaign supports communities in promoting the
practice of preparedness actions for a disaster or emergency strikes. This
workshop will provide examples of successful PrepareAthon! initiatives and show
how they are helping to increase community resiliency. Participants will also learn
how to launch an America’s PrepareAthon! campaign in their community.
Moderator/Speaker:
“A Review of the America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign”
Greg A Padgett, Regional Preparedness Liaison, ICF, International – FEMA Region,
IV, Atlanta, GA
Speakers:
“The Tale of Two Cities Promoting a Preparedness Partnership to Building
Community Resiliency”
Chief Roy Acree, Fire Chief and EMA Director, Fire Department and EMA,
Smyrna, GA
“Partnering with the America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign to Promote a State Level
Campaign”
Brett Carr, Public Information Officer, Mississippi Emergency Management
Agency, Pearl, MS
“How Houston’s “May Day” Campaign and the Partnership with the America’s
PrepareAthon! is Promoting Community Resiliency”
Jackie Miller, Mayor’s Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security, Houston, TX
“Spartanburg County’s PrepareAthon: How Spartanburg’s Partnership with Code
Red Supported the City’s America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign”
Doug Bryson, Coordinator, Spartanburg County OEM, Spartanburg, SC
Don Hall, Director of Government Relations, Code Red/Emergency Communications
Network, Ormond Beach, FL
C4 Recovery Workshop
“Improved Disaster Debris Management Through the Use of Mobile
Technology”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 16B, 4th level
Until the arrival of automated technology, disaster debris removal operations had
changed very little over the years. With the newest full featured mobile
technologies, the cost efficiency improvements alone will cause one to re-evaluate
survival in the industry if the wrong technology choice is made. Several case
studies of recent disaster cleanup operations will be used to examine applications
of advanced mobile technology in debris management beyond just the automation
of paper tickets along with how specific mobile features were applied to generate
superior results. These results will show that people in the industry should
carefully evaluate and select the technology they want to use because there is a
significant competitive advantage when a fully featured (rather than minimum
standard) technology is used.
Moderator:
Teresa Carter, Associate Vice President, Louis Berger, Raleigh, NC
Speaker:
Jeffery Dickerson, Tetra Tech, Maitland, FL
E4 Private Industry Workshop
“Risk Analysis Data Mining…How to Strike Gold”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 19A, 4th level
This session will discuss how businesses use data mining and the resulting analysis
to determine what hazards they are most at risk for, helping to prioritize
mitigation projects, determining systems dependencies and understanding reliance
on external vendors.
Moderator:
Justen Noakes, Director of Emergency Preparedness, H-E-B, San Antonio, TX
Speakers:
Richard Smith, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, Yale
New Haven Health System, New Haven, CT
Ed Schlichtenmyer, Business Continuity & Quality Manager, ImpactWeather,
Houston, TX
F4 Engineering Workshop
“High Wind Safe Rooms”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18D, 4th level
This session will include three presentations on the topic of high wind safe rooms.
A safe room is a hardened structure specifically designed to meet FEMA criteria
and provide life-safety protection in extreme wind events, including tornadoes and
hurricanes. The level of protection provided by a safe room is a function of its
design parameters, specifically the design wind speed and resulting wind pressure
and the wind-borne debris load resistance.
Speakers:
“Preview of FEMA’s Revised Safe Room Guidance”
Andrew Herseth, PE, Program Specialist, FEMA Building Science, Arlington, VA;
and Pataya Scott, AECOM, Germantown, MD
“Integrating Safe Rooms and Essential Technologies into Existing and New Public
Safety Facilities”
Susan Gantt, Vice President, Architects Design Group, Winter Park, FL
“Glazing for Hurricanes: CAT 1 to CAT 5”
Patrick Condon, PhD, President, West Tampa Glass, Tampa, FL
G4 Utilities Workshop
“How Have Engineering and Utility Infrastructure Enhancements Better
Prepared the Gulf Region Since 2005?”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 14, 4th level
It has been ten years since the Gulf of Mexico was impacted by a series of
catastrophic hurricanes, most notably Katrina. This panel will highlight how
engineering solutions were developed and how utilities learned from these
experiences. This workshop will cover how utility infrastructure has been
strengthened, and practices have been changed to improve readiness,
preparedness, resiliency, mitigation and continuity of operations.
