ProfNet Sources Available on Hurricane Season
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In light of hurricane season, following is a list of 36 experts who can discuss various aspects of hurricane season with reporters. Photos of some of the following experts are available on ProfNet Connect. You can view them here: http://bit.ly/KfuWHC
DISASTER RESPONSE:
Director of the Master of Public Administration Program and Professor of Political Science
Edwards is deputy director of the
Expert Contact: [email protected]
Director
English was sworn in by Governor
Bio: http://bit.ly/JZGtEG
Twitter: @GeorgiaEMA
News Contact:
Author
In 2004,
Website: http://www.i75online.com
News Contact:
National Director of Resources and Relief, U.S. Programs
World Vision
"In the U.S., we often have robust responses and abundant resources available for disaster relief. This brings several challenges. When gifts in kind and volunteer resources are most available, experience to manage them effectively is often in short supply."
Miltimore serves as World Vision's national director of resources and relief, where he works to improve how we support partners across the U.S. who are working to provide relief, alleviate poverty and improve the lives of vulnerable children. He joined World Vision in 2010, bringing 15 years of logistics and operations experience. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. World Vision is especially concerned about vulnerable families that can fall through the cracks of a mainstream response and works closely with church and community partners in affected areas to make sure resources get to the most vulnerable. Miltimore's background includes serving as director of sales and marketing at a
Website: http://www.worldvision.org
News Contact:
COO
Montella is an expert on homeland security, disasters, survival, preparedness and business continuity. With more than 27 years of direct homeland security and emergency management experience in government and private industry, Montella has worked at the local, state and federal levels of government, as well as private industry, and with the
News Contact:
Partner
Cozen O'Connor, law firm
Rubin is
Website: http://www.cozen.com
News Contact:
Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs
Shriver created
"If we're not prepared to protect kids during disasters, we're not prepared to protect America. Parents assume that their children are taken care of when they drop them off at school or child care. Many schools and child care facilities are not required to meet basic standards to protect kids should a disaster strike. For the 67 million kids separated from their families on any given day, this is unacceptable."
Twitter: @mark_shriver
News Contacts:
President of Alerting and Notification Systems
Federal Signal
Wilson has proven experience designing, implementing and monitoring the efficacy of alert and notification systems that effectively communicate during emergencies. In addition to the trends, challenges and outlook for disaster preparedness, emergency management and public safety, Wilson can address: 1) how mass notification systems issue warnings through a variety of mediums in real time (through sirens, TV, phone calls, text message, social media, etc.); 2) the greatest public safety concerns among Americans (60 percent are most concerned about a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, according to the survey data); 3) how human factors, such as age, physical disabilities and cultural differences, complicate communications and ways emergency respondents mitigate these challenges; 4) how advances in technology have created new channels for mass notification systems and ways they have created additional layers of complication and complexities; 5) the most effective and efficient ways to reach the public in cases of emergency. Wilson knows the technology, risk and communications pitfalls that can rattle even the most seasoned emergency managers -- and more importantly, he knows how to address them.
Website: http://www.federalsignal.com
News Contact:
Operations Director of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs
World Vision
Wright is an operations director for humanitarian and emergency affairs with World Vision, managing a team of professional aid workers covering international disasters and relief programs for the past five years. Wright's perspective is shaped by 20 years of experience in international relief and development. He's been involved on the ground in many of the major relief responses in recent memory, including Hurricane Mitch in 1998, post-war
Website: http://www.worldvision.org
News Contact:
INSURANCE:
Vice President of Insurance Service
Foundation
Alsup is well-versed on many insurance matters, including homeowners insurance and weather-specific topics as they relate to insurance. He has been interviewed by several media outlets, including both local and national outlets, and he is easily accessible.
Website: http://www.ffg.com
News Contact:
Managing Editor
Bankrate Insurance
Egan is able to address homeowners insurance and renters insurance questions surrounding hurricane season. Bankrate Insurance's websites include InsuranceQuotes.com, InsureMe.com and NetQuote.com.
Twitter: @JohnJEgan
News Contact:
HCCMIS, a provider of travel medical insurance, sets up emergency evacuations for their clients who are overseas in disaster situations, such as hurricanes.
Website: http://www.hccmis.com
Twitter: @HCCMIS
News Contact:
Senior Vice President for Property Claims
Zurich Insurance (
Morgan has been in the property claim industry for more than 30 years and is experienced in all areas of first-party property coverage and claim handling. He has led the claim response for major catastrophic losses over the last decade and some of the most complex losses experienced by Zurich. When disaster strikes, Morgan's catastrophe-response team is the first to respond. He can address what takes place in the hours before and after a catastrophic event.
