“From Forecast to Action”

For nearly a decade, the State of Florida has seen consistent tropical activity almost every year. The 2023 hurricane season began with a near-normal outlook, a prediction that kept emergency managers hopeful but always ready for what could come. Major hurricane landfalls in the Big Bend area of Florida, where the panhandle meets the peninsula, are rare, with only two since 1896. On August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia made landfall at Keaton Beach in Taylor County, bringing significant storm surge and sustained winds of up to 125 mph to the areas near the storm’s center path. In addition to the impacts felt closest to landfall, Idalia flooded thousands of homes and business, and agricultural lands hundreds of miles away from the Big Bend, proving once again that tropical impacts often extend well inland and far beyond the forecast cone. This year’s season continues to make it clear that hurricanes and tropical storms are regional and statewide events, and not merely limited to just one or two counties. Additionally, rapid intensification was once again part of Idalia’s story, a phenomenon that has become all too familiar.

As we prepare for, respond to, and recover from tropical cyclones, our collective business is the business of people. Whether you are a meteorologist, an emergency manager in the public or private sector, a communicator, an emergency responder, or a member of our non-profit community, we all play a critical role in moving from forecast to action when storms threaten the State of Florida. Each of our individual roles gives us the opportunity and responsibility to build, seek out, and understand the tools and processes that lead to the best possible outcomes during extremely challenging situations. Planning for tropical cyclones requires year-round activity measured by our collective effort, and close coordination.

Our theme for this 38th edition of the Governor’s Hurricane Conference, “From Forecast to Action”, reflects a comprehensive training and workshop experience taking into consideration our diverse responsibilities that drive us to a shared goal. This year, our sponsoring organizations have selected 34 Training Sessions, 56 Workshops, and an informative General Session to share lessons learned from the 2023 season and better prepare us for what the future holds. We also offer networking opportunities to meet and reconnect with colleagues across our profession and develop lasting partnerships across our emergency management community.

The Governor’s Hurricane Conference Board of Directors and Program Committee invite you to join us this year in West Palm Beach, Florida as we apply the lessons of the past to forecast future actions!

#fromforecasttoaction
#GHC2024