Monday, February 07, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- Hurricane Floyd's fury flooded Eastern North Carolina destroying lives and property. Five months later residents remain displaced from homes and businesses. Spearheading efforts to help the Cape Fear region and the state deal with the onslaught and aftermath of future storms, UNC Wilmington will host a conference focusing on "Hurricane Preparedness 2000: Lessons Learned."

Congressman Mike McIntyre, who represents North Carolina's 7th District, will serve as the opening speaker for the conference, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the UNCW Warwick Center Ballroom. Attendees will hear discussions on hurricane tracking, disaster services, predictions, preparation and planning for future hurricanes and strategies to minimize loss.

Panelists invited for the 10:30 a.m. morning session on forecasting, meteorology and public awareness include George Elliott, chief meteorologist for WECT-TV6, Tom Matheson from the National Weather Service, Mark Sudduth '95, a UNCW alumnus who specializes in mapping hurricanes, and Mark Boyer, public information officer for New Hanover County. Dr. Steve Meinhold, assistant professor in UNCW's Department of Political Science, will moderate.

The afternoon session includes two panels directed at local and state hurricane preparedness scheduled for 1:15 and 2 p.m. respectively. State panelists expected are David McCoy, secretary of the N.C. Department of Transportation; David Kelly, secretary of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety; and Billy Ray Hall, director of the N.C. Rural and Economic Development Center and director of the Governor's Hurricane Floyd Redevelopment Center. Allen O'Neal, New Hanover County manager, will moderate.

Local panelists invited are Dan Summers, director of the New Hanover County Emergency Management Office; Doug Bowers, division engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation; and Bill Caster, chair of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Richard Scott, assistant vice chancellor for business affairs at UNCW, who also chairs the university's emergency response team, will moderate.

There is no registration fee to attend the conference which includes lunch, but advanced reservations are required due to limited seating. To reserve a space, call 910/962-7183 or toll free at 1-877-295-4255 by Monday, Feb. 21. Please leave name and phone number.