March 10, 2014
WINNIPEG HOSTS 2014 DISASTER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
March 12-14 Canad Inns Polo Park
The 2014 Manitoba Disaster Management Conference gets underway Wednesday, March 12, in Winnipeg with speakers and presentations on Manitoba and Alberta floods, the Ontario ice storm, earthquakes and violence in educational facilities.
Government officials and private sector consultants will bring experiences and expertise, provide information and solutions to problems and create network opportunities for more than 400 participants from around the province who are involved in emergency preparedness and emergency management.
The three-day session is designed for those who prepare and respond to emergency situations such as preparedness planners, responders, elected officials, business continuity planners, health professionals, educators, policy makers, nongovernmental organizations, policy makers and school safety officers.
Topics and presentations will include:
* the December 2013 ice storm in Ontario and a look at whether Manitoba would be ready for a similar situation;
* emerging threats and targeted violence within schools, colleges and universities;
* a tale of two floods: reflections on the 2011 Assiniboine River flood and the 2013 southern Alberta floods;
* fire and evacuation of Children’s Hospital, HSC Winnipeg; and
* the great Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear accident – lessons learned from the U.S. Embassy Crisis Centre.
To assist local authorities to develop or expand existing emergency plans, there will be workshops covering topics such as:
* emergency social services and reception centres;
* incident command: what does it means and how to use it effectively in an emergency; and
* social media and disasters.
The conference provides an opportunity to increase the level of emergency preparedness in Manitoba and promote the principles of disaster management planning and public awareness. Delegates and exhibitors share experiences, showcase technologies, provide information, tools and solutions to problems and exchange ideas.
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