2026 Pre-Storm Preparedness: Planning for Post-Disaster Response & Recovery

Natural disasters such as tornados and ice storms can have devastating effects on municipal infrastructure, including the urban tree canopy. Pre-storm planning substantially improves the ability of local officials to respond effectively and efficiently when disasters occur; mitigates the risk level and financial burden of post-storm debris management and hazard trees; and provides a framework for collaboration among municipal staff, volunteers, and officials from disaster response agencies and companies.

Target audience includes municipal officials with decision-making authority regarding pre-disaster planning and/or post-disaster response, as well as those with responsibility for coordinating and implementing those plans and response efforts, such as mayors, county officials, city planners, emergency services personnel, waste management staff, sanitation/recycling personnel, transportation/roads staff, parks and recreation, municipal foresters/arborists (ISA CEUs available), and public information officers.

Speakers:

Kristine Kimbro, Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator, Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture

Mayors/City Officials from Arkansas cities impacted by previous natural disasters

Arkansas Division of Emergency Management officials

Representatives from debris management companies

Sponsors:

This workshop is sponsored by the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council and made possible through grant funding provided by the USDA Forest Service in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

Registration:

$30 (includes lunch, if registered by 2/23/26 at noon)

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Arkansas Urban Forestry Council