2018 National Conference Draws Disaster Resilience Leaders

Experts to examine science, policy, and practice solutions to save lives and reduce losses in disaster-prone regions across the U.S. and globe

News provided by

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

Nov 07, 2018, 10:00 ET

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla., Nov. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As U.S. states and territories continue to grapple with recovery from devastating catastrophes, the nation's foremost voices in the disaster safety and resilience movement will gather at the 2018 National Disaster Resilience Conference (NDRC18) November 7-9 in Clearwater Beach, FL.

FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson will open the conference by calling for six common sense reforms to replace the "Build-Destroy-Rebuild" cycle with a culture of "Build to Last." Her address will outline details of how consumer transparency, stronger public policy, and better building practices can save lives and protect property in the face of mounting, billion-dollar events.

"Large-scale disasters bring massive recovery efforts that last for years and often decades. We have a meaningful opportunity right now to not only upgrade homes with resilience in mind, but to improve how we build before the next disaster comes," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "Some of these reforms are surprisingly simple. Some are already in place. All are ready for implementation today."

NDRC18 featured presenters include:

Jim Cantore, On-Camera Meteorologist and Co-Host, "AMHQ", The Weather Channel
Leslie Chapman-Henderson, FLASH President and CEO
Kenneth Graham, Director, National Hurricane Center
Heath Hockenberry, National Fire Weather Program Manager, National Weather Service
Dr. Daniel Kaniewski, Deputy Administrator, Resilience, FEMA
Dr. Rick Knabb, Hurricane Expert, The Weather Channel and, former National Hurricane Center Director
Max Mayfield, former National Hurricane Center Director
Ada Monzón, Meteorologist, CBM - WIPR-TV Puerto Rico
Dr. Karthik Ramanathan, Assistant Vice President & Principal Engineer, Research & Modeling, AIR Worldwide
Bill Read, former National Hurricane Center Director
David Venables, Deputy Director - National Rebuild Program, Team Rubicon
Lt. Col. Kaitlyn Woods, Hurricane Hunter - Chief Meteorologist, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, USAF
Roy E. Wright, President & Chief Executive Officer, IBHS

The full agenda is available here.

NDRC18 attendees will hear from BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida International University, IBHS, International Code Council, James Cook University of Australia, Lightning Protection Institute, MIT, NOAA, Portland Cement Association, Southern California Earthquake Center, Smart Home America, State Farm, The Weather Channel, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, USAA, and Verisk.

NDRC18 is proud to announce that the International Code Council (ICC) is serving as the Titanium Sponsor alongside Gold Sponsors BASF Corporation and USAA; Silver Sponsors, ISO, National Wildlife Federation, and Portland Cement Association; Bronze Sponsors National Flood Barrier Testing & Certification and Smart Vent; and General Sponsors Comfort Block and Enterprise Community Partners.

NDRC18 is presented by the FLASH Partnership and "Presenting Partners," including the American Meteorological Society, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Central United States Earthquake Consortium, National Fire Protection Association, National Storm Shelter Association, National Weather Association, and Southern California Earthquake Center.

About FLASH
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 100 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disaster-resilient nation including: BASF Corporation, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, and USAA. In 2008, FLASH, and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, on Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)