News
Registration Link:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/z4gpruu/lp/4b995dbf-b0f0-44d9-92bb-1017f174a12d
Registration for the 2026 Chatham County Hurricane Conference, scheduled for April 8th, is now OPEN! This conference is a dynamic gathering aimed at fostering community resilience and preparedness in the face of potential hurricanes. This year’s theme is: All Hands on Deck: Navigating Towards Disaster Readiness!
Please join us for a day of insightful discussions, expert presentations, and interactive workshops designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate hurricane season with confidence. Your presence is crucial in building a more resilient and informed community. Let's come together on April 8th to ensure that Chatham County, and all of Coastal Georgia is well-prepared to face the challenges that hurricanes may bring. We look forward to seeing you there!
The cost of the conference is $85.
Chatham County Employees – BEFORE following the link and registering, please connect with your Department Head regarding new registration procedures this year.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
The Hurricane is Just the First Disaster
Ryan Cole and Bradley Collins
Buncombe County, North Carolina (Asheville, North Carolina)
Hurricane Helene tested emergency management systems far beyond the initial landfall. While the immediate response focused on life safety, evacuations, and critical infrastructure impacts, the true complexity of the event unfolded in the days and weeks that followed. This keynote examines how cascading hazards prompted local Emergency Management to initiate innovative resiliency projects and has transformed recovery operations for communities and responders alike.
Drawing from real-time operational experience, this presentation walks through the Helene response from initial activation through long-term recovery, highlighting the challenges of transitioning from hurricane operations into geotechnical instability, debris-choked terrain, and future alert and warning projects. Attendees will gain insight into how response priorities shifted, how interagency coordination evolved, and how emergency managers balanced recovery efforts with emerging secondary and tertiary threats.
The session concludes with practical lessons learned and next-step strategies for jurisdictions facing similar compound disasters. Topics include managing landslide response and future monitoring, adapting recovery timelines, stream gauge sirens and monitoring, and rethinking preparedness for disasters that do not end when the wind stops blowing.
This keynote offers a candid look at why hurricanes are often only the beginning and how emergency management must prepare for disasters within the disaster.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
