Symposium Covers Disaster Relief

In September, the chapter hosted a symposium focused on command, control and communications related to the tornadoes that ravaged northern Alabama and other parts of the Southeast on April 27. The tornados were one of three recognized Tier 1 events in the Federal Emergency Management Agency history. (The other two events were Sept. 11, 2001 and hurricane Katrina.) It was the first time Alabama had seen an F5 tornado since 1974. The disaster caused an estimated $4.2 billion in damages—50-percent uninsured. The symposium featured Paul Finley, mayor of Madison City; Rex Reynolds, deputy mayor of Huntsville; Col. John Hamilton, USA, commander of the Redstone Arsenal Garrison; and representatives from all major support agencies from both cities. The symposium focused on preparation and response to the disaster as well as the lessons learned.

Event Photographs: