In the face of a changing climate and the increased frequency and power of extreme weather events, the need to effectively manage natural disasters has grown more and more evident. There is a persistent need for emergency managers across the United States and the world to be prepared and equipped to respond effectively to the latest disasters to mitigate casualties and minimize damage to property, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
Wildfires and hurricanes in particular are incredibly destructive and challenging weather events with significant costs for response. The U.S. federal government spends over $3 billion annually on wildfire management through various agencies including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, while states like California are set to spend just under half a billion in 2021. Hurricanes also present their own challenges for emergency managers, meteorologists, and government agencies with an estimated $28 billion in costs for hurricane damage incurred by the federal government.
The Disaster Management Online Summit, taking place digitally this June 28-30, 2021, aims to promote collaboration, coordination, and communication across the varied agencies involved in disaster mitigation, detection, response, and recovery throughout the United States and the world. There will be two tracks, each devoted specifically to hurricane response and wildfire management.