Representatives from congressional offices and agencies tasked with the reconstruction efforts discussed the most recent round of Superstorm Sandy relief funding.
The House passed $60 billion in relief funding for victims of Superstorm Sandy, with the Senate expected to pass the final bill this week.
Retired Rear Admiral Donald P. Loren (U.S. Navy) moderated the discussion. He has also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Security Integration.
Lieutenant Colonel Wayne George Fox (Civil Air Patrol, New Jersey Wing, United States Air Force Auxiliary), began by discussing Superstorm Sandy aerial damage assessments. Then, Jacob Wood, co-founder of Team Rubicon, laid out details of Superstorm Sandy relief operations.
Charles Kieffer, staff director of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, outlined the Congressional appropriations for Superstorm Sandy recovery and reconstruction. April Capone, intergovernmental coordinator for the State of Connecticut, and Asbury Park (NJ) Mayor Ed Johnson discussed priorities for recovery and reconstruction from the perspective of local officials.
Marc Roy, Gulf Coast Director of International Relief and Development (IRD), and former FEMA Coordinator for Gulf Coast Recovery, outlined lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Finally, a panel discussion on strategies for recovery featured Bruce Salkin, president of Enervation, Inc.; Dan Barlette, president of Above the Standard Procurement Group; Fotis Boliakis, CEO of Future Home Technology; and Rohan Mathew, co-founder of The Intersect Fund.
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was supposed to deliver the keynote address but could not attend.