Crisis Preparedness Science & Technology Workshop

The Crisis Preparedness Science & Technology Workshop, hosted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), will be held on August 28-29, 2024, at the William Ruckelshaus Conference Center in Washington, DC, in collaboration with ERDCWERX.

In today’s world, effective crisis management is essential. Every U.S. locality, state, agency, and department all have a role in all-hazards crisis management. While the National Response Framework outlines roles and responsibilities for most foreseeable events, the development of capabilities to fulfill these responsibilities is not well coordinated across the various entities.

This workshop aims to enhance collaboration among agencies by characterizing S&T needs, communicating priorities, and sharing information on science and technology efforts supporting preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Who Should Attend

This is an invitation-only event. Attendees should be representatives of federal agencies that possess equities in S&T innovation for crisis preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. However, this is not limited to S&T agencies. Discussions will include S&T needs, policy limitations, and ongoing/planned S&T innovation. Participants should be able to discuss their respective agency/office needs and perspectives on S&T needs to support crisis events.

Why You Should Participate

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading organizations and engage in dynamic discussions focused on enhancing preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery efforts. Attendees will participate in interactive discussions that will focus on topics including:

Characterizing S&T needs for crisis management
Identifying collaborative approaches to address these needs
Identifying new or enhanced policy measures and initiatives that will advance resourcing for future capability development
Discuss approaches to better-informed strategic R&D plans that seek to prioritize and direct resources

Conversations and discussion topics will be fluid based on input from attendees to ensure relevant and impactful dialogue. The objective of this workshop is to create a resilient and prepared community by defining current S&T needs, share existing S&T projects and programs, identify collaboration opportunities, and begin to chart future research efforts meant to enhance crisis management preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation.

This event will frame the discussions around three (3) planning scenarios:

National Planning Scenario 6: Chemical Attack with Toxic Industrial Chemicals
National Planning Scenario 10: Natural Disaster – Major Hurricane
Additional Planning Scenario: Damage to National Navigation Infrastructure (e.g. Key Bridge)

Outcome

The deliverable from this event will include a report that captures the information from the presentations and discussions listed above. The report will serve as the foundation for future, more domain specific events and a potential action plan.

Location

William Jefferson Clinton East Building (See street view or download printable directions)
Located across the street from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
William Ruckelshaus Conference Center, Basement Level (B)
1201 Constitution Ave. NW (East Entrance)
Washington, DC 20460