RICHARDSON, Texas (Oct. 6, 2005) – A panel of medical personnel who were among first responders at Hurricane Katrina disaster sites in September will discuss their experiences and the importance of elevating the role of emergency managers during catastrophic events at The University of Texas at Dallas’ second annual Emergency Readiness Conference and Exposition, to be held Oct. 24 to 26 at the Plano Centre, 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, in Plano.
Former Undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson and State Coordinator for the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management Jack Colley also will deliver keynote addresses at the conference.
The panel of medical experts will include Dr. Paul Pepe, chairman of emergency medical services at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Dr. Ray Fowler and Dr. Ray Swienton, both assistant professors at UT Southwestern; Lieutenant Commander Patrick Young of the U.S. Public Health Service; and Kelli Scarlett, faculty member in the emergency management program at Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
In September, Dr. Pepe was honored by the American College of Emergency Physicians for his outstanding contributions in the area of emergency medical services.
In addition to the keynote luncheon speakers, this year’s conference
will feature plenary sessions, workshops and seminars all focused on emergency readiness needs, potentially
applicable technologies and strategies for coordinated management during disasters and emergencies.
Regional and national experts will address the attendees, who are expected to include elected officials, first responders and public and private sector preparedness and response program managers, including some from city, county and state governments as well as from the federal government. The event is not open to the public. On-site registration is required, with pre-registration available at http://som.utdallas.edu/erc.
The exposition will feature a variety of products, services and technologies related to counter-terrorism, homeland security and emergency response. The three-day Conference Expo Pass is $225 per registrant. Registration will allow entrance to all exhibits, keynotes, plenary panels and workshops.
| WHAT: | The University of Texas at Dallas Emergency Readiness Conference and Exposition 2005 |
| WHEN: | Oct. 24-26, 2005 |
| WHERE: | The Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas |
| MORE INFO: | For vendor, attendee and sponsorship information, please visit: som.utdallas.edu/erc |
ERC 2005 is the second in a series of planned annual conferences that advocate an all-hazards approach to homeland security and look at critical security issues facing both Texas and the nation. The ERC promotes multi-sector coordination of emergency readiness activities, public-private partnerships and innovative applications of communication and information technologies.
The first ERC, held in August 2004, drew some 300 participants and focused on hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction, medical emergency management and aviation security.
Other sponsoring organizations of ERC 2005 include the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, the Metroplex Technology Business Council, the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Collin County, Richardson Regional Medical Center and the Texas Homeland Security Alliance.
For more information, please contact John Fowler at 972-883-4697 or jfowler@utdallas.edu or visit http://som.utdallas.edu/erc2005.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls more than 14,000 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s web site at www.utdallas.edu.