Symposium in Springs this week on disaster prevention, response

More than 600 people will gather at The Broadmoor this week for a three-day conference that focuses on everything from how to prevent nuclear terror attacks to clean-up strategies in the wake of a hurricane.

The event is organized by the National Homeland Defense Foundation in Colorado Springs, which started the symposium in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a way to gather experts on dealing with the consequences of disaster so they can share knowledge and come up with new ideas.

While some say the enthusiasm for safety in the years after the 9/11 attacks, the conference has remained a top event for everyone from military officers to local emergency managers, said Don Addy, the foundation’s president.

“As a nation, we sometimes become complacent,” Addy said. “But what most people don’t know is there are hundreds of thousands of servants working every day to prevent things from happening. I hope this symposium will remind people that we must remain diligent.”

The event is held in Colorado Springs because the city is home to U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, which is charged with preventing terrorist attacks and providing military assistance in natural disasters.

The symposium has speakers and panels examining security threats.
Among those scheduled to address the gathering is retired Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George W. Bush.

The event is also a showcase for the industry that has grown from America’s interest in homeland security. Vendors have rented every booth in the exhibit hall, Addy said, and will be looking to buttonhole politicians, bureaucrats and military officers to show off their technology.

What draws officials to the symposium, though, is the chance to meet their counterparts in other agencies.

Addy said relationships that prove crucial in times of crisis are built during the event.
The symposium starts today and runs through Wednesday.

For information, go to www.nhdf.org.