Restoration 2007:  Innovation, Leadership and Networks for Post-Disaster Recovery

In May of last year, ICMA and many partnering organizations convened Restoration 2006, the first national conference on economic and community recovery in the wake of a disaster.  More than a thousand people attended from around the country to learn and network with colleagues, experts and providers.

The Need—Effective Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Strategies

Every year, communities across the country and around the world are impacted by natural and man-made disasters and face loss of life and property.  The essential systems—economic, social, governmental, environmental, and infrastructure—that support localities and regions can be severely impacted. 

Large and small disasters like severe weather (flooding, hurricanes, tornados, ice storms and blizzards), earthquakes, wildfires, industrial accidents, and terrorist incidents have and will continue to challenge communities and the need for effective leadership, creative and innovative approaches for recovery, and stronger emergency management networks has never been more critical.  In the weeks, months, and years after a disaster, communities face the often daunting task of recreating their way of life, rebuilding local infrastructure, housing the displaced, restoring economic activity, and re-establishing their sense of place. 

Addressing the Need--What Is Restoration 2007?

Restoration 2007 is the second annual national conference and trade show on post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.  This event features outcome-driven educational, skill-building and training sessions, a solutions-oriented exhibit hall, and exceptional networking opportunities.  This forum is exclusively focused on connecting you to the resources, strategies, policies, practices and connections that will be valuable for your community’s disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery planning and implementation. 

Key topics and networking connections for this year’s conference includes activity in the following areas:

• Leadership and Creativity—capacity building; mutual aid arrangements; public-private partnerships; leadership and strategic decision making; effective communication approaches
• Economic and Community Redevelopment—business retention and job recovery; small business support; tourism; affordable housing; family issues; vulnerable populations; infrastructure and utility systems
• Public and Private Sector Financing—federal and state resources; innovative financing and reinvestment vehicles; insurance options and trends; private sector investment and resources
• Mitigation and Preparation—physical structures; environmental restoration; organizational training and continuity of operations; codes and covenants; public safety and health; remediation strategies
• Information and Communication Technologies—information technologies; GIS and GPS; interoperability; wireless communications

Rebuilding a community after a disaster takes time, sometimes a very long time.  This conference focuses on how to keep the momentum going, and helps links communities together for mutual support.  Restoration 2007 goes beyond the typical classroom instruction on emergency management and planning.  Special interactive work groups will meet throughout the conference to create new approaches and constructively critique old ones; develop position papers; jump start networking opportunities among participants, and provide a number of traditional educational sessions on cutting-edge and other important topics.

Who should attend? 

• Local, state, and federal government leaders
• Federal and state contractors
• Financial and insurance providers and risk management practitioners
• Economic development officials and community development organizations
• Emergency managers and disaster response experts
• Environmental and civil engineers, planners and public works officials
• Information technology professionals
• Academic institutions
• Real estate developers and investors
• Attorneys

For More Information

Registration—Sean Tolliver (stolliver@icma.org)

Sponsorship—Danielle Miller Wagner (dmwagner@icma.org)

Exhibiting—Nancy Monahan (nancy@tbgevents.com)

Educational Programming—Sean Tolliver (stolliver@icma.org)