Moderator:
TBA
Speakers:
TBA
H4 Tropical Islands/Latin America Workshop
“Caribbean Country and Regional Initiatives to Engage Youth in Disaster Risk
Reduction”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18A, 4th level
At least two, small island state youth engagement initiatives will be examined:
Dominica’s Office of Disaster Management Summer Youth DRR Camp
Grenada’s National Agency for Disaster Management’s Youth DRR Champion
Program
Moderator:
Beryl Armbrister, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, USAID/OFDA
LAC/ENGILITY, Bahamas
Speakers:
Cecil Shillingford, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, USAID/OFDA
LAC/ENGILITY, Dominica
Audrey Mullings, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, USAID/OFDA
LAC/ENGILITY, Jamaica
J4 Mass Care Workshop
“Functional and Access Needs in Mass Care”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 18C, 4th level
This session focuses on how to better serve the functional and access needs of
community members through inclusion in planning and response. This presentation
will include a discussion on planning and response considerations, partner
engagement, and resources in functional and access needs support services.
Moderator:
Russell D. Cook, CBCP, Business Continuity Coordinator, Department of Aging and
Disability Services, Austin, TX
Speakers:
Linda Landers, MPA, Regional Disability Integration Specialist, FEMA Region VI,
Denton, TX
Angi English, Executive Director, TX Governor’s Committee on People with
Disabilities, TX
Will O’Neill, Emergency Management Program Coordinator, Texas School Safety
Center, San Marcos, TX
K4 Business, Industry & Economic Stability Workshop
“Engaging, Deploying and Sustaining a Public-Private Partnership for Disaster
Response and Recovery”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12B, 4th level
The last decade has seen the development of many public-private partnerships to
focus on disaster response and recovery. While there are many success stories to
tell there are almost as many challenges to address. Speakers will share their
successes and the challenges they have overcome or have yet to conquer in building
P3s that have been recognized among some of the best in emergency management.
They will engage the workshop participants in an active discussion to identify
methods to motivate partner engagement deploy collaborative response and
recovery missions and sustain momentum.
Moderator:
Mickie Valente, President, Valente Strategic Advisers, LLC, St. Petersburg, FL
Speakers:
Geoffrey T. Stewart, PhD, Professor, Moody College of Business, University of
Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA
Julie Kay Roberts, External Affairs Director, FL Division of Emergency
Management, Tallahassee, FL
Tom Serio, Sr. Consultant, Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery, Verizon
Wireless, Boca Raton, FL
L4 Healthcare: Accessibility & Functional Needs Workshop
“Evacuation Chairs: Recent Research and New Performance Standards”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room 12A, 4th level
Evacuation chairs are increasingly used in high-rises for emergency travel down
stairways. Their use can be considered in any building where stair travel is
required for emergency egress, however. This session will provide an overview of
the different design types of stair descent devices, and will include a discussion of
the requirements made on the device operators and occupants. The session will
also cover the first performance standard for evacuation chairs, ANSI/RESNA
ED-1, which has been adopted by the National Fire Protection Association.
Technical requirements, but also the rationale for device weight capacity,
maneuverability, stability and inspection will be discussed. The information will
help inform purchasers and users of the equipment, including first responders,
building owners, and managers, emergency planners and consumers in the private
and public sectors.
Speaker:
Glenn Hedman, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
RESERVED SEATING COURSES AT THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CONFERENCE:
Certificate courses are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to registered
attendees. You must attend the entire session to earn a certificate so make sure
that you can attend the entire session (1 or 2 days) before signing up.
