News from
The Adjutant General's Department

CONTACT:
Sharon Watson
Director, Public Affairs Office
Work: (785) 274-1192
Cell: (785) 806-4063
http://www.Kansas.gov/ksadjutantgeneral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   May 5, 2009

No. 09-042

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY FORUM FOCUSES ON KANSAS AGRIBUSINESS

When disaster strikes, the public and private sectors must work together to respond and recover, minimizing economic impact and returning to business as usual as quickly as possible.

The 2nd Annual Business and Industry Forum for Disaster Operations will take place May 20 and 21 at the Great Plains Joint Training Center, Salina. This year’s forum will highlight public and private interaction in the agriculture field, including livestock, dairy, agriculture chemical producers, fertilizer transporters and others businesses with a stake in well-being of the state’s agribusiness industry. Businesses in these fields are invited to send a representative.

The forum will lay the foundation for interaction between business and the emergency management community, including local, state and federal agencies.

“Agribusiness is a major player in the Kansas economy,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general and director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. “Forums like this help the public and private sectors examine problems that arise from weather disasters, disease and other events and brainstorm on ways to prevent or mitigate losses.”

Speakers for the forum include Bunting; George Teagarden, Kansas Livestock Commissioner; Maj. Dave Young, director of the Integrated Initiatives Office, Kansas National Guard; and others. Topics will include a case study review of major ice storms, foreign animal disease, continuity of operations and a panel discussion on public/private partnerships.

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