By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

Since 1953, the U.S. has declared 2,115 major disasters. These disasters have occurred in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. but some states are definitely more prone to disasters than others.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released 60 years of disaster data that revealed which of the 50 states have experienced the most disasters. According to the data, approximately one third of the more than 2,000 disasters declared in the U.S. occurred in just ten states.

Where do the most disasters happen?

All disaster declarations can be viewed and sorted on FEMA’s website. The list of the top ten U.S. disaster states is based on data from any event declared a disaster by a U.S. President including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, landslides, severe storms, terrorism, and everything in between. The data covers the 60-year stretch between 1953 up to and including the latest tornado devastation in Oklahoma.

Now that we’re officially in hurricane season, many of you may be thinking a hurricane prone state like Florida might be number one. With Oklahoma fresh in our minds, some of you may guess a state in tornado alley topped the list. A lot of these likely guesses do appear in the top ten, but it may come as a surprise that Texas has experienced the most disasters over 60 years.

The top five states to make the list include:

• Texas: 86 disaster declarations
• California: 78 disaster declarations
• Oklahoma: 73 disaster declarations
• New York: 67 disaster declarations
• Florida: 65 disaster declarations

Other unlikely states to make the top ten include Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, and Louisiana.

What does this information tell us?

This data demonstrates the reach of disasters across the nation further proving that no one is exempt when it comes to Mother Nature. Many people make assumptions about the region in which they reside and base their preparations on the expected. This data suggests that people should be prepared for the unexpected. Recent years have presented examples of disaster declarations for events that people did not anticipate. People do not necessarily associate hurricanes with New Jersey, but Superstorm Sandy proved that no one is safe. When people think of disasters, Missouri is not the first state to come to mind, but its 53 disaster declarations have occurred in every month of the year.

As we enter hurricane season, it is important for those states at risk for hurricanes to be prepared for the damaging winds and flood waters that come along with hurricanes and tropical storms. It is just as important for those states not listed in the top ten states with the most disasters to prepare for the worst. Just because it is hurricane season, does not mean Florida and the Gulf States are the only ones at risk. Expect the unexpected.

Interested in learning more? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

In 2012, 32.4 million people were displaced from their homes worldwide following disasters.

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), recently released data outlining the global events that uprooted thousands and even millions of people at a time.

IDMC is the leading international monitoring system for internal displacement across the globe. The center looks at displacement information in 50 countries and provides a comprehensive analysis on the context of those displacements including the cause, the response, and the recovery. The latest information demonstrates the potential danger of natural disasters.

What exactly did the research find?

The data collected paints a clear picture of the worst disasters of 2012. For those of us in the U.S., the fact that Superstorm Sandy made the list of the top ten worst disasters of the year is not surprising. But what were some of the other disasters displacing people around the globe?

The largest displacements:

• A series of storms in China forced 3.5 million people out of their homes late last summer.
• Nearly 6.1 million people in Nigeria were displaced by flooding.
• Approximately 6.9 million people were forced to flee their homes when severe monsoon flooding hit India in June and July.

What do these of events have in common?

The cause of these large displacements: flood and water-damage. Looking at 2012, more than 30 million people were forced to leave their homes. A shocking 98 percent of those individuals were impacted by weather-related disasters, the majority of which were flood and water-damage related.

Extreme weather and climate change has caused a sharp increase in the number of displaced victims from natural disasters in recent years. According to the data, the 2012 statistics revealed that there were double the number of displacements than what occurred in 2011.

Can flooding and hurricane preparedness help reduce the number of displacements?

While the events listed above were the largest displacements of 2012, only one weather event appeared on the list twice, in two different countries and in two different forms: Sandy.

Superstorm Sandy displaced 776,000 people this fall when it slammed into the New Jersey coastline. The storm killed more than 125 people in 24 states along the Eastern Seaboard only after causing damage outside the U.S. Before the storm was downgraded, Hurricane Sandy blasted homes in Cuba. The wind damage and widespread flooding along the coast displaced 343,000 people and killed 11.

While preparation cannot prevent flooding and will not completely eliminate displacement as a threat, it can significantly reduce the length of recovery and the amount of damage. Preparing the infrastructure of buildings and roads can help minimize the impact of unexpected storms but just the physical improvement is not enough to fully prepare.

Businesses, schools, and hospitals as well as local and state governments need to look beyond infrastructure and create a crisis plan. If your building or facility can stand up to heavy storms but there is no continuity of operations, it won’t matter. Organizations without a smooth recovery from disasters can suffer from reputation damage and loss of revenue from which they may never fully recover. To ensure the least amount of long-term damage, it is essential to have a plan so operations can continue in any situation. Want to learn more about developing a continuity of operations plan? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Rick Patterson
Senior Project Manager, Witt O’Brien’s

Nothing can get past a ten-foot wall, right? Except an 11- or 12-foot water surge. That is exactly what the people of Galveston, Texas experienced on September 13, 2008 when Hurricane Ike slammed into the city’s 59^th Street Potable Water Pump Station.

What happened during and after Ike?

Hurricane Ike was the most devastating storm since Hurricane Carla in 1961 and the water surge rivaled that of the 1900 Storm. The 1900 Storm is still considered the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history and caused devastating and widespread damage. It provides a helpful measure as to how effective new flood preparations and protective measures will be against future storms.

With reports of the potential danger as Ike barreled toward the Texas coastline, Galveston was ordered to evacuate. Unfortunately, not all residents heeded this warning. The storm surge topped the Galveston Seawall along the Gulf of Mexico and caused severe flooding throughout Galveston and its surrounding areas. This amount of flooding causes major issues long after the storm has passed, including lasting infrastructure damage and city services being unable to function.

