Navigating Tomorrow’s Challenges Today: A Vision for the Future of Emergency Management

Join former FEMA Director James Lee Witt as he shares his invaluable perspective on the evolving nature of the emergency management profession and his experiences serving communities nationwide over the span of decades.

This presentation will delve into the dynamic shifts shaping the future of emergency management by exploring emerging trends, technological advancements, and paradigm shifts that will redefine how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. This presentation draws on Witt’s insights into the profession’s metamorphosis and his unique perspective on staying ahead of the curve.

A focal point will be the critical role of mitigation in addressing contemporary challenge, the ever-changing landscape of threats and hazards, the profound impact of climate change, urbanization, and geopolitical shifts on the frequency and intensity of emergencies. Participants will gain valuable insights into the significance of anticipatory planning and the development of resilient infrastructure as indispensable elements of future-ready emergency management strategies.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a forward-looking perspective from a seasoned expert as we collectively explore the path to meeting the challenges of tomorrow, today.

About the Presenter

A former FEMA Director and perhaps the nation’s leading authority of disaster management, James Lee Witt has an unmatched track record of disaster management, coordination, and recovery. During his time as the Director of FEMA, Mr. Witt was responsible for the response and recovery for 348 Presidentially Declared Disasters. Mr. Witt’s strength in leadership and ability to leverage the experience of industry professionals for disaster management and recovery, engineering, construction, and logistics to provide comprehensive recovery solutions has been practiced in response to disasters across the US, including hurricanes, severe flooding, landslides, and earthquakes.

Mr. Witt was the visionary and architect of national emergency preparedness , mitigation, response and recovery programs. He has expertise integrating community-based disaster management with national emergency management strategy. He initiated Project Impact, the innovative disaster mitigation program implemented in over 240 communities, to make communities at the local level disaster resistant.