The ARkStorm Summit:
Understanding California’s Other “Big One”
The two-day ARkStorm Summit served as venue for the offical release of the ARkStorm Scenario. 250 invited guests from the public and private sector joined together to to take action as a result of the scenario’s findings. Emergency managers, regulatory and scientific agencies, policymakers, business leaders, and other experts from the public and private sector came to Sacramento on January 13 & 14, 2011 for two full day of sessions. Here is a preview of the project:
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Summit Overview
The USGS, FEMA, and CalEMA presented this two-day event to engage stakeholders from across California to take action as a result of the USGS ARkStorm Scenario’s findings, which were officially released at the Summit. Leaders from across the country helped to share the multidisciplinary scientific findings of the USGS ARkStorm Scenario, which has been developed over the last two years by over 100 scientists and experts. Attendees were led in a series of workshops to examine the outcomes of the scientific report and develop paths to action for each individual and agency to take back with them for further consideration after the summit concluded.
The ARkStorm Summit was held at California State University, Sacramento, where attendees were informed of the real potential for a massive storm and its consequences. The Summit was also designed to elicit a plan-of-action to address these new findings, and the conversations and discussions that resulted were indicative of the success of this goal.
Art Center College of Design facilitated select sessions using an immersive design-centric approach that focused on enriching communication and the collaborative processes among participants. In concurrent break-out sessions throughout both days, experts detailed the topic(s) at hand, and session attendees were be asked to actively contribute to creating a path to action. Envisioned more of workshops than lectures, the Summit sessions were be designed to be engaging and outcome-oriented, and those results will be shared once they are fully compiled.
Venue: California State University, Sacramento
The ARkStorm Summit will be held on the campus of California State University, Sacramento, which is also the home of the USGS California Water Science Center. The main plenary sessions, as well as the concurrent breakout sessions will be held at the Student Union Ballrooms.
Sessions
With four plenary sessions, nine breakout sessions, and luncheon speakers, the ARkStorm Summit covers a range of information related to storms, flooding, and the resulting impacts.
For the complete agenda, click here.
Speakers
The ARkStorm Summit had over 35 speakers and presenters from across the country:
- Ron Baldwin, San Joaquin County
- Jim Brown, Regional Administrator, Inland Region, Cal EMA
- James Costner, Senior Vice President of the Property Practice, Willis Risk Solutions North America
- Dale Cox, USGS
- George Del Toro, Metropolitan Water District
- Jeffrey Dell, Bank of America
- Mike Dayton, Secretary, Cal EMA (acting)
- Mike Dettinger, USGS
- Justin Ferris, USGS
- Jose Hermocillo, APCO Worldwide
- Chris Higgins, CGS
- Dan Hoover, USGS
- Mark Jackson, NOAA
- Laurie Johnson, Principal, Laurie Johnson Consulting
- Mark Johnson, Cal EMA
- Lucy Jones, USGS
- Jeff Lusk, FEMA
- Congresswoman Doris Matsui, CA’s 5th District (her Summit remarks)
- Marcia McNutt, USGS
- Dennis Mileti
- Selby Mohr, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Marie Peppler, USGS
- Geoff Plumlee, USGS
- Keith Porter, University of Colorado
- Dave Reynolds, NOAA
- Maury Roos, DWR
- Kathleen Schaefer, FEMA
- Stephen Sellars, Cal EMA
- Mike Shulters, Regional Executive, Pacific Southwest Area, USGS
- Gary Sturdivan, East Valley Water District
- Kenneth Topping, CalPoly SLO
- Nancy Ward, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region IX
- Anne Wein, USGS
- Christopher Wills, California Geological Survey
- Ken Worman, Cal EMA
- Lt. Timothy Yuhas, US Navy
Sponsors & Co-conveners
The main sponsors & co-conveners of the ARkStorm Summit are the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA). These government agencies are convening this summit to raise awareness of the winter storm issue impacting California. Other sponsors include other public agencies and private sector partners, as well, who are committed to emergency management and preparedness in California.
What People Said about the ARkStorm Summit
The ARkStorm Summit was not just “another conference.” By partnering with Art Center College of Design, sessions were designed to be engaging and interactive. Here’s what attendees had to say:
“It was stimulating, and also very creative. I appreciated the interactivity in all the parallel sessions–something NOT so common in conferences.”
“Thank you! I enjoyed the interactive format and made several connections with scientists and emergency managers. I initially felt a little out of place, but the inclusive nature of the event made me feel more comfortable.”
Lodging and Other Logistics
Lodging: Though there is no specific “Summit Hotel,” Larkspur Landing is the closest. Other local lodging options can be found on the visitors page for CSU Sacramento.
For questions or more information, please contact John Bwarie at jbwarie@usgs.gov.