One of the biggest problems involved damage to the 59^th Street Potable Water Pump Station that provided water to the city. The storm surge easily surpassed the Galveston Seawall and then came to the ten foot wall protecting the station. The wall proved no match for the storm surge and caused a system failure resulting in no water for the city. This delayed reentry for those who had evacuated and prevented city-wide services like firefighting and waste management for those who remained in the area.

How did they fix the water pump station?

The damage to the wall and water pump station was so severe that the cost of building a new station was a more efficient use of funds than trying to repair the damage. The process of planning, proposing the plan, and gaining approval for the new project took time but was ultimately successful.

In early May, funding from two sources was officially awarded to improve the water pump station. Funding for the demolition of the old station and the rebuilding of the new facility will be from the Federal Emergency Management’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Meanwhile, the remaining funds, used to replace the damaged equipment, will be contributed by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

Can the new wall guarantee it will withstand any storm surge?

It is impossible to prepare a facility and be 100 percent sure there is no chance of damage, but this new water pump station will come as close to fully prepared as possible. Residents of the Pelican Island compare most natural disasters to the worst storm they have experienced, which is the 1900 Storm.

The 1900 Storm sustained winds up to 140 miles per hour (mph) and a storm surge of 15.7 feet. The new water pump station will withstand winds up to 195 mph and the wall will prevent up to 25 foot storm surges from overtaking the station. In other words, the 59^th Street Potable Water Pump Station is as safe and prepared as it can be.

Galveston provides the perfect example of a city that has continuously learned from disasters and improved their preparations. Following the 1900 Storm, the city built the Seawall as a barrier between its citizens and the Gulf of Mexico. Following Hurricane Ike, the city decided to improve the protection of its water pump station.

As hurricane season approaches, it is time for local and state governments to take a cue from Galveston and think about how city preparations can be improved. It may be a little late to make major infrastructure changes in time for this season, but there is so much more you can do. Can your city’s emergency plans be more efficient? Are there contingency plans for various scenarios? Interested in learning more? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

Communities throughout the U.S. are preparing for the start of the 2013 Hurricane Season. Professionals in the private sector, members of all levels of government, those in the healthcare industry and volunteer organizations flocked to Fort Lauderdale last week for the 27^th annual Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference to begin preparations for the upcoming season.

This year’s conference, themed “Moving Forward in Changing Times,” took place between May 5 and May 10. Over the course of several days, attendees took a look back at the 2012 season and learned from those challenges to better prepare for 2013.

What happened in 2012?

The 2012 Hurricane season was challenging as a result of several oddities and records that rarely occur all in the same year. The season brought storms with peculiar timing and often times, relatively low strength.

While there were several out of the ordinary aspects of the season, a few of the most notable statistics that 2012 experienced include:

• Nineteen named storms and  only the seventh season in 162 years with 19 or more named storms.
• Multiple storms formed in May, before the official start of the season.
• There were no Category four or five hurricanes all season and only one Category three, Hurricane Michael, which was fortunately removed from any land interests.

Last season also brought the second most costly storm in history, Sandy. The relatively low strength storm was not even considered a major hurricane but it caused $60,000,000,000 in damage throughout Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. This cost is only second to Hurricane Katrina, which battered the Gulf Coast states in 2005, and caused $105,840,000,000 worth of damage.

Have preparations started for the 2013 season?

Yes. The Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference is a great example of how people have started to prepare. The Conference outlined the major challenges from last year and used those lessons learned to help people in various industries learn how to prepare for upcoming storms.

The Conference included 52 workshops, 48 training sessions and several panel discussions where volunteers, hospital personnel, government leaders and others learned to understand the best strategies to have in place for a disaster.

Training sessions and workshops focused on helpful topics including the specific roles of government officials in the aftermath of a disaster, the best ways to coordinate all partners at the state and federal levels, effective disaster communications, the importance of unified logistics management and recovery planning. Did you miss the conference but want to learn more about disaster preparation? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REDLANDS, Calif., May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Esri and Witt O'Brien's, LLC, have built a new GIS cloud service that will increase an organization's capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents. For the first time, emergency management personnel can visualize an integrated Incident Command System (ICS) through a common operational picture (COP) and systematically command, control, and coordinate multiagency emergency response. Esri is the world leader in GIS technology, and Witt O'Brien's is the global leader in incident response management.

"The ability to communicate real-time situational awareness across both the incident management organization and those affected stakeholders is key to a successful response and recovery," said James Lee Witt, executive chairman of the board, Witt O'Brien's. "The integration of our emergency response management technology solutions, coupled with Esri's online GIS platform, will help our partners in government and the private sector better manage their response effort while enhancing collaboration across geographic and organizational boundaries."

First responders, government agencies, and private/commercial industries will have the combined ability to respond faster, control resources better, and generate timely incident reports accurately. The new COP will improve their vital communication and coordination capabilities and give them complete enterprise visibility.

"The integration of real-time information provided by Witt O'Brien's ICS software with Esri's GIS platform, via online services, will transform the future of incident management," said Jack Dangermond, president of Esri. "Already, Witt O'Brien's and Esri's advanced cloud service is proving itself within the oil and gas contingency planning and response theater. We expect this success to open up new possibilities that have positive implications across many other sectors of the incident management and response industry."

The combined technologies in the COP simplify the complex process of ICS and increase the agility and capabilities of managers dealing with disasters of various sizes and scopes. Witt O'Brien's CommandPro^® automates emergency management processes. Esri's ArcGIS Online platform provides users with access to fit-for-purpose maps and workflow-enabled apps (e.g., mobile). The integrated solution aligns real-time data with the systematic approach of ICS. An added value is that COP users can access Esri's emergency management map templates, which incorporate adopted standards for spatial data and real-time incident management.

