FLASH Holds Annual Conference to Launch New National Hurricane Initiative, Advance Disaster Resilience, and Address High Cost of Severe Weather Overall

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the nation moves through severe weather from blizzards in the Mid-Atlantic to tornado outbreaks in the Southeast, more than 90 different organizations and experts, ranging from researchers and building professionals to meteorologists and insurance industry representatives, are headed to Orlando to focus on disaster safety and resilience at an all-hazards conference January 27 – 29 hosted by the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)®.

With a theme of The Next Generation of Resilience, the Conference offers the latest research and information from experts on Big Data, building codes, building product innovation, drones, financial solutions, the Internet of Things, policy leadership, public outreach initiatives, scientific insights, and new technologies to drive better building and create disaster-resilient communities.

"Big Data insights from IBM recently put the cost of severe weather at $500 Billion annually," said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, President and CEO of FLASH. "We can reduce those losses by making families safer and buildings stronger in the face of disasters. With new research in hand, we must rethink how we build in tornado zones, rededicate to strong building codes and enforcement, and reinvent how we raise awareness ahead of hurricanes and more."

In addition to informative panels, presentations and training on FEMA P-320: Taking Shelter from the Storm, Building a Safe Room for Your Home or Small Business, the Conference will include an announcement by National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, and the FLASH Partnership of a groundbreaking new initiative taking our nation's state of hurricane resilience to new heights.

"This initiative will align and harness existing public and private sector efforts to increase hurricane resilience," said Chapman-Henderson. "The public-private partnership represents a new integrated approach and offers all disaster safety stakeholders a way to get involved in support of a safer, more resilient United States."

FLASH will also announce the winner of the 2016 National Weatherperson of the Year ahead of National Weatherperson's Day on February 5. Past winners include Meteorologist Jim Cantore from The Weather Channel, and Max Mayfield, former director of the National Hurricane Center, who will present the award.

The 2016 FLASH Annual Conference is sponsored by BASF, Huber Engineered Woods LLC, Portland Cement Association, American Institute of Architects, International Code Council, ISO, Lehigh Hanson, NFPA, Wooten Metal and Green Builder Media.

The full conference agenda and additional information can be found at www.flashannualconference.org.

About FLASH
The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. The FLASH partnership includes more than 120 innovative and diverse organizations that share a vision of making America a more disasterresilient nation including: BASF, FEMA, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, Huber Engineered Woods, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm®, and USAA®. In 2008, FLASH® and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and access free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org, calling toll-free (877) 221- SAFE (7233), following @federalalliance on Twitter, Facebook.com/federalalliance, and the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH. 

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SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)