Key Principles emerging from Texas Risk Mitigation Leadership Forum, June 2010

As the 240 delegates to the Texas Risk Mitigation Leadership Forum assessed the principles that emerged from their two-day discussion, consensus emerged that much of the discussion largely reinforced the existing principles developed in previous Forums. However, the following new Calls to Action emerged:

• Public and private sector coordination must be fully embraced to ensure the best possible outcomes in a disaster.
• Post disaster recovery plans must be firmly established before disaster strikes to ensure appropriate response and recovery activities.
• As the science and engineering solutions surrounding natural perils becomes more refined, this body of knowledge must inform public policy that seeks to protect people and property.
• To help encourage citizens to embrace mitigation to protect themselves, their families and their property, effective communications through story telling will be critical to success.