The prototype of the CommandPro^® and ArcGIS Online COP has been used for various high-profile projects and incidents. These include many oil and gas readiness projects in which the COP adhered to heightened government efforts for deep-water operations safety.

The CommandPro^® and ArcGIS Online COP will be announced during the Esri Petroleum GIS Conference in Houston, Texas, May 7--9, 2013.

About Esri

Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news.

About Witt O'Brien's

Witt O'Brien's is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management, and disaster response and recovery with the depth of experience and capability to provide services across the crisis and disaster life cycle. Witt O'Brien's is uniquely positioned to bring together policy architects and technical experts in public safety, with leaders from all levels of government and private-sector partners to forge solutions to emergency management challenges. Visit Witt O'Brien's at wittobriens.com.

Copyright (c) 2013 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, GIS by Esri, ArcGIS, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.

Press Information

Contact: Barbara Shields, Esri
Tel.: 909-793-2853, Extension 1-2641
E-mail: press@esri.com

Contact: Lynn Holmes, Witt O’Brien’s
Tel.: 202-207-2924
E-mail: lholmes@wittobriens.com

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

There is a 72 percent chance of a hurricane hitting somewhere along the coastline of the United States during the 2013 hurricane season. That is according to recent forecasts released by the Tropical Meteorology Project headed by Colorado State University’s Dr. William Gray.

With hurricane season less than one month away, this annual meteorological forecast reminds us that now is the time to prepare.

What is the meteorological forecast?

The annual report includes a seasonal hurricane forecast outlining predictions for the severity of the upcoming hurricane season. The report has been put together by Dr. Gray for 30 years but since 2000 he has worked with co-author, Dr. Phil Klotzbach. The duo predicted an alarming number of severe weather storms for 2013 compared with the national averages.

The forecast predicts:

• A 61 percent chance of a major hurricane, a category three, four or five, hitting the United States.
• A 47 percent chance of a storm hitting somewhere along the West Coast of Florida to Brownsville, Texas compared with the average prediction of 30 percent
• A 48 percent chance of a storm hitting somewhere along the East Coast between Florida and Maine compared with a 31 percent average.

How accurate are these predictions?

It is true that it’s very difficult to predict the weather with 100 percent accuracy, so each year there are some discrepancies between the forecast and reality. However, these discrepancies should only serve to heighten awareness for the need to prepare. Why? Because, in the past, reality has been so much worse than the forecast.

Last year, the 2012 forecast from Dr. Gray and Dr. Klotzbach predicted ten named storms and four hurricanes. By the end of the 2012 hurricane season there had been ten hurricanes and 19 named storms. That is nearly double the number of named the storms and more than double the number of hurricanes.

Based on these statistics, will this year be as damaging as last year?

The Colorado State University team predicts there will be 18 named storms in 2013 and 50 percent of those will become hurricanes. While these numbers do not speak to the strength of these storms or the damaging effects, we do have past disasters to gauge the potential dangers.

Super Storm Sandy proved that even a Category One hurricane can cause serious widespread damage. And without being able to predict the future with certainty, there is only one thing to do: prepare.

Businesses and communities as well as local and state governments need to prepare for the potential damage that tropical storms and hurricanes can bring. It is critical to make certain you have an emergency plan that includes a detailed continuity of operations plan. Review that the necessary people know how to respond during a disaster.  

Do you think this hurricane season will be as damaging as last year? Do you know how to prepare for the potential destruction caused by tropical storms? Interested in learning more? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Kevin Boxx
Vice President, Witt O’Brien’s

Disasters can come in all forms. Lately, our focus has remained with weather-related disasters, but man-made disasters are just as big of a risk and require equal preparation and recovery efforts.

The recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon helps to remind us that man-made disasters are as unpredictable as the weather and while preparation and recovery plans for weather disasters are important, it is essential to have a plan for man-made disasters as well.

What can be done before, during and after a man-made disaster?

During and after a man-made disaster, communication is one of the most important aspects of a response. Whether the disaster involves a power outage, infrastructure issues, or acts of terrorism at a school, a town, a military base, a hospital, or a sporting event, officials need to communicate to responders, victims, and the community affected.

Communication can be easily managed using PIER™ (Public Information Emergency Response). Following a disaster, the story will not only be told by those involved and on the scene but by members of the press interested in the story. And today, the press can include news crews and local newspapers along with average citizens with camera phones reporting on the scene on social media channels. The story of the disaster will be heard and it is essential to be ready with a response when inquiries begin streaming in.

PIER™ helps deliver solutions for handling external and internal communications, allowing officials to distribute messages and prevent inaccuracies from driving the narrative.

Specifically, PIER™ can:

• Manage communication to stakeholders and the public using webpages, email, text messages, and other desired delivery methods to ensure an accurate message is distributed.
• Provide two-way communication for inquiries using email, surveys, text messaging, and social media while using RSS (really simple syndication) feeds to auto-populate web pages with real-time information.
• Allow for remote access to contacts, documents, inquiries and messaging via a computer or mobile device to ensure continuity of communications.
• Integrate all tools for managing contact information, creating and distributing content, inquiry management, and social media engagement.

How do these features and capabilities help during a disaster?

The best way to understand how PIER™ can help during and after a disaster event is to look at a specific event from the past. On November 5, 2009, a shooting at Fort Hood, a U.S. military installation in Killeen, Texas, killed 13, and injured 32 people. This shooting, the worst to ever take place on an American military base, helps to demonstrate the importance of efficient communication.

