Innovation in resilience: 2017 Annual Forum |
| On Nov. 8, the International Code Council (ICC) attended the Resilient Nation Partnership Network's 2017 Annual Forum. Hosted by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the event included a panel of experts from different industries and organizations that discussed recovery and rebuilding efforts after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Panel sessions focused on creating resilient communities and nature-based solutions that address issues such as sea level rise and flooding. "Based on Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma... we see that building codes clearly work," said Eric Letvin, deputy associate administrator, mitigation directorate, Federal Insurance & Mitigation Administration, FEMA. The event featured many guests including Roy Wright, deputy associate administrator for insurance and mitigation, FEMA; Dawn Zimmer, mayor of Hoboken, N.J.; Laura Lightbody, project director, flood-prepared communities initiative, the Pews Charitable Trusts; and many more. "The Code Council and our resilience subsidiary, the Alliance for National & Community Resilience, greatly appreciates our partnership with FEMA and all Resilient Nation Partnership Network participants. Together, we can and will create a more resilient nation through building codes and other best practices," said Bryan Soukup, ICC's director of resilience initiatives and regional government relations manager. The forum also included interactive breakout sessions from the Marian Koshland Science Museum and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center. |