General and Breakout Sessions for the 2011 Conference:

Tuesday, September 6th (Pre-conference Sessions)
10:00-4:30	First Aid/CPR/AED Certified First Aid / CPR / AED courses will be conducted for American Red Cross certification. This course is a full course certification in all three curriculums.
10:00-4:30	Free Health Screening Free Health Screenings will be provided including bone density checks, hearing, eye exams and more.
10:00-5:00	AWR 209 Dealing with the Media: A Short Course for Rural First Responders A six-hour course designed to provide rural first responders with the skills and knowledge to quickly adopt the role of public information officer (PIO) if/when needed and to communicate with the public through the media. Many rural first responder organizations do not have a full or part-time PIO on staff. Therefore, in the event that a first responder is thrust into the role of PIO, whether it be roadside at the scene of an emergency or detailing directions to the public in a crisis situation, it is important to understand how the media works and how best to work with the available media outlets.
Wednesday, September 7th
9:00-10:00	FBI Counter Terrorism Threat Overview Stuart McArthur the Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations will discuss current initiatives and intelligence regarding the current fight against terrorism. This session will provide attendees with a current, non-classified and up to date overview of the counter terrorism issues facing the United States.
10:15-11:15	Mississippi Madness: The April 27th Tornado Outbreak Robert "Bunky" Goza the Monroe County Director of Emergency Operations will provide an overview of the tornado outbreak that impacted North Mississippi with emphasis on the operations and response of an EF-5 tornado striking the Town of Smithville, Mississippi.
Breakout Sessions (Tuesday & Wednesday)
1:00-2:30 T 3:00-4:30 W	When the phones go down? Representatives from AT&T and the Illinois Commerce Commission will discuss the issues concerning cellular and media use following a disaster. These organizations will discuss the plans and procedures currently in place to minimize the possibility of a cellular communication outage.
1:00-2:30 T 3:00-4:30 W	Illinois Mutual Aid - "Cooperation is our Greatest Tool" Representatives from MABAS, ILEAS, IPWMAN, IESMA and IMERT will highlight the missions and resources of each of their mutual aid organizations. The session will provide an overview of what specific response elements each organization is prepared to and capable of providing, by highlighting our greatest tool, Illinois Mutual Aid.
1:00-2:30 T 3:00-4:30 W	Federal Response to a Weapons of Mass Destruction Event Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) will provide an in-depth presentation regarding the federal response to a WMD event and how first responders will be integrated into the response.
1:00-2:30 T 3:00-4:30 W	Passenger Train Emergency Response (PTER) This course will guide emergency responders through many of the dangers associated with railroad emergencies. The course conducted by the Emergency Preparedness Manager for AMTRAK, will provide emergency response personnel with the knowledge and tools to safely manage a railroad disaster.
1:00-2:30 T 3:00-4:30 W	Local Emergency Planning Committee Update Kathy Allen, the IEMA Hazardous Materials Manager, will discuss new initiatives, training and funding effecting Local Emergency Planning Committees.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	Mine Safety in Illinois' This presentation will provide an in-depth look at the mine safety plans, procedures and response elements for Illinois, one of the top ten coal producing states in the nation. This course will highlight both the state and federal response to a mine disaster and the role emergency management may play in the response.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	Levee Panel / Dam Safety / Floodplain Management and Mitigation Representatives from the USACE, IEMA and the Illinois Flood Management will discuss the criteria that the USACE utilizes to inspect levees and dams in the State of Illinois. The group will examine specific issues regarding proper floodplain management and mitigation.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	Public Information Officer Review This session is for attendees who are Public Information Officers for their respective agencies or those interested in fortifying their media relations skills. Public Information Officers from both the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Incident Management Team will provide a real word review for the PIO.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	Large Event Venue and Severe Weather Preparation for Schools The National Weather Service will discuss considerations emergency managers should utilize when planning for large events such as: sporting events, fairs and festivals. The presentation will also instruct attendees on how to begin severe weather planning for schools.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	Mine Rescue Team Demonstration One of Illinios' sanctioned state mine rescue teams will conduct a simulated mine rescue operation using their special equipment and techniques required for this specialized response.
1:00-2:30 T 3:00-4:30 W	Radiological Demonstration Members of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Radiological Assessment Field Team (RAFT) will provide a demonstration regarding the detection and collection of radiological elements. The demonstration will focus on the use of specialized equipment and the response to a radiological event.
1:00-2:30 W 3:00-4:30 W	The Austin Response to a Deliberate Plane Crash into the IRS Echelon Building Austin Fire Department Assistant Chief (Ret.) George Blackmore will focus on coordinated response efforts involving multiple agencies and multiple levels of government to the deliberate plane crash into the IRS Echelon Building in Austin, Texas. The session will provide attendees with an enlightening discussion on the technical design elements of the building fire protection system and its performance under extreme conditions.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	ADA and Emergency Management Planning This course, presented by representatives from both F.E.M.A. and I.E.M.A., will provide information regarding the new revisions of the U.S. Department of Justice's ADA regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. This session will focus on the new legislation derived from California vs. City of Los Angeles as it relates to the lack of emergency planning for individuals with functional needs within a jurisdiction. This session will discuss the court's findings as related to a comprehensive emergency preparedness program and how such a program must be open and accessible to all of its residents, including those with functional needs. This session will discuss the legal considerations that your jurisdiction must address to remain compliant with these new ADA regulations.
3:00-4:30 T 1:00-2:30 W	Communications-"The only constant is CHANGE!" This session will focus on Interoperable Communications planning, discussing improvements and program developments that have occurred during the last year as well as where we are going.
Thursday, September 8th
9:00-10:30	Medical Response to the Joplin Tornado Members from both St. John's Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri and Joplin Missouri will share their accounts of the EF5 tornado that devastated Joplin on May 22, 2011. Jeff Hamilton the Emergency Preparedness Director for St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis in cooperation with staff from the St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Joplin will share their experiences and identify learning opportunities from the medical/operational response in Joplin.
10:45-11:45	Search and Rescue Response to Japan Earthquake The presentation will discuss Fairfax County Battalion Chief Robert Zoldos experiences regarding the search and rescue efforts in Japan following the devastating earthquakes. Chief Zoldos will also discuss the major differences between the operations in Japan versus those following Haiti's earthquake.