Regional Workshops

As a direct outcome of the 2006 All Hazards Forum, the AHC Board began to host regional workshops in order to bring the states together to discuss critical issues within a particular topic area with each other and among all AHC stakeholders.  These workshops are guided and designed by government to drive out common state needs, requirements and recommendations.  They are sponsored by one state that is passionate about a particular issue, hosted at by that state, and facilitated by the AHC.

Acting as the neutral and trusted facilitator, the AHC can identify the key people and issues in each state, bring them together on a regional level to discuss challenges/solutions, and facilitate discussions that lead to further regional collaborations.  This process results in a win-win for those involved and improves trust between all parties.

To date, the AHC has hosted six (6) Regional Workshops as outlined below:

  1. Fusion Center Workshop in West Trenton, NJ White paper sponsored by Northrop Grumman, released September 2007
  2. Public Safety Communications/Interoperability Workshop in Harrisonburg, VA White paper sponsored by Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Lab, released October 2007
  3. Critical Infrastructure Protection Workshop in State College, PA White paper sponsored by CNA Corporation, released November 2007
  4. Regional Workshop on Catastrophic Evacuation Planning, Shepherdstown, WV White paper sponsored by Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Lab, released June 2008
  5. Geographic Information Systems Workshop in Towson, MD White paper sponsored by Argonne National Labs, released Spring 2009
  6. Regional Ports Workshop in Baltimore, MD Regional Report sponsored by the State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Government Coordinating Council, to be released Winter 2010

Future workshops under discussion are as follows:

  • Regional cyber security collaboration
  • Regional rail security
  • Regional campus security coordination
  • Regional border coordination and security
  • Regional / national credentialing
  • Regional food supply security collaboration

Upcoming Event Details

All Hazards Consortium Presents:
2nd Annual State Border Coordination Workshop
January 25-26, 2010
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Click here for the Agenda

About This Workshop:
In October 2008, the states of the All Hazards Consortium hosted the first “border coordination meeting” in Gettysburg, PA.  This meeting was the result of a multi-state planning effort focused on potential catastrophic evacuations out of the Washington, DC, and New York City areas.  The 2nd Annual State Border Coordination Workshop on January 25-26, 2010 is a follow-up workshop which will further develop the discussion on important regional topics including:

  • Transportation
  • Public Safety Communications / Interoperability
  • Mass Care
  • Credentialing

Due to the geographical context of the East Coast, it is critical that evacuation planning be conducted with a multi-state regional approach including a continuing review of cross-jurisdictional border coordination efforts. Working with the states and federal agencies, private sector, university and non-profit partners, the AHC states’ first Border Coordination Workshop outcomes will be further developed in the upcoming 2nd Annual State Border Coordination Workshop.  AHC states and partners will build upon the existing organizations and catastrophic evacuation planning efforts within the states of NC, VA, DC, MD, WV, PA, DE, NJ & NY to meet, discuss, and educate attendees about the various issues, efforts, challenges and opportunities to achieve the long-term vision of a coordinated plan and support of integrated planning.


Goals and Objectives:

  • Build upon the efforts of the 2008 meeting
    • Provide an update on the previous year’s activities
    • Provide a briefing on regional catastrophic grant projects (RCPGP) in DC and NY
  • Capture Regional Input from state and local government
    • Have facilitated group breakout sessions
    • Present breakout session outcomes to other groups
  • Produce an after-action report
    • Further outline gaps
    • Develop action plan for next steps
  • Establish integrated planning framework between states and federal agencies
    • Build calendar for periodic meetings
    • Further develop contact lists
    • Provide forum for ongoing discussion

Speakers/Facilitators include:

  • Keynote Speaker: Corey Gruber, Assistant Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, FEMA
  • Robert French, Director, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)and Pennsylvania’s Homeland Security Advisor
  • Robert Crouch, Assistant to the Governor of Virginia for Commonwealth Preparedness and AHC Board President
  • Robert B. Stephan, Managing Director, Dutko Global Risk Management (former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
  • Dennis R. Schrader, President, DRS International, LLC (former Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness,FEMA)
  • Roland "Bud" Mertz, Director, Bureau of Community Preparedness, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
  • Gregory D. Brown, National Response Deputy Program Manager, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Dr. Michael R. French, Department Head, Critical Infrastructure, Preparedness, Protection & Response, DHS SEDITM / Homeland Security Center, MITRE
To view speaker biographies, click HERE

Topics include:

  • Overall - What do you see as major impediments? / Where are your gaps? / How do you close them?  / How do you measure performance? 
  • Vision and planning - What is the continuing vision for regional coordination of evacuation plans? / Are there additional common planning topics?
  • Governance structure – Is the Governance structure formulated under the Regional Catastrophic Planning Team effective? / How can the federal government improve coordination with the states on a regional level? / What are the unique roles/responsibilities? / What do the states have authority over?
  • Funding – Several models have developed with respect to funding regional grants.  What is the most effective model and what are some of the challenges? /   What federal agencies have a role in the planning and response to a catastrophic event and how are those efforts coordinated? (Ex: DHS, HHS, DOT, DOE, USDA, etc.)
  • Technology - What are key technology challenges facing the states/UASIs as it relates to transportation? Communications and interoperability? Information sharing between state EOCs and related mass care facilities?
  • Information sharing - How do state, local, federal and private organizations share critical information across state borders?
  • Partnerships / Associations – What partnerships have developed?  / What needs to be added?  How do organizations interact to restore business in the aftermath of a crisis, and in daily operations?
  • Existing efforts / Accomplishments – What are some of the best practices and existing planning efforts under way within the region? / What are the opportunities for the future, and how can the states collaborate with each other?
  • Evaluation – How do you measure your readiness? 

Other Valuable Opportunities:

  • People / Networking
    • Opportunity to network with other industry professionals
    • Time for Q&A with speakers
    • Breakfast and lunch provided for networking and sponsorship opportunities
    • Complimentary networking reception provided
  • Education / Information
    • Learn more about the All Hazards Consortium & their leadership
    • Learn more about vendors’ tools and services
    • Gain insight into best practices
  • Opportunities / Initiatives
    • Regional report will outline issues, recommendations and opportunities
    • Research / business development

Who Should Attend:

  • Regional state Homeland Security Advisors
  • Emergency Management Managers and Directors
  • Transportation / Interoperability / Mass Care and Credentialing SMEs
  • Hospitals, Medical planners and logisticians
  • Private sector companies dealing with interstate border issues and emergency response
  • Research, non-profit and volunteer organizations (i.e., American Red Cross, etc.)
  • FEMA Regions III, II, IV
  • Federal partners from DHS, HHS, DOT, DOE, USDA, and others
  • Academia and researchers

Schedule:

Monday, January 25, 2010  
12:30 pm – 5:00 pm    Registration Open
1:15 pm – 4:30 pm Educational Sessions
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Networking Reception
   
Tuesday, January 26, 2010  
7:30 am – 4:00 pm Registration Open
8:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast and Opening Comments
9:00 am – 10:00 am Plenary Session – Lessons learned from 2008 Summit
10:00 am – 10:30 am Networking Break
10:30 am – 2:00 pm* Breakout I: Transportation
  Breakout II: Public safety communications / Interoperability
  Breakout III: Mass Care
  Breakout IV: Credentialing
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Networking Break
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Group Discussions/Presentations of Breakout Information
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm Closing Remarks / Next Steps / Raffle Drawings
   

*includes working lunch


Agenda is subject to change

Sponsor Information:

Maximize your exposure by Sponsoring or Exhibiting at the State Border Coordination Workshop!!

Sponsorship and exhibits at the 2nd Annual State Border Coordination Workshop are excellent opportunities for your organization or agency to showcase your products, research and services to a highly targeted, senior-level audience. 

The All Hazards Consortium has designated a limited number of sponsorships and exhibit spaces - all of which are created to help your company reach key decision makers and maximize your exposure at this workshop.  Sponsorship packages and exhibit space are available on a limited basis to qualified companies.  

For details and pricing on these packages, view our sponsorship kit.   For more information, or to create your own custom sponsorship package, please contact: Paula Copperthite at 301-928-6674 or via email at paula.copperthite@ahcusa.org

Registration:

To register, click HERE.

Registration fees are:

  • State/Local Government Employees: complimentary
  • Non-profit Organizations, Academia and Federal Government: $350 per person
  • Private Sector & Government Contractors: $500 per person (AHC member discounts apply)

Payment can be made via credit card, check, or PayPal.
Please register at AHC 2nd Annual State Border Coordination Workshop Registration as soon as possible, as registration will be limited to 125 attendees. For questions regarding registration or your member discount, contact Marcie Grabau at marcie.grabau@ahcusa.org.

Refund Policy
Cancellations postmarked by mid-night January 11, 2010 will receive a refund less a $50.00 processing fee.  No refunds will be issued for cancellations postmarked after January 11, 2010. Refunds are not provided if you are unable to attend the event. Substitutions, including those made onsite, are allowed with written permission of the original registrant.  Please submit the request in person at the event, or by email to marcie.grabau@ahcusa.org.
Please note:

  • This event is closed to the media.
  • All attendees will need to produce appropriate identification. Name badges will be issued and checked on site at all times.
  • Dress is business or business casual.
  • No registrations will be performed on site for this event.

Location:

The Workshop and reception will be held at the Eisenhower Hotel & Conference Center at 2634 Emmitsburg Road in Gettysburg, PA 17325 (Phone: 717-334-8121). Complimentary parking is available. 

A room block is being held at the Federal per diem rate of $82 per night plus tax.  To make a reservation, please call the hotel by January 15 and ask for the “State Border Coordination Workshop” room block.

For more information, send an email to info@ahcusa.org

Digital Sandbox Allied Barton MorphoTrak
SkyTerra Gantech Dewberry
EWA CAE FATPOT
SAIC CISCO WVU

 

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