Within hours of the incident, 835 journalists from 80 international news agencies arrived onsite to cover the response. The exposure of the tragedy required effective management of media queries and stakeholder questions. PIER™ managed and categorized all communications to organize the response process.

Two years later, Fort Hood wanted to hold a global town hall meeting to present information regarding their crisis communication platform. Different than other town hall meetings that had been held in the past, Fort Hood wanted to reach more than 350,000 civilians, contractors, retirees, deployed soldiers, and soldiers at home all at the same time. PIER™ played an integral part in managing the dialogue between leaders of the meeting and stakeholders. PIER™’s streamlined social media use, accurate subject matter and consistent messaging across all platforms, allowed the Fort Hood town hall meeting to be a success.

Did you know that Witt O’Brien’s can help with man-made disasters in addition to weather-related disasters? Are you prepared to effectively communicate with your stakeholders following a disaster? Want to learn more? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the bombing in Boston, their families and loved ones. This is once again a reminder we must be vigilant in securing the safety of our citizens regardless of cause. Boston has taken their responsibility of building a culture of preparedness seriously. The effectiveness of both the response and their mass casualty played out on a world stage and provided an example of what commitment leadership in the face of unknown perils can accomplish. Over the next days and weeks to come we will learn more; however, what we do know is that we are a resilient people with unwavering resolve and this will stand the test of time."

By Kristen Hays
Reuters
April 12, 2013

(Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp was working on Friday to remove the ruptured section of its Arkansas crude oil pipeline, but had no estimate on how long repairs would take or when the line would restart.

Exxon expected to remove the damaged section this week. The company did not have a more definitive timeframe on Friday, spokeswoman Kim Jordan said.

She said the length of the portion being removed from the Pegasus pipeline that ruptured two weeks ago would be determined once excavation to reach it had finished. Exxon said that portion would be sent to an independent, third-party laboratory for metallurgy testing.

However, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, who launched an investigation into the 5,000-barrel oil spill, said earlier this week that the rupture was more than 22 feet (6.7 meters) long and two inches (5 cm) wide.

McDaniel said his office had retained private Washington D.C. disaster-response firm Witt O'Brien's to analyze independently Exxon's cleanup process.

Some residents evacuated from their neighborhood when the rupture sent crude spilling in yards and streets have the option to return to their homes, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Health said on Friday.

"It's recommended that they go through a little bit of airing out. Their homes have been closed up," the spokesman, Ed Barham, said.

He said the affected residents in the neighborhood in Mayflower, a town about 25 miles (40 km) north of Little Rock, can continue air monitoring if they so choose after their return.

Exxon said the company was developing a plan to address concerns about long-term values of the affected homes, "up to and including home purchases".

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

Two hundred and forty-three million people in the U.S. have been impacted by a weather-related disaster since 2007, according to recent findings from the Environment America Research and Policy Center. 

That number means nearly 80 percent of Americans have experienced the devastation of a natural disaster in the past six years. These statistics increasingly are illustrating that preparation is more important than ever.

What exactly did the report say?

The report, titled “In the Path of the Storm,” is based on six years of county-level disaster declaration data gathered from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The findings highlight each region of the U.S. and their greatest vulnerabilities to various types of severe weather. The study looked at the impact of hurricanes, floods, drought, tornadoes and severe winter storms.

Some of the more alarming findings:

• Since 2007, every state in the country has experienced a weather-related disaster except South Carolina.
• In 2012 alone, weather-related disasters affected residents in 33 states and the District of Columbia.
• Eight U.S. counties experienced at least ten declared weather-related disasters between 2007 and 2012.

These disasters not only impact those injured or killed by the severe weather, but the effects of a storm including power outages and road closures can impact the ability for businesses to operate, for schools to remain open, and for hospitals to properly treat patients.

Is there any data that specifies dangers for individual state and county?

Yes. The Environment America report includes an interactive map online that allows people to look at the frequency of different types of disasters in their specific state, county or town. Understanding the types of disasters prone to a certain area allows local government officials to better prepare for particular risks. Any state can now learn more about past and potential disasters and what to do to prepare for the next catastrophic event.

One example of a state that has explored its vulnerabilities is Minnesota. The Environment Minnesota Research and Policy Center took the findings one step closer to home and broke down the data.

Looking at Minnesota:

• 82 counties housing more than five million people were affected by weather-related disasters since 2007.
• Minnesota has experienced an increase in precipitation events.
• Many residents in Minnesota are still recovering from last summer’s flooding.

Based on just these three facts, Minnesota state and local government officials can adjust their disaster preparations to appropriately address the flood threats to Minnesota’s businesses, schools, and hospitals.  

This example demonstrates the value of government officials and emergency planners understanding the precise dangers that can potentially impact an area. Preparing is the only way to ensure a disaster is handled efficiently and effectively and the more precise preparations made, the easier recovery will be.

Do you know which types of disasters are likely to hit your area? Are you prepared for a disaster? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more about disaster preparedness.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

‘Tis the season. For tornadoes that is. Now that we are in the heart of tornado season and twisters are on the way, it is time to continue our look back at past disasters to enhance our preparedness and recovery for the future.

Will this tornado season be a bad one?

It is difficult to predict the severity of tornado season from year-to-year. Looking at 2012, there was relatively low tornado activity with 939 tornadoes in the U.S. and a below-average fatality count. This was a completely different trend than the previous year. In 2011, there were 1,690 tornadoes across the country making it the most active tornado season since 1953. With 2011 producing the second-highest number of tornadoes in history and 2012 producing relatively few, it is easy to see how difficult it is to predict something as unpredictable Mother Nature.

