Iowa DNR News
Environmental Services Division
 
For immediate release           October 27, 2008
 
State Agencies convene Disaster Recovery Conference
 
Des Moines – Expert advice on rebuilding after floods and storms is available at the upcoming “Iowa Disaster Recovery Conference: Learning from the Past/Planning for the Future.” 
 
The conference will convene at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Coralville on December 9 -10 with an optional Community Design workshop on December 11. It will be of interest to architects, engineers, contractors, small businesses, industries, city, county and community leaders, consultants and the general public.
 
Experts will present overviews of past and present recovery efforts, health and safety issues, environmental regulations and requirements and examples of sustainable and green rebuilding.
 
The optional workshop on December 11 will be led by design professionals from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The workshop will apply the issues discussed in the first two days of the Disaster Recovery Conference.
 
“Not only do we want to make a rapid recovery from the floods and storms, we want to build a better Iowa for the future,” said Michael Tramontina, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). “These sessions will present a wealth of information both for current rebuilding efforts and future preparedness.” 
 
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Mayor Bob Dixon of Greensburg, Kansas, which was devastated by a tornado in May 2007. Mayor Dixon will share his experience of rebuilding Greensburg, including incorporating green design into its rebuilding efforts. Parris Glendening, President of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute will be the keynote speaker on the second day of the conference. Also, Major General Ron Dardis of the Iowa National Guard, will discuss issues Iowa communities faced during the floods of 2008.
 
The event is hosted by Iowa Department of Economic Development, Rebuild Iowa Office, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center. Sponsorship opportunities for the conference are available.  For information on sponsoring, please visit www.iowalifechanging.com/register.
 
Registration is $100 for the December 9-10 conference. There is an additional $50 fee for the design workshop on December 11. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) can be earned for attending this conference. Registration is available at www.iowalifechanging.com/register.
 
# # #
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
 http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp