Listen • 4:29
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference where he provided an update to Texas response to COVID-19, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Austin, Texas.
Desiree Humphries’ home in Fort Worth lost power for multiple stretches last week, with each blackout lasting almost 20 hours. She got only short reprieves
of a couple of hours, and when she did, she called her electric company.
“This is not a rolling blackout,” she told the company representative. “Why am I not getting electricity? I have pets, and I have a 71-year-old mother. We’re cold. We’re hungry. And we have no heat.”
Building the Force to Tackle Disasters Robin A. Barnes, Executive Vice President & COO, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Robin A. Barnes, Executive Vice President & COO, Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Fifteen years ago the nation experienced a horrific act of terrorism. The havoc wreaked by the events on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent emergency response and recovery efforts served as a turning point, transforming the way in which this country approaches disaster management and long term rebuilding efforts. Events such as 9/11 attack and subsequent disasters such as such as Hurricane Katrina, the BP Oil Spill, Hurricane Sandy, and now, back in my home state, the Louisiana Floods, have advanced a cadre of disaster. Resilience professionals serving in roles in the public and private sectors ensure that we are prepared for and can recover from the next disaster.