The Northwest Emergency Preparedness Leadership Forum kicked-off with a complimentary lunch in Portland yesterday. This is the brainchild of managing partner and executive director Daniel Terry, who took 9 years to get it off the ground. “ I have been planning this for a long time, gathering together the talented people, who’ll make this a success.” he said.
The EPLF Emergency Preparedness Leadership Forum scheduled for Nov. 1 & 2 at the Oregon Convention Center, is an attempt to get first responders, shelter workers, and anyone associated (all the heavy-hitters) with mitigating the effects of natural or man-made disasters. Terry wants to get both the public and private sectors together under one roof so they can network, and find better ways to prepare the population of the pacific northwest for that inevitable day when a major disaster strikes. As one of the guest speakers put it, “If you’re not seated at the table, then you’re probably on the menu.” Meaning, all the emergency preparedness people should find a way to contribute, and work together seamlessly to save lives and add to population resilience after the hazard event occurs.
There is a spate of high-end emergency preparedness conference speakers on tap that reads like a who’s who of smart, thorough folks who’s life-blood is getting ready for the unthinkable. A regional church pastor even said that he believes, “Emergency preparedness professionals are a tangible representation of God’s love during times of tragedy and in the midst of destruction.”
Terry has succeeded in bringing people together from a whole host of agencies and from different disciplines, both public and private. He wants us all to work together to save lives. He also hopes to eventually bring the EPLF to other major cities across the U.S.
