(179a) When Disasters Happen: A Collaborative Approach Towards the Community's Recovery Process

The 2020 Virtual AIChE Spring Meeting & 16th GCPS Wednesday keynote "When Disasters Happen: A Collaborative Approach Towards the Community’s Recovery Process" will be presented by Thomas Munoz, Emergency Manager and Homeland Security Director with Texas City. As the Emergency Manager and Homeland Security Director with Texas City, the home of 19 chemical plants, he is responsible for the safety of all its citizens along with managing the crisis communication plan with local industry and major stakeholders.

Safety and disaster planning is vital to the recovery process after a major incident. As key critical infrastructure industries, issues may arise that have not been planned for in advance, such as the recovery from an incident. Developing and maintaining partnerships with local partners in your community will support addressing unforeseen challenges. Recovery efforts include planning with key partners and understanding the phases of recovery, which also consider the mental health and well of everyone involved in the response, as well as the community impacted. In this keynote address a discussion of pre-incident planning considerations and strategies as well as lessons learned/after action improvements post-recovery will be discussed. Additionally, collaboration considerations regarding local resources to promote recovery in the event of a workplace incident will be discussed.

C0-presenter Amanda Groller, MS.Ed., LPC will discuss the mental health impacts of a disaster.