Expert Contact: [email protected]
Boat Product Manager
Progressive Insurance
Stern can discuss boat insurance and safety as it relates to hurricane season: "As hurricane season nears, consider including insurance in your preparedness plan. Obviously you want to make sure your boat is stored safely away from the water when a storm approaches, but before the storm season hits, re-evaluate your coverages. Is your boat covered to limits that you're comfortable with? Do you store water-sports equipment or fishing gear on your boat that you want to make sure you have coverage for? There are plenty of questions to ask to make sure you're worry-free when storm season comes along."
News Contact:
Vice President of Risk Management Services and Loss Prevention
Stewart's expertise lies in advising affluent homeowners on what steps they can take to protect their homes (and possessions) in advance of a hurricane or other potentially property-damaging disasters. He also can offer tips on what to do in the immediate aftermath of such a disaster.
"Homeowners should remember that most insurers will place a moratorium on the purchase of new policies in the days leading up to a hurricane, and that policy coverage can vary from one insurer to another."
News Contact:
Partner in the Insurance Recovery Group
Thompson represents and advises policyholders (never insurers) with regard to insurance matters in a broad range of disaster recovery issues, including claim preparation, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation in state and federal court. He has been the lead lawyer on dozens of major claims, collecting over
Bio: http://www.reedsmith.com/gary_thompson
News Contact:
Travelers, a leading provider of home and auto insurance, offers three experts that have decades of experience and can offer great insight into how homes and businesses can better prepare for a hurricane, as well as deal with the aftermath.
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News Contact:
Claims Consultant
Wheeler is a property damage specialist, and she can explain what businesses can and should expect from their insurance carrier in the event of a weather-related catastrophe.
Q&A on the subject with Wheeler is here: http://bit.ly/IYsiju
News Contact:
BUSINESS:
Dr.
Vice President and Director of Database Solutions
CoreLogic Spatial Solutions
Botts is a recognized field expert in natural-hazard risk analysis, geospatial technology and geographic information systems (GIS) who specializes in pinpointing the threat hurricanes and other natural disasters pose homes across the U.S. He leads a team of GIS professionals for CoreLogic (leading provider of data, analytics and business services) who generate and maintain natural-hazard databases for the insurance industry. The data Botts and his team aggregate and analyze is highly useful for homeowners, emergency responders, insurance companies and others who must prepare for and rebuild homes and lives following a disaster. Botts also leads his team in preparing rapid risk analyses in response to developing storms during hurricane season, producing detailed maps illustrating storm-surge risk in areas that fall within the projected path of a storm.
News Contact:
Dr.
Chief Strategy/Technology Officer
Campbell can discuss: 1) how to ensure a small business survives the hurricane season, 2) tips and techniques to keep your data protected during hurricane weather, 3) the importance of data backup, 4) things to look for when selecting data-protection solutions for disaster recovery.
Campbell has been a member of the board of directors of
Twitter: @
News Contact:
Global Director of Record Information Management Consulting Services
"Disasters, such as hurricanes, typically leave organizations little or no time to secure critical physical documents, so it is mission-critical to create a records information management (RIM) plan and integrate strategies that proactively enforce it. An implemented, clearly communicated and strictly enforced strategy will greatly strengthen the facilitation of business continuity during times of emergency. Whether files are stored on-site or off-site, and regardless of format, all departments must clearly know what records are most important, where they are retained and how to access them."
Emery can discuss best practices for securing critical physical documents and maintaining compliance mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA/HITECH.
News Contact:
Vice President
Palisade Corporation
"Regardless of industry, Mother Nature is a force which must be considered seriously. The occurrence of weather-related news items and other types of natural disasters seem to be more frequent, and there is little doubt that weather risk should be considered when developing overall risk management plans. This is not a simple task -- even five-day forecasts can be decisively inaccurate. However, it is possible to consider the types of natural risks an industry may face on an annual basis. In doing so, organizations can reasonably determine the severity of such factors and potential financial loss. This knowledge affords decision-makers the opportunity to make beneficial decisions based on the most probable risk factors."
Heffernan can discuss utilization of risk analysis, which allows organizations to forecast the impact that risk factors, such as hurricanes, may have on organizations (energy, insurance, transportation, etc.).
News Contact:
Emerson Distinguished Professor of Operations and Manufacturing Management
Olin Business School at
"Even though companies are exposed to natural disasters, their ability to handle those scenarios will either put them at a disadvantage or ahead of the game. Disaster management and risk management in global supply chains can actually be a competitive advantage. It's not pure risk minimization; you have to think of it as an opportunity to get ahead of the game by being better prepared."
