Tale from the Trenches: Hurricane Recovery

Hurricane seasons are trending up in severity, with both 2020 and 2021 among the most active years on record. Natural disasters across the United States and our world continue to increase in severity, leading smart communities to start planning for the worst-case scenario now.

In this webinar, two economic developers from hurricane-impacted communities share first-hand experiences in hurricane recovery, tips for economic development in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, and lessons learned for building resilient communities.

The webinar took place Friday, August 25, 2022, from 2:30 - 3:15 PM Eastern Time.

Speakers:

Tiffany Wilson Garling serves as the Interim Executive Director of the Jackson County Economic Development Committee. In 2018, Tiffany was asked to be an inaugural board member of the newly formed organization and has had an active role since inception. In addition to her service to Jackson EDC she is the Executive Director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Garling became involved in the local business community in 2010 as a small business owner.

Chuck Wemple is the Executive Director of the Houston-Galveston Area Council where he oversees all programs and services including transportation planning, community and economic development, public safety, aging services, and workforce development. He has extensive experience in addressing infrastructure, housing, and economic recovery needs following natural disasters and economic downturns. Chuck is also the Second Vice Chair of the Executive Directors’ Council for the National Association of Regional Councils. He has previously served as Chairman of the Executive Directors’ Council for the Texas Association of Regional Councils and is an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow. The Houston-Galveston Area Council covers over 12,000 square miles along the Texas Gulf Coast region, which includes 13 counties, more than 100 cities and towns, and over 7.2 million people.