James Lee Witt to Deliver Speech at Western Governor's Association Meeting
 DENVER - Emergency preparedness, whether it is a 100-year flood or
deadly flu virus, will be a major topic of discussion when Western
Governors meet Nov. 8 - 9 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Chair of the Western Governors'
Association, will be joined by her colleagues and James Lee Witt, former
director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a roundtable
discussion.
"You can be assured that Governors across the country have been
reviewing their disaster plans since hurricanes Katrina and Rita
devastated the gulf coast communities," Napolitano said. "Most of our
states will never see a hurricane, but floods, wildfires, earthquakes or
a deadly flu virus are all threats we want to be prepared for and
respond to the best way we can."
Gov. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, WGA's Vice Chair, will lead the
session discussion.
"Many of our states have been assisting in hurricane relief efforts by
housing and providing for evacuees from Louisiana and Mississippi,"
Rounds said. "As Governors, we can learn from each other about those
efforts, what worked and what we could do better."
Witt, nicknamed by some as the Master of Disaster because of his turning
around a struggling federal agency, FEMA, and now as a public safety and
crisis management consultant, will offer his perspective from working
with Governors of all 50 states during his tenure at FEMA and now as the
Special Advisor to Louisiana's Governor on Hurricane Katrina recovery.
"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have served as reminders of how important
it is for state and local governments to be working in unison on
disaster preparedness before a crisis," said James Lee Witt, CEO and
Chairman of James Lee Witt Associates, a public safety and crisis
management consulting firm. "It also highlights the need to work closely
with the private sector to protect state economies and jobs. I
congratulate Governor Napolitano for bringing emergency preparedness to
the agenda of the Western Governors so that they can share experiences
on their states' preparedness plans."
Emergency preparedness is one of three roundtable discussions the
Governors will have under the theme of People, Places and Prosperity.
Additional topics are "Jobs of the Future - What Jobs, What Skills?" and
"Transportation and Trade: Growth without Gridlock." The governors
will also hold a business meeting to consider policy resolutions and
hear updates on WGA initiatives, including its Clean and Diversified
Energy Initiative.
The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch. To
register online and view the meeting agenda, visit the WGA Web site at
www.westgov.org. The deadline for receiving a reduced rate on
registration fees and to guarantee a hotel room is Monday, Oct. 17.
The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit
organization representing the Governors of 18 states and three U.S.-Flag
islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western Governors
identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural
resources, the environment, human services, economic development,
international relations and public management.
For more information please visit: http://www.westgov.org/winter05.htm
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