Pre-Storm Preparedness: Planning for Post-Disaster Response and Resiliency

Natural disasters like the tornados that tore across Arkansas in March 2023 can have devastating effects on municipal infrastructure, including the urban tree canopy. Pre-storm planning substantially improves the ability of local officials to respond effectively and efficiently when disasters occur; mitigates the risk level and financial burden of post-storm debris management and hazard trees; and provides a framework for collaboration among municipal staff, volunteers, and officials from disaster response agencies and companies.

Topics:

Pre-storm contracts

Risk assessment

Debris staging

Navigating FEMA

Arkansas emergency management resources

Urban Forest Strike Team response

Speakers:

Karen Firehock, AIC; Co-founder of the Green Infrastructure Center, Inc.

Darren Green, ASLA; Landscape Architect for the City of Alexandria, LA

Kristine Kimbro, Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator, Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture Forestry Division

Mayors/City officials from Arkansas cities affected by the March 2023 Arkansas tornadoes (TBD)

Arkansas Division of Emergency Management officials (TBD)