Kouvelis is an expert on global supply chain management, risk management in supply chains and commodity risk management. He is well-qualified to talk about how supply chains are impacted by natural disaster. Here is a media tip, with video, regarding Kouvelis' thoughts on supply disruption in relation to tornados: http://bit.ly/KM9Hu6
News Contact:
Risk Management Consultant
Moore specializes in helping companies develop risk prevention and disaster response programs. She's an expert on insurance issues, risk management, disaster recovery, loss prevention, claims management and workplace safety.
Bio: http://bit.ly/KI7mhT
News Contact:
PET SAFETY:
Dr.
Director of the Scientific Activities Division
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in
Case oversees AVMA's Scientific Activities Division to include AVMA's emergency preparedness and response activities.
"Having a plan in place to provide care for your animals before a disaster provides peace of mind. Pulling together an effective animal disaster plan and evacuation kit is relatively easy to do before the disaster happens."
Twitter: @AVMAVMAT
News Contact:
Dr. Cheryl Eia
Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Assistant Director of the Scientific Activities Division
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in
Eia coordinates emergency preparedness and response activities for the
"Everyone should have an emergency plan, not just during hurricane season, but for any time of the year; and this plan should include pets and other animals."
Twitter: @AVMAVMAT
News Contact:
Dr.
Director of Disaster Response, Field Investigations and Response
ASPCA (
"Disaster incidents are becoming more prevalent, and our country is experiencing an increase in severe weather conditions. It's therefore critical to have response measures in place so that we're prepared to help animals that are in critical need."
Green is responsible for leading the disaster response efforts for the ASPCA's Field Investigations and Response team, which covers natural and man-made disasters, as well as large- and small-animal rescue operations. He also oversees the ASPCA's internal disaster readiness program and develops partnerships with national and local agencies to enhance the organization's disaster response capabilities. Green has global disaster response expertise, having previously served as emergency-response manager of disasters at the
News Contact:
Senior Director,
ASPCA (
"Natural disasters can strike anytime, anywhere. The key is preparing well in advance and ensuring that your pets are included in your plans."
Rickey is regarded as a national expert in disaster response, having led recovery efforts following hurricanes
News Contact:
BUILDING:
President
OceanSafe, Inc.
OceanSafe is a leading U.S. manufacturer of sustainable building systems made of easy-to-build steel structural insulated panels (SSIPs). The company was originally created to provide sustainable and durable buildings to meet the demand for residential and commercial use in hurricane-devastated areas in the
News Contact:
Dr.
CEO
OceanSafe is a leading U.S. manufacturer of sustainable building systems made of easy-to-build steel structural insulated panels (SSIPs). He has developed strategic relationships in the political and corporate arenas to aid in the company's development, meeting with senators who are on appropriations committees and former President
News Contact:
Brian Trimble, P.E., LEED AP
Regional VP, Engineering Services and Architectural Outreach
Brick Industry Association (BIA) in
Website: http://www.gobrick.com
Twitter: @bricktrimble
Expert Contact: [email protected]
WEATHER:
Chief Science Officer
"While the overall
Johnson is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist, accredited by the AMS for his knowledge and expertise in the field of meteorology, as well as
Expert Contact: [email protected]
Senior Vice President
AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions, a weather risk mitigation company
Smith is an atmospheric scientist and severe-weather expert. He has received 19 patents in the fields of weather science, emergency management, and search and rescue. A Fellow of the
Twitter: @usweatherexpert
Website: http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com
News Contact:
The
News Contact:
PUBLIC HEALTH:
Public Information Officer
Luptowski can provide tips, advice and commentary on home safety during hurricane season. Examples of topics she can discuss include: what to have in your disaster readiness kits, what types of foods to pack (beyond your typical canned tuna fish), disaster supplies checklist, cleaning up after a disaster and food safety emergency tips.
News Contact:
Certified Microbial Investigator (CMI) and Principal
RTK Environmental Group
"Knowing how to prepare your home for a hurricane and what steps to take if you have damage immediately after the storm are critical elements in minimizing destruction to your home and wallet. Hurricanes are a major headache because long-terms effects like water contamination and mold growth can pop up months after the storm. Even if homeowners are quick to clean up floodwater, dry out basements, and power-wash and bleach their walls, they may not have realized that their walls were soaked through. Now, mold is growing behind their wallboards, ceilings and other hidden places."
Weitz can offer tips on how to prepare your home or business for a hurricane, as well as what you can do to prevent or contain environmental hazards after a hurricane. He is a veteran CMI and expert in environmental testing for mold, lead, water, soil and indoor air quality.
Website: http://www.rtkenvironmentalgroup.com
Twitter: @RTK_mold_lead
News Contact:
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