NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are more than 60 experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss various topics regarding hurricane preparedness.
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Atmospheric Science
John Schroeder
Professor, Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Geosciences
Texas Tech University
Schroeder visited affected areas after both hurricanes Rita and Katrina to deploy instrumented towers that gather high-resolution storm data at a time when most conventional observation systems fail. He can offer insight into how hurricanes develop, move and react to various meteorological elements. He is an expert on hurricane winds and has been actively intercepting hurricanes since 1998.
Bio: http://geosciences.ttu.edu/people/Schroeder.php
Contact: Karin Slyker, [email protected]
The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:
-- Robert Korty
Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
Korty is an expert on how hurricanes affect oceans and how climate affects hurricanes.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- John Nielsen-Gammon
Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
Nielsen-Gammon serves as Texas State Climatologist and is an expert in severe storms, how hurricanes form, the history of Texas hurricanes, rapid formation of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and the history of severe storms and hurricanes in the past 100 years. He is great with the media.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Richard Orville
Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
Orville is an expert in severe storms, the formation of storms and lightning, and the damage caused by severe storms and hurricanes.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Steven Quiring
Associate Professor of Geography
Quiring is an expert on hurricane damage to electrical power systems and power outages. His work is funded by the Department of Energy and he runs models to predict the number and location of power outages up to four days prior to hurricane landfall.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Rhenyi Zhang
University Distinguished Professor in Atmospheric Sciences
Zhang led team that found that aerosols tend to weaken the development of hurricanes and cause a hurricane to fall apart earlier.
Study: http://goo.gl/MQges5
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Building/Engineering
Daan Liang
Assistant Professor, Construction Engineering Technology, Texas Tech University
Interim Director, National Wind Institute
Liang used satellite images and aerial photos along with ground survey results to investigate building damage caused by Katrina. He used various probability models to study how the construction of buildings affects their vulnerability against severe windstorms. Recently, his research is focused on the advancement of remote sensing technology in documenting and assessing wind damage to residential structures.
Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/dean/faculty/faculty.php?name=Daan%20Liang
Contact: George Watson, [email protected]
Ernst Kiesling
Research Professor, National Wind Institute, Texas Tech University
Executive Director, National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA)
Kiesling recommends homeowners who live above the flood plain in hurricane-prone areas buy a storm shelter for their home. As was seen in Houston preceding Rita, evacuations are stressful and expensive. They often put immense strain on traffic corridors, leading to traffic jams and – in the case of Houston – fatalities. By using in-home shelters, some families who are not required to evacuate can remain where they are and ease the traffic flow. However, Kiesling urges buyers to look for an NSSA seal when they buy a safe room for their home, because not all shelters are verified to be fully compliant with current standards for storm shelters and provide full protection from extreme winds. Kiesling has more than 35 years of experience in the design, standards-writing and quality control of storm shelters.
Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/about/Personnel/staff/ernst-kiesling.php
Contact: Karin Slyker, [email protected]
Larry Tanner
Research Associate, Civil Engineering
Texas Tech University
Tanner completed a six-month investigation working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation assessment team on the wind damage to residential structures from Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana. He also was a member of the FEMA mitigation assessment team that studied Hurricane Katrina. He led a team that recorded wind and water damage along the coastline in Louisiana and Mississippi. Much of the damage done by Katrina, he said, resulted from structures being built below the base flood elevation, or the elevation flood waters will rise during a 100-year storm event (meaning the storm only has a 1 percent chance of happening in a year).
Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/dean/faculty/faculty.php?name=Larry%20Tanner
Contact: Karin Slyker, [email protected]
Brian Christensen
Owner
Restoration 1
Restoration 1 is one of the nation's fastest-growing emergency mitigation and restoration franchises. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based franchise offers 24-hour emergency water extraction, mold remediation, drying, dehumidification, fire and smoke damage restoration, storm-response services and general maintenance and cleaning services for home and business owners.
