Incident/Disaster Response Track

• This panel discussion will take a close look at some of the obstacles and challenges facing journalists when covering global counterterrorism issues including personal safety, scarce sources, controversial topics, and reporting from abroad.
• With a combined reporting experience of over 85 years, the esteemed journalists participating in the panel will sharing their experiences.

• Challenges and opportunities facing the emergency communications community.
• Multi-agency or multi-jurisdictional communications systems and the ability to coordinate efforts and maximize resources.
• Governance, training, and standard operating procedures.

• Thad Allen will share his experience directing the response to Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill along with his distinguished career as 23rd Commandant in the US Coast Guard to address incident response from a unique perspective: “Where Counterterrorism and Disaster Response Meet.”
• Are there differences in response to man-made vs. natural disasters? Allen will highlight the “unity of effort” in a global community—leadership, legal, policy and resource challenges.

• In- depth look at the critical aspects of incident planning.
• Value of a joint planning process.
• Developing Integrated Emergency Management System.
• Facilitating business resumption and recovery.

The panelists will discuss the evolution of the National Network of Fusion Centers highlighting the following:

• The maturation of the Fusion Center Network - From individual information sharing hubs to a nation-wide prevention network
• Outlook for the future: Funding priorities and challenges in a fiscally constrained environment
• Specific examples of Fusion Sharing information sharing practices