Risk Management Seminar On Pandemics

A risk management training and educational organization said it will present a free week-long Web broadcast symposium to help local communities plan for an influenza pandemic.

The nonprofit Fairfax, Va.-based Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) said the virtual symposium, “Preparing for a Local Crisis within a Global Pandemic,” will be aired June 19-23.

PERI said the program will be directed by Robert McEvoy, a professor at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy and former county manager for Schenectady County, N.Y.

Gerard J. Hoetmer, executive director of PERI, said, “Communities shoulder the bulk of responsibility for assuring minimal disruption of services to area residents during a crisis. However, many of these local governments and small communities lack the resources to establish effective action plans to respond to a pandemic crisis.”

PERI's mission, he explained, is to be the prime resource for small public entities to turn to in time of need.

The seminar, he said, will examine potential effects of an influenza pandemic and provide insights and guidance on the planning strategy that local communities need to undertake to prepare in advance for a crisis.

PERI said the symposium will provide participants with links to Federal, state, and local resources and share best practices in effective local planning efforts.

PERI said that that each day, specially commissioned symposium issues and ideas papers written by recognized experts will be on its Web site, and will be e-mailed ahead of time to persons enrolled in the program.

It said online, threaded discussions will also be available to for an exchange of ideas and for posting of questions and comments on the issues raised in each day's presentations.

The virtual symposiums are conducted online at www.riskinstitute.org. An enrollment form is located on the site's Symposium Center.