Christensen is the owner of four Restoration 1 locations. He used to be in the construction industry, and was the superintendent at a large concrete company. He was in charge of manufacturing, shipping, and construction of hollow core for multi-story buildings. This is where his passion for building collided with his wanting to help others. His Restoration 1 location does all the training for the new locations throughout the United States. It is also a way to lend support to new locations with the corporate trainers to make Restoration 1 the premier restoration company in the U.S. He is available to discuss: disaster response and restoration; water damage; sewage cleanup; fire and smoke; mold remediation.
Contact: Natalie Passarelli, [email protected]
Derek Niederquell
1-800 WATER DAMAGE
Heavy rains, strong storms, and hurricanes can quickly saturate the outside ground and increase the possibility of incurring water damage in a home basement or crawl space. Niederquell, can provide expert insights on preparing for and recovering from flooding and water damage. To prevent and minimize water damage before it happens, Niederquell recommends homeowners take the necessary precautions before the heavy rains begin, including: 1) Review current insurance policies to see if flood damage to your home and belongings is covered. Even if you do not live in a high-risk area where flood coverage is federally regulated, flood insurance can still be an invaluable investment; 2) Check the perimeter and roof of your home for any potentially problematic areas where water could enter. If necessary, contact a professional to make any needed repairs before major damage can be done; 3) Create copies of all personal documents, including insurance policies, medical information, birth certificates, and store on an upper floor, ideally in a safe-deposit box. 4) If alerts are indicating there is a flood risk, elevate personal belongings and shut off electricity to areas of the home that might flood.
1-800 WATER DAMAGE is a national leader in the property restoration and water damage industry.
Website: http://www.1800waterdamage.com
Contact: Stephanie Fanelli, [email protected]
Climate Change/Environment
Samuel Brody
Professor, Marine Sciences and Urban Planning; George P. Mitchell Chair in Sustainable Coasts
Texas A&M
Brody directs the Institute for Sustainable Coastal Communities (ISCC) and the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores (CTBS), headquartered at Texas A&M at Galveston. He helps conserve and protect the Texas shoreline, bays and waterways. He prepares coastal communities to absorb, adapt and respond to hurricanes, coastal storms and flooding.
Website: http://www.tamug.edu/CTBS/
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Michael Fletcher
Commercial Segment Manager
BASF
Fletcher, a building science expert at BASF, is available to discuss the future of urban coastal resilience and five solutions to protect urban coastal cities around the globe.
BASF is a global leader at the forefront of resilient and sustainable design solutions. Recent reports show a perilous climate shift is only decades (not centuries) away, and consequences include killer storms far worse than Hurricane Sandy that left behind $32 billion in damage, as well as rising sea levels sufficient enough to begin drowning coastal cities by the end of the century. With the help of fellow industry leaders including Terreform ONE and the Stevens Institute's Center for Coastal Resilience and Urban Xcellence (CRUX), BASF has identified five solutions for urban coastal resilience from its Creator Space New York Tour (https://goo.gl/TAjixe), which used Red Hook Brooklyn as a microcosm for resilient design for solutions that could be applied to Guangzhou, China; Miami; Mumbai, India -- cities facing the greatest overall cost of flood damage. These five solutions are featured in a white paper BASF recently released, which you can view here: https://goo.gl/iyLfpY.
Contact: Lauren Aust, [email protected]
The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:
Andrew Dessler
Professor of Meteorology
Dessler conducted groundbreaking research that found that previous calculations of Earth's climate sensitivity neglected an important factor: the warming that would occur if atmospheric carbon dioxide is doubled.
Study: http://goo.gl/B3RWwQ
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Glenn Jones
Professor of Marine Sciences
Jones found that the goals of the "Paris Agreement" at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015 are almost impossible to achieve
Study: http://goo.gl/LRMSwY
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Xinsheng Liu
Associate Research Scientist, Bush School of Government and Public Service
Liu published a paper in Climatic Change that argues that the hurdles to climate change policies are business interests, partisan predispositions and political ideology.