Still, there are some meteorological explanations as to why last year was fairly calm. The intense drought during 2012 helped to reduce the number of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in “Tornado Alley.” With little moisture, tornado-forming storms struggled to generate. There are some predictions that this year the drought may help to squelch the 2013 season. Then again, experts claim global warming and climate changes are ramping up extreme weather across the country so there are no guarantees. It is best to be prepared.

What can happen in the wake of a tornado and how should I prepare?

The 2011 tornado season was tragic and devastating but through that devastation we can learn how to prevent more damage in the future. Not only did 2011 bring a great number of tornadoes, it also brought great strength of storms.

On March 22, 2011, an EF-5 strength tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri in Jasper County. This tornado destroyed 7,700 homes and businesses. Destroying the infrastructure of various buildings, the tornado mangled hospitals like St. John's Regional Medical Center and universities like Missouri Southern State University.

As the deadliest single tornado in our modern era, the steps taken to respond and recover can help outline how to handle any tornado. Hospitals and universities have very specific needs but one of the best examples to illustrate the importance of preparedness for an efficient response is the Joplin school district.

Five schools within the Joplin school district experienced devastating damage, displacing 4,200 students.  The school district faced $150 million worth of damage and recovery time was limited to the 88 days remaining before the new school year began. These steps also help to outline the preparation plans that can help speed recovery time.

In Joplin, the response began with:

• Prioritizing the recovery steps and identifying the damage for the cost of recovery
• Working with the school district’s insurance carrier
• Establishing temporary school facilities for the remainder of the current school year

The few response steps outlined above can translate into the best practices for preparedness as well. Every state, county and district at risk for tornadoes should:

• Prioritize the potential damage and the necessary costs of likely vulnerabilities
• Establish a strong relationship with your insurance carrier and gain a thorough understanding of your policy
• Have a contingency plan so operations can continue without a hitch – temporary facilities, back-up data storage, business continuity plans, etc.

It is important to identify any vulnerabilities or areas for improvement before the chaos of disaster begins. Just as we saw with the city of Joplin, recovery needs to happen fast so people can return to their daily routines. Having a plan and being prepared is the only way to ensure response and recovery runs efficiently and quickly.

Why is it so important to think about this now?

We are well into April and that is historically when the most tornadoes occur. Regardless of the inactivity in 2012 or the incredible activity in 2011, April sees more tornadoes than any other month. While chances are there won’t be 759, as there were in 2011, we are definitely in the thick of the season and should all be thinking about the best ways to be prepared.

Interested in understanding the importance of being prepared? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

Why keep looking back at past events? Why dwell on damage done instead of just looking forward?

The fact is we learn how best to move forward by assessing our past actions, particularly when it comes to disaster preparedness and recovery.

Has the way we handle disasters changed in recent years?

The simple answer is yes. To illustrate the major changes in emergency management, it is easiest to compare the handling of Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Katrina, still known as one of the deadliest and most destructive Atlantic hurricanes in the last 100 years, hit land in August 2005. Whether you were directly impacted by the storm or just followed the news coverage, everyone was aware of the extent of the damage. There was one silver lining to this tragic storm: emergency management reform.

Hurricane Katrina allowed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess where improvements were needed in the emergency management system. This realization led to the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA).

What is PKEMRA?

On October 4, 2006, President Barack Obama signed the PKEMRA into law to be enacted on March 31, 2007. This act amended the Homeland Security Act (HSA) and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act). PKEMRA enhanced FEMA’s responsibilities and authority to address many issues realized during Katrina.

The act aimed to strengthen the department’s ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, respond to and recover from hazardous threats. PKEMRA was the first time Congress formally defined the mission and responsibilities of FEMA. Among the more significant mandates in the act:  

• Formally established FEMA as a distinct entity within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Directed the head of FEMA, now called the Administrator, to lead all federal efforts related to the newly defined mission of the agency
• Reformed FEMA’s response and logistics capabilities

Additionally, the act defined FEMA’s role to collaborate with non-federal entities and partners including non-profit organizations and private companies. This means non-federal entities can aid in emergency management before, during and after a disaster strikes.  

Did these changes make a difference during Hurricane Sandy?

When Hurricane Sandy was approaching shore in October 2012, some of the changes implemented following Hurricane Katrina became apparent. Federal support successfully pre-positioned and mobilized supplies and equipment in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. The coordination between states and FEMA was vastly improved compared to seven years earlier and logistics supply chains were more transparent. But federal emergency management is still not perfect.

Hurricane Sandy has helped to point out a few areas that could still use some work. The National Disaster Recovery Strategy mandated under PKEMRA is still very young and has not been perfected yet. Also, FEMA’s disaster recovery programs and housing disaster programs are still difficult to navigate.

Overall, PKEMRA made significant strides in establishing FEMA as the emergency management agency it is today. But perfection is hard to come by and there are always improvements to be made. Now we have to look for the lessons learned from Super Storm Sandy that will probably help to improve national disaster recovery for the future.  Interested in learning more? Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Catherine Ho
The Washington Post: Capital Business
March 31, 2013

After 35 years of surveying the aftermath of floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, FEMA executive-turned-disaster-response consultant Ken Burris has learned a thing or two.

One of them is not to store expensive items at flood level.

“Hospitals tend to put their most expensive equipment, imaging equipment, in the basement,” said Burris, whose D.C.-based consultancy has represented dozens of hospitals struggling to recover from the likes of Hurricane Katrina and Sandy. “Those sub-basement floors flood quickly. The largest loss in the hospital industry happens to be that type of equipment. It gets into hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Burris teamed with former Federal Emergency Management Agency director James Lee Witt to create a private crisis management and disaster-response firm that helps communities and companies recover from nature’s hazards. In December, Witt Associates merged with O’Brien’s Response Management, a Louisiana-based crisis and emergency management firm that was a unit of Seacor Holdings, to form Witt O’Brien’s.

