3rd Annual Regional State Border Coordination Workshop


All Hazards Consortium - 3rd Annual Regional State Border Coordination Workshop

On January 24-25, 2011, the states and urban areas of the All Hazards Consortium (AHC) will hold the 3rd Annual Regional State Border Coordination Workshop. The AHC will further develop the findings and discussions that came out of the 2nd Annual State Border Coordination Workshop regarding existing catastrophic evacuation planning efforts within the states of NC, VA, DC, MD, WV, PA, DE, NJ & NY including challenges and opportunities to achieve the long-term vision of a coordinated plan and support of integrated planning.  Breakout sessions cover: credentialing, mass care, transportation, resource management and situational awareness.

I will be attending the workshop again this year as a facilitator. We have helped with the facilitation of this event each year and have found it to be a worthwhile and positive effort. 

Last year. over 190 people from various states, federal and private organizations jointly discussed many topics at this two-day meeting. Several common themes became apparent during the 2010 Workshop:

  • Governance: There is a need for an overall regional governance structure for planning activities and a coordinated regional incident command and control structure for use during and after an event.
  • Collaboration: The region needs a mechanism for on-going regional collaboration activities.
  • Coordination: There is an ongoing need for regional planning and collaboration between homeland security, emergency management, transportation, law enforcement, public health, the private sector and other related organizations.
  • Resources: The regional officials need to know what resources are available and from whom before an event occur and need a mechanism to coordinate resources that are available from both the public and private sector.
  • Funding. A regional funding and sustainability strategy is needed.
Everyone was in general agreement that a regional effort of this magnitude is a considerable challenge but that it could be accomplished if everyone works together.  The 2011 Workshop will build on the outcome of the previous year's efforts and gauge the regional progress in enhancing capabilities related to cross border issues. I hope that you can join me there.

For more information, or to register, visit www.ahcusa.org

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