Paper: http://goo.gl/jIE0CE
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Pete van Hengstum
Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences
Van Hengstum is an expert on how global coastal systems responded to previous climate, sea-level and anthropogenic changes with the goal of predicting how these systems will respond to future changes.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Craig Wilson
Senior Research Associate, Center for Mathematics and Education
Wilson, a butterfly enthusiast, researches the impact of climate change on the migration of Monarch butterflies.
Research: http://goo.gl/3BJAQL
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Disaster Response
Kipp Branch
Senior Partnership Development Officer
MAP International
Branch, an expert on hurricane disaster response and medical supplies, has 23 years of relief work experience working in 30 countries and five continents. He's been deployed by MAP to or coordinated logistical planning for Hurricanes Fran, Gilbert, Georges, Mitch, Floyd, Katrina, Rita, Felix, Debby and Sandy, plus tsunamis and typhoons in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines. MAP also coordinated huge hurricane relief responses to Hugo and Andrew.
MAP International is an Atlanta-based global health relief nonprofit that delivers medicines, medical supplies and health services around the world in response to man-made and natural disasters, to people living with neglected tropical diseases and in severe poverty. MAP has built an unmatched expertise in the logistics and supply chain management of medicines and healthcare services, and has spent decades building relationships with governments, health ministries and dozens of on-the-ground NGO partners. A large part of MAP's success is due to its relationships with some of the nation's top pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, AbbVie and Merck, which donate medicine and supplies or provide them at reduced cost, so that a $1 donation allows MAP to ship $60 worth of essential medicines and supplies. Each year, MAP provides more than $330 million in essential medicines to 10 million people in more than 100 countries. Since its 1954 founding, MAP has provided $5 billion in medicines and supplies to more than one billion people in 115 countries. MAP has an independently audited 99 percent efficiency rating (less than one percent of its budget is administrative costs) and a four-star Charity Navigator rating.
Website: http://www.map.org
Contact: Anne Isenhower, [email protected]
The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:
-- Robin Autenrieth
Head, Zachry Department of Civil Engineering
Autenrieth is an expert in water cleanup, environmental damage of waters from hurricanes and floods, and contaminated water and the many problems it poses.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Jean Louis Briaud
Professor of Civil Engineering
Briaud is an expert in erosion and "scour," the remains of buildings damaged by seawater. He also is proficient in how water sweeps away materials or bridges and soil compaction in levees.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- John Cooper
Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Outreach Coordinator, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center and the Center for Housing and Urban Development
Dr. Cooper's areas of interest include principles of inclusive planning and plan quality. His research and outreach focuses on emergency management, disaster planning and mitigation, with a primary focus on socially vulnerable populations and communities.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Walter Gillis Peacock
Professor of Urban Planning
Peacock serves as director of the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center and is a professor in the urban planning program. His research has focused on evacuation, restoration and long-term recovery from disasters, disaster mitigation and resilience.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- John Jacob
Professor and Director, Texas Coastal Watershed Program
Jacob is an expert on resilient coastal communities -- or how coastal communities can rebound from coastal hazards like hurricanes.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Rick Mercier
Professor of Engineering and Director, Offshore Technology Research Center
Mercier is an expert in off-shore drilling platforms, hurricane damage to oil rigs or any deep water off-shore structure and oil rigs cut off from production.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Michelle Meyer
Assistant Research Scientist, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center
Meyer's research specialization includes evacuation and risk perceptions among vulnerable populations, including elderly and people with disabilities, social networks and collective action that promote disaster resilience.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Carla Prater
Professor, Urban Planning Program; Associate Director, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center
Prater's specialties include evacuation, hazard management policy and recovery from natural and technological disasters.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Robert Randall
Director, Haynes Coastal Engineering Laboratory
Randall can discuss off-shore and experimental measurements, construction near water sites and dredging and open-water disposal.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- George O. Rogers
Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Senior Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center; Director, Urban and Regional Science Graduate Program
Rogers' research has focused on warning systems, risk perception and sustainable development.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Shannon Van Zandt
Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Director, Center for Housing and Urban Development; Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center; Director, Master of Urban Planning Program
Dr. Van Zandt's areas of interest include post-disaster housing recovery, social vulnerability, community resilience and hazards mitigation.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Heather Wade
Coastal Community Planning Specialist, Texas Sea Grant College Program
Based in Port Aransas, Wade is an expert in environmental hazards management, hazard mitigation, post-disaster redevelopment planning and evaluating how well communities are prepared for and can recover from hurricanes.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Yu Xiao
Associate Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture; Fellow, Urban Planning and Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center
Dr. Xiao's research interests are in local and economic development, economic resiliency, and disaster management and recovery with a focus on disaster impacts on business and regional economies, business mitigation and recovery.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Economic Impact
Bradley Ewing
Professor, Operations Management
Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University
Ewing has studied the economic impact of hurricanes and tornadoes. He can speak to the impact of hurricanes and tornadoes in cities like Oklahoma City; Corpus Christi; Wilmington, N.C.; Miami; and Nashville.