The merger brought together two $30 million-a-year companies that played in the same arena but for different teams: Witt had 110 employees and a niche representing state and local governments in disaster-response and recovery services, while O’Brien’s 130-employee operation represented companies in the oil and gas industries in cleanup and other response efforts, including BP after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The combined corporation is headquartered in the District, but its largest office is in Houston.

It also has offices in New Jersey, Washington state, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Brazil and the United Kingdom — chosen specifically because they’re either prone to typhoons, hurricanes and earthquakes, or for their proximity to the oil and gas industries.

Witt O’Brien’s has a 12-month contract with New Jersey in Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, and is working with Joplin, Mo., to rebuild after the 2011 tornado. The company’s services include advising school systems on the rules for seeking federal money to reconstruct buildings, which can be a complicated process, Burris said.

Although natural disasters devastate neighborhoods and businesses caught off-guard by a major storm or flood, the business of responding to them can be surprisingly predictable.

“I believe crises have a life cycle that is only influenced by the magnitude and duration of the event,” Burris said. “There’s a response phase, protecting life and property. Then a recovery phase where you deal with impacted populace and provide them with housing and stipends because they’re displaced. Then an economic redevelopment phase. It’s all influenced by magnitude and duration, but it’s very predictable.”

The job of a private consultant, he said, is to help clients — governments and businesses — to understand and prepare for those stages.

“You’re focused on this particular response activity today, but three weeks from now, two months from now, you’re going to have these problems,” he said. “We help them focus further down the crisis time continuum, so they’re not being caught by surprise by these things.”

Published: March 30, 2013 

By JAMES LEE WITT and JAMES LOY — Special to the Sun Herald

In one convincing and catastrophic stroke, Sandy proved that it's not simply about sand, boardwalk planks and rich mansions being swept out to sea.

Television cameras always seem to capture that first, leaving a lasting, though false, impression that only businesses and wealthy beach towns need rescuing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

What you don't see is the sheer magnitude of lower- and middle-class families that remain devastated after the cameras leave.

A March 2013 New York University Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy study showed that low-income families were hit hardest by Sandy. Fifty-four percent of New York City homeowners who applied for FEMA aid make less than $60,000 per year.

A February 2007 Government Accountability Office study found that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected some of the poorest areas of the country and that many of those affected were receiving federal assistance from Social Security, disability and food stamp programs.

What the storms illustrated most is that we need to recognize that citizens living in areas most likely to be harmed by natural catastrophes are mainly working class families.

Helping people recover from a natural catastrophe is far from a beach house or summer vacation issue -- this is an issue of fiscal responsibility that concerns homeowners across America.

Those families must also consider the rising costs of rebuilding that they can't afford.

As catastrophes occur with increasing frequency, insurance premiums, additional FEMA flood hazard requirements, and the costs of rebuilding rise along with them. Homeowners are experiencing added financial requirements that make the dream of homeownership less affordable for the lower and middle class.

America needs a solution to better prepare for the devastation from a catastrophe.

The solution we support would result in a better and more proactive approach and leverage a stronger public-private partnership. This approach would strengthen America's financial infrastructure by building a privately-funded national catastrophe fund.

A national catastrophe fund that is part of a comprehensive, integrated program will help address insurance affordability and expand coverage options for all homeowners while protecting taxpayers from the seemingly endless need to provide emergency relief.

Protecting homeowners and taxpayers

A newly introduced bill proposing a better catastrophe management approach, the Homeowners and Taxpayers Protection Act of 2013, introduced by Rep. Albio Sires, D-N.J., builds upon legislation that passed the House of Representatives in 2007 by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 258-155. It was reintroduced and passed the House Financial Services Committee in 2010 with nearly 80 Congressional co-sponsors from 30 states.

A national catastrophe fund that is part of this comprehensive legislative solution can be thought of a little like a "catastrophe IRA." Insurance industry money would prudently be set aside and built up -- not for later retirement -- but for a speedy and well-resourced recovery from true natural catastrophe whenever it hits. Because the fund is financed through private insurance premiums, it provides protection without tapping the public or taxpayers.

The stakes are higher than ever, particularly in the current economy, and forecasters have shown that natural catastrophes are becoming more frequent.

But the good news is that there is a better way to lessen the economic risk, by beginning now to build a privately funded backstop rather than relying on another taxpayer funded bailout.

What's more, this type of public/private partnership will actually strengthen the stability and capacity of the private sector and allow for more private companies to participate in the market.

It is time to fortify our financial infrastructure before the next crisis. This program will finally provide more protection for homeowners and will improve our national preparedness at the same time.

We commend Rep. Sires and co-sponsors for leading us in the right direction. Americans deserve to be better protected and our financial infrastructure needs to be better secured from exposure.

Now is the time to take swift action and enact the bill.

James Lee Witt and James Loy are co-chairs of ProtectingAmerica.org. Mr. Witt is executive chairman of Witt O'Brien's, a public safety and crisis management consulting firm, and was director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Clinton. Admiral Loy is senior counselor at The Cohen Group and was commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush.

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s 

A hurricane hits. An earthquake occurs. A tornado tears through your town. But at least the worst is over and everyone can relax right? Not necessarily.

The aftermath and recovery of a natural disaster can be devastating and often times the most costly task associated with a disaster situation is the debris management. For this reason, it is critical for local and state governments to have a debris management plan prior to a disaster hitting.

Why should a community prepare for debris management?

