CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 29-Nov-2010

To seek better emergency response performance to natural disasters, four legislators are hosting a conference at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City later this week. Lawmakers and local, state and federal emergency management responders and officials will meet again to follow up on a conference held in February.

Hosts for the event include state Reps. Joe Dorman (a Rush Springs Democrat), Gus Blackwell (a Guymon Republican), Mike Sanders (a Kingfisher Republican) and Eric Proctor (a Tulsa Democrat). The program will run in the state House of Representatives chamber this Friday, December 3 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon.

Presentations will include an update on the new Incident Management Teams, county Incident Support Teams and local incident management; an overview on local incident command and leadership training; FEMA funding tips and background; and a rundown of several incidents that have occurred in Oklahoma.

Speakers include Mustang Fire Chief Carl Hickman and City of Moore Finance Director Jim Corbett; David Barnes, the Oklahoma County emergency management director and president of the Oklahoma Emergency Management Association; Albert Ashwood, director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management; Kerry Pettingill, director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security; and Jon Hansen, the executive director of the Oklahoma Council on Firefighter Training.

“This conference builds on one held in February,” Rep. Dorman said. “We want to coordinate and provide support for the many groups that take part in the response to natural disasters. We want to do our best to make sure they have an idea of where they can get the federal, state and local dollars to help respond to a disaster.”

The event is free and open to all city, county and state departments involved in responding to natural disasters. To attend, RSVP by Wednesday (December 1) to Pam King at kingpa@okhouse.gov or (405) 557-7305.