Bio: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/rawlsbusiness/people/faculty/eel/brad-ewing/
Website: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/rawlsbusiness/
Contact: George Watson, [email protected]
Hurricane Preparedness
Dr. Andrew Schroeder
Director of Research and Analysis
Direct Relief
At Direct Relief, an organization that runs the nation's largest hurricane preparedness program for prepositioned medical aid, Dr. Schroeder specializes in the application of geographic information systems (GIS) for humanitarian assistance, disaster preparedness and response, and global health. During his tenure, Direct Relief has received numerous awards and recognition for work in disaster preparedness, including the President's Award from Esri for excellence in GIS mapping. Direct Relief was also named to Fast Company magazine's list of the 10 most innovative non-profits. Schroeder is also a member of the core organizing group for UAViators, the humanitarian UAV network. He received his doctorate in social and cultural analysis from New York University and his Masters in Public Policy from the Ford School at the University of Michigan.
Contact: Tony Morain, [email protected]
Sheldon Yellen
CEO
BELFOR Property Restoration
Yellen is available to speak to: tips for hurricane preparedness, including how to secure your home or business in the event of a possible storm; what to do during a hurricane to help minimize damage; what homeowners and businesses can do immediately after they experience a hurricane; when and why to call a professional if your home or business has experienced hurricane damage; and case studies and examples of BELFOR's past experience restoring homes and businesses after a hurricane.
Yellen is chief executive officer of BELFOR Holdings, Inc., a diversified services company that owns BELFOR Property Restoration, the global leader in disaster recovery and restoration services. Yellen joined the company in 1984 and has since led BELFOR from a family-owned business established in 1946 to a $1.5 billion entity with operations in 31 countries with more than 300 offices employing 6,400 men and women. Today, under Yellen's leadership, BELFOR Property Restoration has grown to be the world's largest property restoration firm. BELFOR Holdings, Inc. is also the parent company of the BELFOR Franchise Group which encompasses 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, a leader in the water damage remediation industry; DUCTZ, the nation's largest air duct cleaning and HVAC restoration franchise organization; HOODZ, the authority in kitchen exhaust cleaning and compliance; Greenblendz, manufacturer and packager of green and natural products for household, personal care, baby and pet; ecoSTORE USA, providing plant-based household cleaning products made from plant and mineral based ingredients; and The Professional Group, a full-service, professional building maintenance, preferred building services, ground services, plantscaping service, supply company, and more.
Website: https://www.belfor.com/en/us
Contact: Megan McMonagle, [email protected]
Robbie Endris
Senior Director, Child Support Solutions
Xerox
Endris was executive director of Louisiana's child support agency in New Orleans during the 2005 arrival and aftermath of the storm. In the midst of the disaster, families needed their child support income and the ability to talk to the state agency. New Orleans employees needed help, too. From Endris' experience leading up to, during, and after Hurricane Katrina, she has three major tips for state agencies to help prepare for and respond to the next inevitable disaster: 1) supporting people first – staff and customers; 2) continuing the mission and the work; 3) recovering and rebuilding for the future.
