PEMA 2015 EM Conference
From PEMA Director Richard D. Flinn, JR.
Dear Emergency Management
Personnel:
I want to get this
information to you so you can adjust your schedules for August. As you
know our collective teams have been planning an outstanding annual conference
scheduled for August 24th-26th at the Seven Springs
Conference Center. Unfortunately, we must postpone this event. As you
know, at the end of September one of the most significant events that the
Commonwealth has ever experienced, will occur with the visit of the Holy Father
to Philadelphia. The Papal visit has been designated as an NSSE
event. Philadelphia, the surrounding counties, PEMA, FEMA and many other
federal and state agencies have been conducting continuous planning for his
visit that may bring up to 2-3 million visitors. This event has and will
continue to involve numerous meetings, training and exercises. As a result,
staff has and will continue to focus on the critical mission to ensure that
this historic event will be a safe and rewarding experience for everyone.
Due to the tremendous work and time that will be dedicated by staff and many of
you, we simply cannot commit to also conducting a successful conference thirty
days before the Pope’s arrival.
I recognize the tremendous
time and effort that many of you have put into the conference including our
valued partner KEMA and apologize for the inconvenience; however, it will not
be wasted because we will plan the event for early next year using many of the
training topics that have already been locked in.
The annual Hazardous
Materials Technicians Conference will continue, since it does not involve as
many of our staff, which is scheduled for August 27th-30th.
Again, I appreciate your
understanding and look forward to seeing many of you next week.
Sincerely,
Richard D. Flinn, Jr. | Director
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
2605 Interstate Drive | Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717.651.2007 | Fax: 717-651-2040
www.pema.pa.gov