Communities fare better post-disaster if the local or state government has identified the area’s vulnerabilities and determined the best practices for debris clearance, removal and disposal before the chaos of a disaster begins.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages all local and state governments to create debris management plans and take a proactive approach to debris removal. According to FEMA, communities that prepare for disaster recovery with a debris management plan are better prepared to quickly respond and recover from a disaster. A plan helps local areas to restore public services, ensure public health and safety, and position themselves to receive the full level of assistance available from FEMA and other entities.

A debris management plan should:

• Include a comprehensive plan for quick and efficient debris removal.

• Reflect FEMA eligibility criteria to maximize federal assistance when available.

• Outline the specific needs for each unique area and/or specific vulnerabilities for when applying for assistance.

With a plan in place, what’s the best way to manage the debris recovery process?

Debris management involves documenting debris and damage, tracking debris operations, identifying the cost of debris removal, and reporting all pertinent information to FEMA for reimbursement. When dealing with disaster recovery, this can be overwhelming. Luckily, there is an automated system that’s helps local officials organize every aspect of debris management.

Witt O’Brien’s DebrisPro^TM system is an electronic system that securely documents all information needed to successfully recover following a disaster. The automated system is a multi-device and web-enabled solution that integrates the most advanced technology, tools, server infrastructure, hand-held devices, and web portals to simplify the various tasks required for debris removal monitoring, contracts management, and office operations.

It is impossible to predict when a disaster will strike and difficult to presume exactly what your area will need to effectively respond during devastating circumstances. That is why a plan is so important. With a debris management plan, regardless of the magnitude of a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster, local emergency management teams will be armed with the resources and knowledge to recover quickly.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Ken Burris
CEO, Witt O’Brien’s

A Hurricane Katrina strength storm may occur every two years if global temperatures rise just two degrees. That is according to a new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. With the Gulf Coast states still recovering from this major storm seven years ago, a storm that size every other year is frightening. But, there is something to help reduce those fears and quell concerns – the 2013 National Hurricane Conference.

How can people prepare for storms to minimize disaster recovery? How should communities and local governments plan for the potential super storms of the future? These questions and more will be answered at the conference in New Orleans between March 25^th and March 28^th.

Who attends the conference and what is discussed?

The conference registration is open to a myriad of people including government officials, engineers, volunteers, meteorologists, and private industry professionals to name a few. These professionals, all with an interest in emergency management, will meet over the course of three days to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to enhance emergency management nationwide.

The conference gathers federal, state and local officials to learn from the hurricane strikes of the past, explore state-of-the-art technology programs, and discuss assistance programs.

Who is leading the conference?

The conference offers a breadth of information and perspectives from emergency management professionals from all over the country. County emergency management directors, emergency management analysts, National Hurricane Center professionals, and disaster company executives including Witt O’Brien’s program directors will be leading various sessions. Hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation will be discussed during:

• Workshops and Training Sessions for Hurricane Responders
• RAP Sessions for the sharing of ideas among professionals
• General Sessions featuring expert speakers
• Panel Discussions
• The Annual Awards Presentation

Looking for a specific certification in emergency management? The conference also offers educational training for those interested in exploring this area. During the three days of workshops and training sessions, attendees can also take advantage of available Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Certificate Training courses.

Interested in learning about the conference? Want to ensure you are prepared for more frequent future storms? The National Hurricane Conference is the place for you. For more information about registration, please click here.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

New Orleans, LA, March 20, 2013 – Government officials, meteorologists, engineers, private industry executives and voluntary agency representatives are just a few of the many people heading to New Orleans for the 2013 National Hurricane Conference taking place March 25-28.

The annual National Hurricane Conference serves as a national forum for federal, state, and local officials to exchange ideas regarding effective and efficient Emergency Management. The conference aims to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.   

“The conference will illustrate specific lessons learned from the most impactful events in recent years,” said Leroy Thompson, Witt O’Brien’s Disaster Program Manager in New Orleans and the moderator of a mitigation workshop on the final day of the conference. “With the experience gained following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana provides insight into the progress made during the seven years between storms and where we can all still improve in disaster preparation.”

This year’s conference will emphasize lessons learned from hurricane strikes, state-of-the-art programs and information about assistance programs. There will be a focus on disaster response, evacuation decision-making, debris monitoring and contracting, and mitigation, among other areas of emergency management and planning. The following topics will be discussed during the event:

• Workshops and Training Sessions for Hurricane Responders
• RAP Sessions for the sharing of ideas among professionals
• General Sessions featuring expert speakers
• Panel Discussions
• The Annual Awards Presentation

The conference will also offer Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Certificate Training courses.

For more information about the National Hurricane Conference please click here.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

By Andrew Sachs
Vice President, Government Services, Witt O’Brien’s

Two weeks have passed since the sequester budget cuts took effect. Months of commentary, concerns, and delays came to a head on March 1, 2013 when the spending cuts actually began.

But with two weeks under our belts, do we know if these cuts are as worrisome as predicted? Specifically, will disaster relief funding be hindered by the $928 million cut from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)? Or the $113 million cut in Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG)?  There is no simple yes or no answer.  

Supplemental disaster relief funding  

While the cuts from the Federal DRF on first view appear to be catastrophic, it may not be as ominous as it seems in the short-term.  

In the event of a major disaster, FEMA utilizes resources from the DRF, which is funded by Congress with “no-year” money (that is, the funding appropriated to the DRF does not expire if not obligated at the end of each fiscal year). This funding is used to fund the agency’s disaster relief programs, including the agency’s Individual Assistance Programs to help disaster survivors who have unmet and uninsured needs, the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program which provides assistance to state and local governments to quickly respond to disasters or emergency situations, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) which can be used to fund investments that reduce or eliminate risks to life and property. Because the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 allocated more than $11 billion in a disaster assistance package in January to recapitalize the DRF, even a cut of $1 billion does not pose a significant short-term risk to disaster relief funding.

