Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, VA 23236 l (804) 897-6510 l www.vaemergency.com
CONTACT: Laura Southard
(804) 897-6510 March 27, 2009
Emergency managers speak about planning the 56th Presidential Inauguration, meteorologists talk about the 2008 hurricane season
WHO AND WHEN:
Wednesday, April 1
8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Keynote speaker Bill Read, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, will offer an overview of the 2008 hurricane season, the busiest and most damaging since the 2005 season when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf States.
Following Read’s presentation, Gene Hafele, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service’s Houston/Galveston office, and Cliff Hebert, director of the Cameron, La., Office of Emergency Management, will talk about Hurricane Ike’s impact in Texas and Louisiana and the way that lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina changed response efforts.
Thursday, April 2
8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Emergency managers Neal Turner of Montgomery County and Stan Crigger of VDEM Region 6 will discuss their lessons learned from the Virginia Tech tragedy.
Northern Virginia emergency managers will talk about their part in coordinating the complex planning necessary for the 56th Presidential Inauguration. Speakers include Arlington County Emergency Manager Jack Brown, Fairfax County Emergency Manager Olivia McLean and VDEM Region 7 Coordinator Bruce Hopkins.
Friday, April 3
8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
CNN Correspondent Jeanne Meserve will share her experience as a reporter covering the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy. Meserve also will join a panel of state media representatives to provide an analysis of the tragedy’s coverage from the media’s perspective. The event brought nearly 300 local, national and international media outlets to the scene for more than a week.
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WHAT: The 2009 Virginia Emergency Management Conference, sponsored by Virginia Emergency Management Association and VDEM. Sessions provide a forum for emergency responders, planners, managers and volunteers to share best practices, lessons learned and initiatives.
A full conference agenda is available at http://www.vemaweb.org.
WHERE: Hampton Roads Convention Center
1610 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
(757) 315-1610
http://www.hampton.gov
