Disastrous events are becoming all too familiar -- from natural disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes, to terror threats, pandemic outbreaks and cyber attacks -- and in the wake of tightening budgets in today's challenging economy, both public and private organizations, as well as communities and individuals, must learn to do more with less when preparing for and responding to emergencies.
That's the message of organizers of the World Conference on Disaster Management (WCDM) in launching the 2012 event, which takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto from June 25 to 27, 2012.
Attended by disaster management professionals from 35 countries -- including emergency management, business continuity management, risk management, emergency response (police, fire and EMS), public health, IT disaster recovery, security, military, and government personnel -- WCDM is the premier annual industry event, with a theme this year of "Global Threats, Local Consequences."
"Last year, the U.S. experienced a record number of weather disasters, translating into up to $52 billion in damages and killing more than 1,000 people, while in Canada, floods in the Prairies and Quebec, a tornado and forest fires in Ontario, and the remnants of a few hurricanes caused about $1 billion in damage," says Chuck Wright, director of the 22nd WCDM, the world's largest training and networking event of its kind. "With predictions that extreme weather patterns are expected to continue, caused in part by global warming and man-made climate change, both public and private organizations need to work together to develop creative, cost-effective solutions, while organizations with interests in international markets need to be prepared for events far beyond their own turf."
The 2012 WCDM will feature more than 70 educational workshops, and plenary and concurrent sessions.
For more information and registration details, visit www.wcdm.org