Contact: Trevor Eckart, [email protected]
Rachel Dowty Beach
Visiting Assistant Professor, Fire Science Department; Coordinator, Online Master's Degree Program in Emergency Management
University of New Haven
The editor of the book "Dynamics of Disaster: Lessons on Risk, Response and Recovery," Dowty Beach can talk about food security in times of crisis; the cultural elements of disasters; how municipalities should prepare for weather emergencies such as hurricanes; and how they should prepare for a variety of crises, such as terrorist attacks, oil explosions, and others. Her research addresses how cultures affect groups and organizations in times of crisis, such as during the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. She has a Ph.D. in science and technology studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a background in biology and environmental restoration, especially following oil spills in wetlands.
Contact: Karen Grava, [email protected]
David Underwood, P.Eng.
President
ASHRAE
To ensure building resiliency during disasters, such as hurricanes, the key is to consider long-term solutions at the beginning of projects. Engineering experts have provided guidance on preparing for natural disasters through a series of original content articles at the website below. Underwood and other engineers can speak to steps that should be taken during the design, construction and operation of buildings to help ensure occupants and buildings remain as safe as possible.
Underwood is president of ASHRAE (founded as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers), a 55,000-member international engineering association. The society writes standards and other publications and funds research related to a range of built environment issues, including building safety, energy efficiency, refrigeration, etc.
Website: www.ashrae.org/resiliency
Contact: Jodi Scott, [email protected]
Amy M. Landry
Loss Control Engineer
Risk Strategies Company
"My top tips for hurricane preparedness are to check the roofs for loose debris, blocked drains or visible deficiencies now -- before hurricane season becomes more active -- and again before a storm is forecasted to hit. Equally important is to review and update the company response plan to ensure information, personnel and vendors listed are up-to-date and accurate."
A Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), Landry assists clients in identifying property-related risks and ways to mitigate them, including analyzing exposures to catastrophes with the assistance of modeling where appropriate. She also oversees and manages insurer loss control visits and managing client responses to any resulting recommendations. Prior to Risk Strategies Company, Landry was a senior risk engineering consultant with AXA Matrix Risk Consultants. She has also worked as senior risk engineering consultant with FM Global Insurance Company. In addition to being a CFPS, Landry is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). She is a 2002 graduate of the University of New Haven with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering.
Website: http://www.risk-strategies.com
Contact: Jackie Fraser, [email protected]
Christie Alderman
Vice President of Client Product and Services
Chubb Personal Risk Services
The key to proper protection during hurricane season is to not be caught off guard. Alderman can provide holistic and actionable advice to help homeowners take proactive measures throughout the year to prepare for hurricane season. Specifically, she can address the critical steps and best practices individuals and families should follow to protect their homes, valuables (i.e., fine art, jewelry, cars, water-related property, etc.) and, most importantly, themselves, before, during and after a hurricane hits.
Alderman manages the strategic design and enhancement of products within Chubb's PRS lines of business (home, liability, valuable articles, etc.). She oversees the development and management of client services – helping customers avoid losses and building positive customer experiences. With on-the-ground expertise, Alderman can share how individuals and families can stay one step ahead of Mother Nature by taking appropriate precaution and safety measures. Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is distinguished by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength, underwriting excellence, superior claims handling expertise and local operations globally.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiealderman
Website: http://www.chubb.com
Contact: Leigh Browder, [email protected]
Justin Mihalik
President, New Jersey Chapter
American Institute of Architects
Mihalik is an expert on the topics of hurricane preparedness, disaster response and recovery. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Mihalik co-chaired the AIA Regional Recovery Working Group, which brought together architects from across the region to workshops focusing on rebuilding after the storm. At these workshops, they shared best practices in promoting resiliency, sustainability, health, safety and welfare.
