About
September 14-15, 2018 | Miami, FL
In 2017, the United States experienced a significant number of natural and man-made disasters. In total, the United States was impacted by 16 separate natural events, that according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, caused $306 billion in total damages across the country, making 2017 the most expensive year on record for natural disasters in our nation’s history. While natural disasters continue to increase in frequency and strength, man-made catastrophes have also shown a similar pattern. These types of disasters also had a record breaking year, with 346 mass shooting incidents across the country, marking 2017 as the deadliest year for mass shootings. These disasters have great economic and societal impacts on communities, making it even more critical for jurisdictions to revisit and update their emergency plans on a regular basis.
Effective emergency and disaster response planning entails an ongoing process of updating response and recovery plans, responding to local, state, and federal policy changes, an updated understanding of hazards, and implementation of best practices and lessons learned. Local policymakers have the opportunity to play a leadership role in these efforts by facilitating and supporting collaboration across levels of government and helping to establish key partnerships across sectors before a disaster occurs in order to advance disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
NALEO Educational Fund’s National Policy Institute on Emergency Preparedness and Response Management provided Latino policymakers with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the different levels of planning and preparedness in an effort to help their communities prepare for, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from various types of disasters and emergencies.
The Policy Institute’s curriculum covered:
- Natural and Man Made Disasters in 2017: The Cost, Impact on Communities and Lessons Learned
- Communications During a Disaster
- Mass Evacuation – A Well-Coordinated Plan Saves Lives
- Emergency Planning and Preparedness for Healthcare Facilities
- The Aftermath: Recovery, Resiliency and Rebuilding
- Hazard Mitigation Planning: A Look at Land Use Planning and Emerging Hazards
- Census 2020: Natural Disasters and the U.S. Census
- Best Practices for Improving Emergency Plans and Preparedness for Natural and Man Made Disasters
The Policy Institute convened local policymakers with leading experts from the public, private, and non-profit sectors for two days of professional development that combined classroom and experiential learning, and an exchange of ideas and best practices. Policymakers received timely information, strengthened governance skills that support effective leadership, and had the opportunity to network with colleagues and experts from throughout the country.
Sponsors
Title Sponsors
Investor Sponsors
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Tenet Healthcare
For more information please contact:
Martha Beal
Membership Services Manager
NALEO Educational Fund
Tel: (213) 747-7606 ext 4430
Email: [email protected]
Schedule
- Friday, September 14
- Saturday, September 15
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Sevilla Foyer, Lobby Level
Registration and Breakfast
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Brickell Room, Lobby Level
Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Welcome Remarks and Program Overview
• Hon. Pauline Medrano, Treasurer, Dallas County, Texas; NALEO President
8:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Session I:
Natural and Man Made Disasters in 2017: The Cost, Impact on Communities, and Lessons Learned
Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, combined with devastating wildfires in the West and other natural and man-made catastrophes, made 2017 the most expensive and deadliest year on record for natural disasters and mass shootings in the United States. The impact these events have on communities cuts across all levels – from loss of life, disruption to household income and housing, to access to healthcare. This session provided an overview of the impact these events had in many communities across the country and territories, including Puerto Rico. This discussion also highlighted lessons learned and best practices on how communities prepared, responded and are recovering from these events.
Session Chair: Hon. Pauline Medrano, Treasurer, Dallas County, Texas; NALEO President
• Mr. Adam B. Smith, Climatologist, National Centers for Environmental Information, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
PRESENTATION
• Hon. Robert Asencio, Florida State Representative
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1
10:15 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Session II:
Communications during a Disaster
A reliable system network and a well-coordinated communications plan can be lifesavers during emergencies. Appropriate and accurate communication during an emergency can help prevent panic, coordinate response among first responders and stakeholders, reach vulnerable and at-risk populations, and mobilize needed resources. This session provided an overview of the Emergency Alerts Systems. Participants also learned about various communications strategies jurisdictions use to maintain and share critical information when a disaster strikes.
Session Chair: Hon. Alfredo Pedroza, Supervisor, Napa County, California
• Mr. Gregory Cooke, Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Federal Communications Division
PRESENTATION
• Mr. Francisco Sánchez, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
PRESENTATION
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Roundtable Strategy Discussion
These facilitated roundtable discussions provided participants the opportunity to delve deeper, and further discuss the content presented by the experts from their respective roles as policymakers. Participants identified and discussed how they can ensure their communities efficiently prepare, respond and recover from these events.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Brickell Room, Lobby Level
Florida Best Practice Plenary and Luncheon
Opening Remarks: Hon. Francis X. Suarez, Mayor, City of Miami, Florida
Moderator: Mr. Arturo Vargas, Chief Executive Officer, NALEO Educational Fund
• Hon. Francis X. Suarez, Mayor, City of Miami, Florida
• Hon. Bryan Avila, Florida State Representative
1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Session III:
Mass Evacuation: A Well-Coordinated Plan Saves Lives
When implemented effectively, evacuations are an important strategy to protect lives. Each call for evacuation, like each disaster, is unique. Conducting a safe evacuation that protects citizens, businesses, and properties requires effective coordination and communication as well as decisive action. Poor handling of a mass evacuation has the potential to become a disaster unto itself. This session provided participants with a better understanding of the types of events that might require a mass evacuation, and the different elements that should be considered during an evacuation, including multijurisdictional and agency coordination, public communications, traffic control, sheltering and mass care.
Session Chair: Hon. E. Junior Maldonado, County Clerk, Hudson County, New Jersey; Board Member, NALEO
• Dr. Bryan Hoskins, Associate Professor, Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology, Oklahoma State University
PRESENTATION
• Mr. Francisco Sánchez, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
PRESENTATION
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Roundtable Strategy Discussion
These facilitated roundtable discussions provided participants the opportunity to delve deeper, and further discuss the content presented by the experts from their respective roles as policymakers. Participants identified and discussed how they can ensure their communities efficiently prepare, respond and recover from these events.
3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Session IV:
Emergency Planning and Preparedness for Healthcare Facilities
When catastrophes like mass shootings, hurricanes, and earthquakes happen and lives are at stake, communities rely on healthcare providers and facilities. For these facilities, an emergency is any event that affects their ability to provide care. After the most recent events in 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expanding compliance requirements for hospitals and emergency preparedness. This session provided policymakers with an understanding of best practices and guidelines that healthcare providers use to better develop and maintain policies, procedures, communication plans, training and testing to ensure the critical functions that allow them to continue to provide critical medical care are in place.
Session Chair: Hon. René García, Florida State Senator; Board Member, NALEO Educational Fund
• Ms. Adriane J. Saunders, Technical Advisor, Regional Office Ambassador, Region IV Atlanta, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
PRESENTATION
• Ms. Debra Lowrance, Senior Director, Clinical Auditing Compliance, Tenet Healthcare
PRESENTATION
• Dr. Michael P. Allswede, Director, Program in Emergency Medicine, Sunrise GME Consortium, Las Vegas, Nevada
PRESENTATION | Resource: 1
4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Roundtable Strategy Discussion
These facilitated roundtable discussions provided participants the opportunity to delve deeper, and further discuss the content presented by the experts from their respective roles as policymakers. Participants identified and discussed how they can ensure their communities efficiently prepare, respond and recover from these events.
5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level
Evaluation
5:10 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sevilla Room, Lobby Level