So the sequester is nothing to worry about it?

Not exactly. While the short-term effects on disaster relief and recovery may not be terribly concerning at the moment, the longer-term effects certainly are.

According to FEMA’s estimates, the requirements associated with Superstorm Sandy and other disasters for which there are pending obligations may result in a need to replenish the DRF once again sometime in the fourth quarter of 2013.  In the months running up to that time – assuming that there is no resolution of the sequester that restores funding to prior levels – FEMA may be forced to either restrict non-emergency funding to permit the existing funding balances to last longer (as they have done several times in the last few years), or they will have to approach Congress yet again to replenish the DRF before it runs out – something that is not certain in these fiscal times.  This could cause delays in the reconstruction of New York and New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, as well as a funding slow-down in other states that have experienced disasters in the last few years.

Another impact could be on state and local program funding designed to help build and maintain state and local emergency management staffing and capabilities.  Also known as EMPG, these program funds are impacted by the sequester with cuts amounting to $113 million from these capacity-building resources (a five percent reduction nationally).  Because these dollars are used heavily to support the cost of emergency management staffing and preparedness activities, this relatively modest cut could cause forced reductions in personnel and training exercises, and critical equipment purchases necessary to ensure that states and local governments can respond when the next disaster occurs.  This could result in not only increased damages and loss of life, but ironically, the cuts could also increase federal disaster costs (because federal assistance is triggered when state and local capacity to respond is exceeded – a threshold that will be lower if EMPG funding is reduced).

How is FEMA dealing with the sequester thus far?

It is possible that before the end of the fiscal year in September, Congress will have resolved the issues regarding sequestration. Over the past two weeks, FEMA has approached the cuts in a manner that contains negative impacts of the sequester, in anticipation of a resolution within the next few months. If that is the case, certain funds that were cut, like the $113 million cut from EMPG funds, will be given back to those to whom they were originally awarded, and they will have until the end of the fiscal year to utilize those funds.

With that being said, FEMA is not taking these cuts lightly and is doing everything it can to help reserve funds where it can. They have reduced their staff travel budget by 50 percent, their salaries and expenses by five percent and are holding off on filling any “non-critical” personnel vacancies.  Some states have even reported an apparent slowing of decision-making on permanent repair project funding which they attribute to a desire to stretch funding in the DRF.  But overall, FEMA’s approach has been reasoned and conservative. 

A more detailed report outlining the sequestration will be available when the OMB releases its “Discretionary Final Sequestration Report for FY 2013” on March 27^th, but for now only time will tell how the sequester cuts will ultimately play out.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

Alexandria, VA, March 14, 2013 – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials and leading state disaster experts are presenting at the National Emergency Management Association’s (NEMA) Mid-Year Policy and Leadership Forum next week to discuss emergency management priorities and the budget for the fiscal year.

Each year, shortly after the President’s State of the Union Address, volunteers, entrepreneurs, and practitioners attend NEMA’s mid-year forum to discuss the budget request for the following fiscal year and its impact on policy development, legislative issues and disaster preparation, response and recovery.

 "In the wake of the sequestration budget cuts, it is the perfect time for disaster response experts to gather together and discuss the best approaches for emergency management and disaster preparation,” explained Ken Burris, CEO of Witt O’Brien’s. “This year, we may have to approach things differently based on new policies, funding distribution and federal relations.” Members of Witt O’Brien’s leadership team will be on hand at the event to communicate about their expertise in the area of disaster response.

This year’s NEMA forum will be held March 16^th through March 21^st at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA. Experts in the field of disaster response and emergency management will address various national issues and concerns including:

• The Emergency Management Assistance Compact
• Maximizing the benefits of Threat Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
• Stafford Act Amendments
• Emergency Management and Cyber Consequences
• Private Sector Integration for Long Term Disaster Recovery

For more information about the NEMA Mid-Year Policy & Leadership Forum please click here.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.

LONG BEACH, CA, March 12, 2013 – State and local first-responders, U.S. Coast Guard officers, cleanup contractors, oil terminal personnel and vessel operators are attending Witt O’Brien’s kickoff 2013 Spill Management Team Tabletop Exercise (SMT TTX) program today and tomorrow in Long Beach, California.

Each year the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the State of California require at least one representative for each Vessel Response Plan Holder to test their plan through participation in a SMT TTX. Many organizations send more than one participant to tabletops because of the program’s value.

"As a partner in compliance, Witt O’Brien’s helps companies meet the various regulatory requirements imposed on vessels residing in U.S. waters," said Chris Gregory, Vice President of Vessel Services for Witt O’Brien’s. "We ensure that our spill management exercises are designed, conducted, evaluated and reported on each participant’s behalf."

At this year’s exercise at the Long Beach Renaissance Hotel, the Witt O’Brien’s team will activate the Incident Command System to satisfy its part of the annual SMT exercise requirements for:

• Vessel Response Plans (VRPs);
• Nontank Vessel Response Plans (NTVRPs);
• California Vessel Contingency Plans (CAVCPs); and
• California Nontank Vessel Contingency Plans (CANTVCPs).

Following this event, Witt O’Brien’s SMT TTX program will travel on a 15 city tour into the fall. Stops along the way will include Seattle, Tokyo, London, and Dubai.

To register for the Long Beach exercise, or other SMT exercises taking place later in the year, click here.

Witt O’Brien’s is a global leader in preparedness, crisis management and disaster response and recovery, committed to controlling the outcome and focused on finding solutions. Witt O’Brien’s professionals have extensive experience providing services along the entire disaster life cycle and are uniquely positioned to bring together leaders from all levels of government and private sector partners.