Contact: Shlomo Morgulis, [email protected]
The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:
-- Sherry Bame
Professor, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center
Dr. Bame has a special interest in health systems planning and policy, environmental health, and health-related disaster planning, particularly related to 211 call centers and unmet needs.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Eric Bardenhagen
Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Fellow, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center
Professor Bardenhagen's interests include natural and cultural resource planning, natural hazards and disaster planning for national parks.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Meri Davlasheridze
Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences
Davlasheridze is an expert on economic impacts of natural disasters, vulnerability, adaptation, and general public policy concerning disaster mitigation and recovery; researches effectiveness of federal and local disaster policies in mitigating hurricane-induced property and employment losses.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Wesley Highfield
Assistant Professor of Marine Sciences
The Center for Texas Beaches and Shores seeks to conserve and protect the Texas shoreline, bays and waterways.
Website: http://www.tamug.edu/CTBS/
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Jennifer Horney, Ph.D., MPH, CPH
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Science Center School of Public Health
Dr. Horney has tremendous experience in responding to public health disasters, including Hurricanes Charley, Isabel, Katrina, Wilma and Irene. She created the EpiAssist program to bring specialized public health skills to disaster areas.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- William "Bill" Merrell
George P. Mitchell '40 Chair in Marine Sciences
Merrell developed the "Ike Dike" idea of a "coastal spine" like that found in the Netherlands to mitigate the force of hurricanes.
PDF: http://goo.gl/7jVrd4
Website: http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Andy Vestal
Director, Texas Extension Disaster Education Network
Vestal can discuss both pre- and post-storm needs, including general safety, food, people with special needs, health issues, restoring the home, financial recovery, tree care, pets, animals and septic systems.
Website: http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/hurricanes.php
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Insurance Issues
Dan Weedin
Toro Consulting
Weedin, a resiliency, risk management, and insurance consultant, is available to discuss strategic crisis management planning, disaster recovery, and insurance coverage issues. His background includes two years as an insurance company underwriter, 16 years as a commercial agent, and the past 11 years as a consultant helping his clients make the best possible decisions about managing risk and resiliency. He has been quoted on the topics of insurance and risk management by many publications, including Best's Review, Insurance Journal, American Express OPEN for Business, the Society of Human Resource Management magazine, US News & World Report, and various online publications. He also speaks internationally on the subject and is a faculty member for the National Alliance, presenting continuing education seminars for insurance agents.
Website: http://www.DanWeedin.com
Contact: [email protected]
Ken Enscoe
Senior Claims Director - Catastrophe Operations
Nationwide Insurance
Enscoe is responsible for catastrophe response strategies, planning and resource management for all companies within Nationwide across the continental United States. He has led the CAT response in many significant events, including the four 2004 Florida Hurricanes, Katrina, Ike, Irene, Sandy and many other catastrophes.
Contact: Lauren Scolnic, [email protected]
William Stander
Executive Director
Florida Property & Casualty Association
Stander can discuss what Florida-based homeowners insurance companies are doing to prepare, assignment of benefits (AOB) issues, and the Florida insurance marketplace. Stander is executive director of the Florida Property & Casualty Association (FPCA), which represents Florida-based home insurers to foster and promote a healthy and competitive Florida insurance market. Through its lobbying and communications teams, the FPCA works to educate Florida lawmakers, regulators and homeowners on issues and policies that affect property and casualty insurance. The organization is recognized as a source for timely information on insurance legislation and regulation, as well.
Website: www.fpcaonline.org
Contact: Michelle Griffith, [email protected]
Roger Desjadon
Chief Executive Officer
Florida Peninsula Insurance Company
Desjadon can discuss homeowners insurance, emergency repairs and hurricane preparation tips. He served as CEO at Prudential Property & Casualty, and was regional VP at Travelers Property and Casualty. He also served as chief administrative officer at Prudential Life Insurance. As CEO, Desjadon has had more than a decade working with the company, its agents, adjustors, and policyholders on mitigation, emergency procedures, and getting claims adjusted as soon as possible to ensure that the policyholder's health, wellbeing and residence recover from a storm.
