Disaster preparedness: Lessons from state and local recovery efforts

By Melissa Harris, Wilfred Bourne, Alita Caparotta, Susan West, and Michael Junell

After a record-breaking number of billion-dollar disasters struck the U.S. in 2023, it’s crucial for state and local leaders to develop robust disaster preparedness strategies. In this on-demand webinar, a panel of experts—state and local officials, community leaders, and disaster recovery professionals—share their insights and experiences in disaster recovery.

What you’ll learn:

How to navigate FEMA challenges: Discover effective strategies for overcoming hurdles in the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) process. Learn how to streamline processes, expedite approvals, and maximize funding.
Best practices for resources coordination: We’ll cover essential steps to ensure an efficient and effective response.
Lessons from recent disasters: Hear real-world stories from our panelists. Learn how they tackled obstacles, supported their communities, and built resilience after major disasters.

Meet the authors

Melissa Harris, Director, Louisiana Office of Risk Management
Wilfred Bourne, Chief Financial Officer, Calcasieu Parish School Board
Alita Caparotta, Chief Administrative Officer, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Susan West, Vice President, Risk Management and Insurance

Susan (MBA, CRM, CIC) is a risk management and insurance expert with more than 30 years of experience assisting clients in insurance and risk-related matters, including disaster planning, business continuity, resiliency, and recovery from disasters. View bio
Michael Junell, Senior Director, Public Assistance

Michael is a public assistance expert with more than 15 years of experience in project and operations management. View bio

File Under

Meet the people who bring transformative projects to life

Discover how we find power in our purpose

Disaster preparedness: Lessons from state and local recovery efforts

What you’ll learn:

Related insights