Workshops and Breakout Sessions for the 2009 Conference:

Tuesday, September 8th (All Workshops are scheduled to start at 10am and run through approximately 4:30pm)
Workshop	Awareness & Response to Biological Events This is an awareness-level course designed to address fundamentals associated with emergency response to biological incidents. The course provides a brief overview of the biological threat that now faces the United States; biological agents that are naturally occurring or could be used deliberately; and methods of protection from biological agents (with an emphasis on protection using methods and equipment readily available to emergency responders). Tactics for identifying the presence of a potential biological threat, responding to an incident, and supporting operations at the incident scene are also addressed. The course also supports the necessity for teamwork among all responding agencies and actions that all personnel can take to support and facilitate the operations of other responding agencies. In summary, the course will prepare representatives of Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response agencies to perform safely and effectively during an incident involving biological agents.
	First Aid & CPR The skills necessary to recognize and provide basic care for injuries/illnesses until advanced medical personnel arrive will be reviewed. Certification from the American Red Cross for First Aid is three years and CPR/AED is for one year.
	NWS Weather Spotting: Initial (am) & Advanced (pm) Severe weather spotters provide critical information to their communities and NWS forecasters during severe weather events. Anyone with an interest is welcome to attend a spotter class. These classes are intended as refresher training for experienced spotters, as well as initial training for people that are new to severe weather spotting. The NWS recommends attending this spotter class annually. This class will start at 10:00 am and end around 12:30 pm. Topics covered in this class include: Preparations for storm spotting, thunderstorm development, thunderstorm types and hazards, spotting tornadoes, spotter safety, effective spotter reports, and more. For experienced spotters who want to learn more about the meteorology of severe weather, the NWS Lincoln office is offering an advanced Meteorological Aspects of Severe Storms class. This class will be held after a brief lunch (around 1:30 pm) and last until approximately 4:30 pm. Topics covered in this advanced training include: Upper air diagrams and their use in determining severe weather types, the latest tornado genesis theories, radar interpretation of severe storms, and assessing the severe weather threat with SPC Mesoanalysis charts, and more.
	Personal Radiation Detector (PRD) Training and Program Overview This interactive training session is designed to provide you with the knowledge and resources regarding personal radiation detectors being provided to local law enforcement, fire services, and HAZMAT teams in your area, and to encourage participation in the PRD Program in your community. The session includes an overview of the Preventive Radiological & Nuclear Detection Program, a basic radiation safety review, highlights of commonly encountered radioactive materials, and an introduction to Personal Radiation Detectors (PRD's). The session will culminate with hands-on training using actual PRD's and live radiological sources in a number of simulated real-world scenarios.
	Public Information Officer Workshop This workshop will offer training in a variety of PIO-related topics and issues. This session will highlight the features and functions of Joint Information Systems & Joint Information Centers. It will also address current topics such as cultural sensitivity and the use of new and emerging technologies to deliver your public information message. This workshop will be provided by the Argonne National Laboratory, and will also provide you with the information necessary to find additional specialized PIO training beneficial in the performance of Public Information Officer duties in times of crisis.
	Senior Officials Workshop Workshop Topics: Roles and responsibilities and preparedness Challenges, Domestic preparedness resources and how to leverage them for your community Homeland Security Strategic Planning as it relates to risk and needs assessment and the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for your jurisdiction Executive-level incident response and recovery considerations, including medical/public health, situational appraisal, incident management (ICS), mutual aid agreements, media relations, recovery and restoration processes, Federal assistance, and business/economic recovery Participants receive an Executive Handbook outlining the Emergency Management framework (protection, preparedness, response, and recovery phases) as well as other key senior-level issues and discussions topics.
General 5:00-7:00 PM	SEOC Tours Conference attendees can choose to tour the new state-of-the-art State Emergency Operations Center. Maps to the SEOC will be available at the conference registration desk.
Wednesday, September 9th
Breakout Sessions	Understanding the Federal Disaster Declaration Process A major disaster declaration is required for individuals and units of government to receive federal disaster assistance. This session will highlight the steps in requesting and administering a major disaster declaration for the Individual Assistance Program and the Public Assistance Program, including the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA), establishing Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) and conducting applicant briefings.
	Tornado Safe Rooms; Protecting Lives in Your Neighborhood This session provides FEMA's recommendations for safe rooms that provide nearly absolute tornado protection. The FEMA guidance addresses both residential and non-residential safe rooms and will give you the information you need to develop these shelters and standards in your communities and neighborhoods.
	Statewide Communications (TICP, SCIP, EMnet) This interactive, panel-led session will include updates and technical discussions regarding all of the major statewide communication systems and plans including the Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP), the Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP), the Emergency Management Network (EMnet) and others. Discussions will include operations of existing equipment and programs, as well as updates and more effective ways to use equipment features and capabilities.
	Radon Risk in Perspective Each day the media confronts people with information about dangers in their lives. This session will review the number one risk that families face in their homes and that most families are totally unaware of. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. The presentation will include a review of the scientific evidence, a comparison to other risks and cancers and information on what the attendees can do to protect their families.
	Emergency Management Best Practices & Elected Official Relations Illinois has experienced a number of disasters (ice storms, wind storms, floods, tornados, etc.) in the last couple of years. This session will provide a panel of elected officials, emergency managers and others that have demonstrated success in recent disasters and have discovered new and beneficial ways of helping their communities. Learn from them and get the answers that will benefit you in your next event.
	Are You Plugged in with Your Private Sector Partners? A topical, panel discussion of partnership building with the Private Sector for Homeland Security Preparedness as well as Response & Recovery. Panel: Invitees will represent private and public interests and convey experiences, opportunities and recommendations for building the foundation for these types of partnerships. The Private Sector Committee is one of sixteen committees that serve under the ITTF umbrella for homeland security in Illinois. The Committee was created to act as a conduit between government, public entities and the private sector to build partnerships for homeland security preparedness, response and recovery through the Private Sector Alliance Project (PSAP) - An Enterprise beyond the Resources of Any One Member....
	Animals in Disaster: Your Preparedness & Response Considerations Over 60% of the households in the United States have pets or domestic animals. Every major disaster, and most smaller ones, have encountered issues related to the proper evacuation, sheltering, care and reunification of animals and their owners. Do your plans take these needs into account? Are you prepared for these issues? Do you know who to lean on when these issues arise? This session will address the animal-based considerations you need to build into your planning, response and recovery activities.
	IPWMAN & ILWARN: Expanding Your Mutual Aid Resources Mutual aid resources are a way of increasing your available options during and after a disaster strikes. The Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN) and the Illinois Water & Wastewater Agency Response Network (ILWARN) provide a means for communities to receive unique response and recovery assets in times of crisis. Learn what unique assets could be employed and how to build mutual aid partnerships in your communities that access these beneficial resources. Also learn of recent in-state deployments that benefited communities just like yours.
	Cyber Security: Recognizing Threats to Your System We live and work in an age where most if not all of our important personal information and documents are stored and accessed electronically. With the ease of electronic communication we often loose sight of the threats lurking in this domain. Mike Bazzell, part of the FBI's Cyber Crime Task Force, will host this interactive session that highlights the electronic threats, scams, hacking, and data theft activities that threaten your personal and professional information. Much of the presentation will be conducted live on the internet. He will also provide useful, free solutions that help protect you-so you can help protect others.
	Static Vehicle Displays & Presentations