Katrina Over Hampton Roads: Are We Ready?

Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. If a similar disaster were to hit Hampton Roads, would the region be ready? Drawing on expertise from federal, state and local government officials, as well as leaders and experts from the Netherlands, the 2008 Azalea Festival Symposium will tackle that very question.

Media are invited to attend the symposium at the Old Dominion University Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk April 15, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

NATO Allied Command Transformation will co-host the symposium with ODU. In addition to analysis from policy makers and panel discussions with key executives, the conference also will feature workshops in key areas such as water and consequence management, protecting critical infrastructure and emergency response.

Conference speakers include Hon. Jay M. Cohen, Undersecretary for Science and Technology, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security; Hon. Robert P. Crouch, Assistant to the Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness; Prof. Eelco H. Dykstra, M.D., Visiting Professor of International Emergency Management, George Washington University; Jan Franssen, Queen's Commissioner for South-Holland and Chairman of the Netherlands Flooding Management Task Force; and retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore, former Commander, Joint Task Force Katrina.

Media should enter through the 45th Street entrance and check in at the registration table. Parking is available in the Constant Center garage.

For a complete itinerary and more information, visit the Azalea Symposium webpage on the ACT website: www.act.nato.int/content.asp?pageid=1249

For additional information from ACT, please contact U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Matt Gill at 757-747-3227 or pao@act.nato.int, or for more information from ODU, please contact Scott Lowe at 757-683-6394 or slowe@odu.edu.