Emergency Management Conference Will Cover Natural and Man-Made Disasters

An emergency management conference in Augusta this week will cover disasters, both natural and man-made.

The two-day conference is geared toward first responders, but everyone is invited to take part. First responders will receive course credits for some of the sessions, but the topics will appeal to everyone, like 'Maine's Cyber Threat Landscape.' Susan Faloon of MEMA told us how many people underestimate just how vulnerable we all are to cyber attack, and that having your finances wiped out would be akin to a natural disaster that takes your belongings. Another popular session will discuss Maine's Drug Epidemic and what measures are being taken to cope with it.

Each day will feature a keynote speaker, and this year organizers have chosen two people who have navigated disasters in their communities. Tuesday's speaker is Mike Sperry, who is the Director of the North Carolina Emergency Management Agency. He will talk about the lessons learned during Hurricane Matthew. And on Wednesday, Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Kurt Schwartz, will discuss the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Maine Prepares Conference will be held Tuesday and Wednesday this week at the Augusta Civic Center. Online registration for the event is closed, but folks can register at the front desk of the Augusta Civic Center, starting at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, with sessions starting at 8:30 a.m. For more information and a complete schedule of events, log onto the website for Maine Prepares.