Saving Lives Before the Storm: Max Mayfield will Give Major Address to Broadcasters, Emergency Managers

The Summit on EAS & Emergency Communications is hosted by the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations (NASBA) in joint cooperation with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). The Summit focuses on widely disseminated public alerts and warnings; strives to ensure that every state has a robust, operable Emergency Alert System; and examines the security and reliability of broadcasting infrastructure for emergency communications and information dissemination to the American public in times of crisis. The Summit will take place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 1330 Maryland Avenue, SW in Washington, DC on Friday, March 2, 2007 from 7:30am - 4:30pm.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 26, 2007 -- Mr. Max Mayfield, former Director of the National Hurricane Center, will make his first public address since retiring in January from NOAA's National Weather Service at the 2007 Summit on EAS & Emergency Communications in Washington, DC on Friday, March 2, 2007. Mr. Mayfield will bring to the Summit, his 34 years of experience and knowledge in forecasting hurricanes and the nation's most devastating natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina.

"The Summit on EAS is the only national conference solely focused on public alerts and warnings. Local broadcasters are the backbone of the nation's warning system for all disasters, said Mayfield, adding, "During Katrina, it was local radio stations that provided the only communications link for area residents by providing invaluable life-saving information."

The third annual Summit on EAS & Emergency Communications, attended by broadcasters and emergency managers, is hosted by the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations (NASBA) in joint cooperation with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Throughout the country, state broadcaster associations and local broadcasters work towards improving the Emergency Alert System and expanding capabilities for public alerts and warnings.

Mr. Mayfield will recommend a new approach to dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters.

He will address the need to develop an organization, similar to the National Transportation Safety Board that will be available to mobilize after a disaster and provide specific recommendations to mitigate future disasters. Natural disasters cost the nation billions of dollars in property damage including business revenue losses and too many lives every year.

Mayfield said, "The nation has on average, 5 hurricanes every 3 years; and suffers almost 1,000 tornadoes each year, as well as floods, severe thunderstorms and other natural disasters. Communities must be able to prepare and respond to them, and the fact is preparing and responding to natural disasters is different than responding to man-made disasters, and we can do this without negatively impacting the security of our homeland. There is a need to ensure that resources are equitably distributed from the federal and state governments to the local emergency management community for natural disaster preparedness and more effective public alerts and warnings."

The Congressional Hazards Caucus Alliance Co-Chairs Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) will also speak to the Summit on March 2nd. Senator DeMint is the author of the WARN (Warning, Alerts and Response Network) Act signed into Public Law in the 109th Congress. Senator Landrieu has been a leader in sponsoring legislation that assists residents of communities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.

In addition to these distinguished Members of Congress, the Summit will be joined this year by Joshua Dozor, Director of Preparedness Policy, Executive Office of the President and a Member of the Homeland Security Council. The Summit will feature panelists from DHS/FEMA, FCC, NOAA and from non-governmental organizations.

The Summit on EAS & Emergency Communications focuses on widely disseminated public alerts and warnings; strives to ensure that every state has a robust, operable Emergency Alert System; and examines the security and reliability of broadcasting infrastructure for emergency communications and information dissemination to the American public in times of crisis.

The 2007 Summit Co-Chairs are Ann Arnold, president, Texas Association of Broadcasters & Pat Roberts, president, Florida Association of Broadcasters. Advisory Counsel for the 2007 Summit is Suzanne Goucher, president, Maine Association of Broadcasters. Tom Fahy has served as Executive Director of the Summit on EAS & Emergency Communications for three consecutive years since its establishment in 2005.

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