Hitting home
After historic season, National Hurricane Conference
more relevant than ever
By Julia Regeski
In 2017, all of Georgia watched
Management Agency, who, only
these folks were directly impacted.”
Hurricane Irma’s path as it looked
a week prior to the conference,
Between classes, networking
poised to hit everywhere from
released their 2018-2022 Strategic opportunities encouraged a free,
Valdosta to Clayton. Many also
Plan. Dr. Daniel Kaniewski, FEMA’s more open flow of communication
had eyes on Texas, where millions
deputy administrator for protection
about the past season , something
were struggling to recover after
and national preparedness, spoke
many say is one of the best parts of
Harvey’s devastation, as well as on on the document during the general the conference.
Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands,
session and expressed that many
“The National Hurricane
and our neighbors to the south, as
of the past year’s challenges
Conference is a great opportunity
Maria offered one final punctuation had much to do with logistics,
to meet with and network with a
mark on a historic hurricane
communications and sheltering,
wide variety of … partners who
season.
but also that the agency plans
face many of the same challenges
With these storms in mind,
to increase its focus on cultures
that we do in preparing our
this year’s National Hurricane
of preparedness, mitigation and
communities for dealing with
Conference in Orlando,
disaster,” said Jay
Florida brought together a
"The National Hurricane Conference Wiggins, Glynn County
particularly weather worn
EMA Director, whose
is a great opportunity to meet with area faced challenges
group of about 1,500
professionals to discuss
following not only
and network with a wide variety
not only the events of the
Hurricane Matthew in
of … partners who face many of
last year, but all aspects of
September 2016, but
the same challenges that we do
hurricane preparedness,
also after Hurricane Irma.
response, recovery and
Wiggins is not alone
in preparing our communities for
mitigation.
in using this conference
dealing
with
disaster."
Session topics covered
as a way to reflect on
everything from re-entry to
the past, as well as focus
community organizing, and were
catastrophic readiness in the
on how to best prepare for next
presented by speakers originating
coming months.
year. Will Lanxton, GEMA/HS
from local, state and federal
Many attendees found
meteorologist who attended the
agencies, including the National
educational opportunities outside
annual conference for his third time,
Hurricane Center, whose acting
of the standard sessions, as
said the biggest thing he took away
director Ed Rappaport spoke during one- and two-day Emergency
was motivation.
the conference’s general session.
Management Institute classes such
“This time, I was reminded of the
Rappaport discussed just how
as Basic Public Information Office
need for dedicated preparation
challenging this season was for
Training and Hurricane Readiness
for the upcoming hurricane season
many of the attendees, reporting
were also offered. “It seems like
before the season begins. Having
that last year was the most active
twice as many people opted for
hundreds of people together
in terms of accumulated cyclone
classes since we did have such
in one place discussing recent
energy in 167 years, resulting in
an active hurricane season,” said
impacts they’ve experienced from
17 named storms, of which 10
Kristen Higg, Georgia Emergency
hurricanes, lessons they’ve learned,
hurricanes were born – “all in a
Management and Homeland
and the work that they’re doing
row,” he added.
Security Agency Area 5 field
served as great motivation to
Such a frequency of incidents put coordinator, who has attended the
continue to work hard to improve
a strain on the Federal Emergency
conference in years prior. “Many of our agency’s hurricane readiness.”
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