For questions, or to submit your registration, please contact Lisa Tait (850)9069224 x 106 or Lisa@HurricaneMeeting.com
Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Courses:
#1 L0310 Hurricane Readiness for Inland Communities
Monday, March 30, 2015 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Course Goal: The Hurricane Readiness for Inland Communities course is a 1 day
course based on the L0311 Hurricane Readiness for Coastal Communities. This
course differs from the latter by specifically discussing the inland hazards from
tropical systems, highlighting the inland flood threat. This course also covers the
tools that help analyze these threats, the planning decisions pre-season, prelandfall, and post-storm, with the concept of using a Hurricane Readiness
Checklist.
Target Audience: This course is aimed at local inland emergency managers to build
their capacity to prepare and respond to tropical systems.
#2 L0311 Hurricane Readiness Course for Coastal Communities
Monday, March 30, 2015
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Course Goal: This 1 day course is an introduction to the National Hurricane
Center’s forecast procedures and products and the National Hurricane Program’s
tools for how to incorporate them into planning and response. Topics include
hurricane hazards, how forecasters use model guidance, readiness checklists,
decision aids, and evacuation planning.
Target Audience: This course is intended for planners responsible for developing
or revising hurricane operations plans and procedures for coastal communities.
#3 L0202 Debris Management Planning for State, Tribal and Local Officials
Monday, March 30, 2015 8:30 am-5:00 pm and Tuesday, March 31, 2015
8:30 am-5:00 pm
Course Goal: This 2 day course provides an overview of issues and recommended
actions to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a major debris-generating
event (with emphasis on state and local responsibilities).
Target Audience: The course is intended for local, state and federal personnel
who are responsible for planning and/or implementing debris removal and disposal.
HURREVAC 2012 SOFTWARE TRAINING
#1 Intro to HURREVAC
Monday, March 30
nd
#2 Intro to HURREVAC (2 session) Monday, March 30
#3 Applying HURREVAC
Tuesday, March 31
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
HURREVAC is a decision-support tool used by emergency managers to gather the
information they need to assist their hurricane preparations and evacuation
decisions. The software couples hurricane evacuation study (HES) data with realtime weather forecast data from the National Hurricane Center. This combination
allows users to graphically display specific local evacuation decision time guidance
to support decision-making as hurricanes approach.
The ½ day Intro to HURREVAC class includes the basics for beginners and
provides an overview of how the software works and the features and functionality
it includes. The ½ day Applying HURREVAC is an intermediate level course that
will focus on applying the more important features that could be useful during a
hurricane approach. The Applying HURREVAC students will be expected to have a
basic understanding of HURREVAC- where the buttons are and what they do. All
HURREVAC classes are intended for Government Emergency Managers.
Please note that each student will need to bring a laptop with HURREVAC
already installed and functioning. HURREVAC is only available for government
users with emergency management responsibilities. To get this program, please
register at www.hurrevac.com. Once you have registered, you will receive an email
with instructions on how to download and install the program. Once installed, you
should test that the program opens without any error messages and does not
indicate any issues with connecting to the HURREVAC servers. Technical
assistance for any software issues is available- contact information can be found at
www.hurrevac.com.
FORTIFIED-WISE™ TRAINING COURSE
Tuesday, March 31, 2015 8:30 am-5:00 pm
The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s (IBHS) FORTIFIED
Home™ - Hurricane program helps homeowners strengthen their home against the
devastating power of tropical storms and hurricanes. Whether building a new
single-family home or updating the resilience of an existing home, using
FORTIFIED Home - Hurricane will make any home more resilient and durable, and
help a homeowner protect what is priceless during a disaster.
The NEW FORTIFIED-Wise™ Associate training course, which covers the critical
aspects of the FORTIFIED Home program, will allow you to expand your knowledge
about the program and improve your marketing advantage within the building
industry.
The FORTIFIED-Wise accreditation is ideal for anyone new to FORTIFIED Home
and IBHS, including contractors, product manufacturers, building officials,
insurance professionals, students, and real estate professionals.
Accreditation: Attendees interested in accreditation must first pass an exam
which will be administered through independent proctors for a fee of $400.
Additional details will be provided at the training session. For more information
please visit www.DisasterSafety.org/Fortified-home-training
The FORTIFIED-Wise training course is approved for ICC Continuing Education
Credits (CEU’s).