OKLAHOMA CITY – Saving lives and protecting communities is the goal of the 2016 National Tornado Summit. The 5th annual event will be held Feb. 29-March 2 in Oklahoma City.
“We are really excited about the valuable information being presented at the 2016 conference,” said National Tornado Summit Committee Co-Chair Chad Yearwood. “The lineup of speakers is extremely impressive. They truly are the best of the best in what they do.”
The National Tornado Summit is an educational forum that provides attendees with the knowledge they need to excel in their field. The conference includes dedicated tracks for insurance producers, insurance adjusters, emergency managers and meteorologists. Insurance professionals who participate in approved sessions may receive 10 hours of continuing education credit if it is requested.
For the fourth straight year, the Summit includes the National Severe Weather Workshop organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The summit also includes tours of the National Weather Center in Norman, Ok. and the state of Oklahoma Emergency Operations Center in Oklahoma City which serves as a command center during disasters.
“Attendees who take part in these tours will get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at two state-of-the-art facilities,” said Kim Decker, National Tornado Summit Committee Co-Chair. “I encourage everyone to register soon and sign up for the tours, as they do fill up quickly, and participating in these tours adds greatly to what is already an outstanding and highly educational summit.”
Confirmed Presentations
- “Drones: The Future of Disaster”- Charlie Mondello, president of the Property Drone Consortium, delves into emerging drone technology and explains how drones are being used for search and rescue, damage assessments, evaluation of hard-to-access areas and more.
- “Safe from the Storm: New Research and Developments in Tornado Protection” – Experts from FEMA, the National Storm Shelter Association and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program will unveil the latest developments in tornado protection.
- “Predicting the Unpredictable: Keeping People Safe from the Storm During Sporting Events, Concerts and Other Outdoor Activities” – Oklahoma Climatological Survey Director Kevin Kloesel will explain how the University of Oklahoma keeps fans and athletes safe during severe weather events.
- “Answering the Call: Advanced Wind Resistance Structures” – After the 2013 tornado in Moore, engineers discovered the need for advancements in high-wind resistant structures. Experts from Texas A&M will discuss the technologies, building codes and policies needed to build safer structures.
- “Measuring the Social Media Response” – This session will explore the increasing ways social media is being used in response, recovery and restoration after disasters.
Registration is available online at www.tornadosummit.org.
Standard Registration (Now-Feb. 12) – $275
Late/Onsite Registration (Feb. 13-Onsite) – $325
Government Rate – $149
Student Rate – $59
For registration questions, call (405) 974-5306 or email ce@uco.edu.
For media inquiries, contact Kelly Dexter at 405-522-0683; Kelly.Dexter@oid.ok.gov or Kesha Keith at 405-522-4066; Kesha.Keith@oid.ok.gov.
About the National Tornado Summit
About the National Tornado Summit
The National Tornado Summit is hosted by the Oklahoma Insurance Department, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Emergency Management, National Weather Center, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center and National Association of Insurance Commissioners. It serves as a national forum for experts to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery in order to save lives and property.
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