NEWARK, N.J. -- Michael S. Beeman, national preparedness division director and acting director for response and recovery division for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II, will speak about national preparedness for natural disasters at the Third Annual Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases sponsored by the Nursing Center for Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases Preparedness in collaboration with the Center for Professional Development at the College of Nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
"Recent events such as the Tsunami in Indonesia and Hurricane Katrina have challenged health care professionals with extraordinary demands for services," said Felissa R. Lashley, dean and professor at the Rutgers College of Nursing and interim director of the Nursing Center for Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases Preparedness. "This conference will present personal experiences and give us insight in how to better prepare for any future natural disasters."
The full day conference, which will discuss preparing natural disaster using simulation, infection control during a natural disaster, and lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina, will be held at the Somerset Marriott, Somerset, N.J., Friday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Last year, Beeman served 85 days as district director for Federal Response Operations in Harrison County, Mississippi, a position that he began the day before Hurricane Katrina made landfall. For his service in Mississippi he was recently awarded the Secretary of Homeland Security's Gold Medal, the organization's highest award.
Before joining FEMA, Beeman was part of the National Transportation Board team investigating the crash of Egypt Air flight 990 and in 2001 served as the lead public affairs officer for the World Trade Center disaster.
The conference will feature other speakers including Joy Spellman, director and principal investigator, Cen
'"/>
Contact: Miguel Tersy
mtersy@rutgers.edu
973-353-5293
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
2-Oct-2006