The Bush School of Government and Public Service hosted the fourth annual Disaster PRIMR Conference, bringing together a group of researchers, practitioners, nonprofit organizations, local government professionals, community members, and students to engage in a much-needed discussion surrounding disaster related challenges such as emergency management. This was the first Disaster PRIMR conference to be hosted by the Bush School in collaboration with the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
The conference was also co-hosted by Dr. Jason Moats, Director of the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness at the Texas A&M School of Public Health, and Dr. Cory Arcak, Director of International and High Impact Experiences at the Bush School of Government and Public Service. Attendees were able to engage in discussions addressing disaster-related issues such as gentrification, heirs’ property rights, accessibility challenges, as well as the impact of environmental challenges. Keynote speaker, Dr. Saundra Glover gave a powerful speech on the interface of disaster and rural economic development.
Throughout the three-day-long event, attendees participated in a series of engaging panel discussions that delved into various aspects of disaster management. The event hosted four separate rooms each taking on the topic of either Innovation, Preparedness/Response, and Mitigation/Recovery. One presentation focused on how cyberinfrastructure can lead to enhanced disaster resilience while another explored the topic of community partnerships in order to develop emergency animal sheltering plans.
The conference ended with a closing keynote from a Coastal Resilience Specialist from Texas Sea Grant at Texas A&M University, April Taylor. She gave a presentation on collaborations and working with tribal nations. This year’s Disaster PRIMR gave guests the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of discussions with professionals across many different sectors.
Stay tuned for upcoming information on the 2025 Disaster PRIMR event here.