Contact: Michelle Griffith, [email protected]
Clint Strauch
President
Florida Peninsula Insurance Company
Strauch can discuss homeowners insurance and hurricane preparation tips. He has 26 years of multi-line insurance experience and served as general manager of Allstate Insurance Agency. He earned a BA from Florida State University and holds the Certified Insurance Counselor designation.
Contact: Michelle Griffith, [email protected]
Pet/Animal Issues
The following experts from Texas A&M are available for interviews:
-- Garry Adams
Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Adams is well-versed on numerous public health issues, diseases stemming from disasters and treatment strategies for dealing with large numbers of injured or sick from disasters.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Murl Bailey
Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Bailey is an expert on zoonotic diseases (those passed from animals to humans) and problems that can arise if this occurs, etc.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Wesley Bissett
Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Bissett is an expert on displaced pets, pets relocating to unfamiliar areas, pets facing isolation and separation anxiety, etc.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Deb Zoran
Professor of Veterinary Medicine
Zoran is an expert on displaced pets, pets relocating to unfamiliar areas, pets facing isolation and separation anxiety, etc.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Paul Carlton
Special Assistant to the President of the Health Science Center
Carlton is an expert on general disaster relief, creating emergency medical facilities with little or no advance warning; he was instrumental in establishing the military's first field portable hospital unit decades ago.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
-- Bill Moyer
Professor and Head of Large Animal Clinical Services
Moyer was put in charge of converting Texas A&M's Large Animal Hospital into special human needs hospital that served hundreds of elderly and special needs patients during Hurricane Rita and will take a similar leadership role if such plans are needed again.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Sociology/Behavior
Stjepan Mestrovic
Professor of Sociology
Texas A&M
Mestrovic is an expert in lawlessness in times of crises.
Contact: Ann Kellett, [email protected]
Technology/Communications
Bob DiLossi
Director of Crisis and Testing Management
Sungard Availability Services
DiLossi oversees the recover-to-cloud product testing, provides daily customer service to more than 5,000 customers, and handles regional disaster events, which he has done with his team since 1998. DiLossi manages the crisis management program and has extensive experience supporting customer projects, disaster recovery tests, continuity planning, center operations, disaster events, conduct table top business continuity exercises, high availability implementations, project implementations, and pre- and post-test planning activities. He can discuss: disaster recovery; best practices and recovery strategies; training for disaster preparedness; importance of testing; and technology in disasters.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdilossi
Website: http://www.sungardas.com
Contact: Katie Lamb, [email protected]
Tormod Larsen
Chief Technology Officer
ExteNet Systems
Larsen is available to discuss hurricane preparedness and disaster response from a unique standpoint -- discussing the communications aspect in the face of a disaster. When a disaster occurs, many times communication becomes a challenge -- networks get bogged down or damaged, and it can be incredibly difficult to communicate with loved ones at a time when it's most important. Certain types of wireless network infrastructure solutions can help to quickly solve these challenges, or even prevent them from happening.
Contact: Danielle Beer, [email protected]
Todd Piett
Chief Product Officer
Rave Mobile Safety
As Rave Mobile Safety works with thousands of 911 call takers around the country, Piett can discuss hurricane preparedness tips such as the components of a family communications plans, as well as the importance of consumers to always call 911 in an emergency (some don't, relying instead on mobile apps that promise -- but don't always -- connect to 911, which in an emergency is obviously very dangerous.) As an Emergency Number Professional, Piett is very knowledgeable about the topic.
Piett can also discuss why it is important for consumers to create private online safety profiles to share with emergency dispatchers – before an emergency occurs. Rave's Smart911 is one such site that offers a free, private profile that can provide critical details about a person's home (e.g., how many units or floors are in an apartment building), details on family members (such as medical and mental health conditions), and even the number of pets living in a home that could be invaluable in dangerous situations.
Websites: www.ravemobilesafety.com and www.smart911.com
Contact: Amy Krigman, [email protected]
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