The devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey and New York underscores the daunting challenges that today’s growing “mega regions” face in responding to and recovering from large-scale disasters.  Like the mid-Atlantic region, the Bay Area has a diverse population of millions spanning many jurisdictions with areas of high housing density, and is supported by a highly-interdependent, extensive, and increasingly fragile infrastructure.  Many of the lessons learned from Sandy are illustrative of what Bay Area communities, organizations, and individuals will face in a major earthquake, “ARkStorm” (atmospheric river storm) flood, or other catastrophic event.

We welcome you to join us in our latest Disaster Resilient Bay Area event to:

• Hear about significant gaps and resilience challenges from government agencies, private sector, and non-profit representatives who were involved in Superstorm Sandy response and recovery, including practitioners from the Bay Area who provided assistance.
• Discuss and select those lessons learned from the Sandy response and recovery that are crucial for the health and safety, economic, and environmental resilience of Bay Area communities.
• Examine how these priority challenges are being addressed, or if they aren’t, what could be done to build a more resilient Bay Area.

Agenda

12:30 – 12:40 pm   Welcome and Introductions

Paula Scalingi, Executive Director, Bay Area Center for Regional Disaster Resilience

12:40 – 12:50 pm   Opening Remarks – FEMA Highlights of Sandy Lessons Learned and Considerations for the Bay Area

Justin Dombrowski, Response Division Director, FEMA Region IX

12:50 – 1:50 pm     Panel One – Perspectives of key government agencies and private sector organizations with missions in Sandy response and recovery 

Robert Butchart, Coastal Region Emergency Services Coordinator and Emergency Management Assistance Compact Team Lead for Cal EMA

Bill Edwards, ESF-12 Regional Coordinator, Region X, U.S. Department of Energy

Kevin Morley, Security & Preparedness Program Manager, American Water Works Association 

Ron LaPedis, Workforce Continuity Strategist, SunGard Availability Services

John Hamill and Casey Deshong, External Affairs, FEMA Region IX

 1:50 – 2:00 pm    Break

 2:00 – 3:00 pm    Panel Two – Observations by Bay Area practitioners assisting in Sandy response/recovery

Rob Dudgeon, Director of Emergency Services, San Francisco

Gregory Smith, Regional Director, Disaster Services, Red Cross, San Francisco Bay Area

Brian Whitlow, Executive Director, SF CARD (San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster)

Jeff Dell, Senior Vice President, Global Business Continuity and Recovery / Crisis Management, Bank of America

Ken Fattlar, Director of Operations, Verizon Wireless

 3:00 – 3:40 pm    Facilitated Participant Discussion – What are the most important lessons from Sandy for the Bay Area?

Facilitators:

Peter Ohtaki, Executive Director, California Resiliency Alliance

Monika Stoeffl, Director of Programs, SF Bay Area Association of Contingency Planners

 3:40 – 4:00 pm    Path Forward – What needs to be done to address the priority challenges raised by Sandy to improve Bay Area resilience to deal with catastrophic disasters 

Justin Dombrowski, Response Division Director, FEMA Region IX & Participants

 4:00 pm              Closing Remarks and Adjourn

Barry Cardoza on behalf of BARCfirst, BRMA, and SF BOMA’s Emergency Preparedness Committee