Event Details

• Learn how effective leaders make decisions, communicate, build teams, and maintain confidence under pressure to successfully manage emergency situations and protect their communities.
• How do you stay calm under pressure?
• How do you communicate effectively during a crisis?
• How do you balance speed and accuracy in critical decisions?

Tribal emergency managers are responsible for protecting tribal members, land, and resources through planning, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters. Attendees will come away with the knowledge of:

• The importance and benefits of a dedicated Emergency Action Plan
• What strong partnerships and MOUs with State, Local and Federal partners enhance preparedness (and building those relationships before they’re needed)
• Having the right equipment for the job, or knowing where to access the resource from
• How vital continued and relevant training for all personnel is to success
• Ways to bolster an emergency management budget through grant funding

Tribes face growing threats that require strong planning and preparedness. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of risk assessments, emergency planning, team building, and funding strategies to strengthen preparedness.

• How can Tribes evaluate risks from disasters, cyber threats, and public health emergencies?
• What common gaps do you see in community emergency plans, and how can leaders address them before an emergency occurs?
• With FEMA providing $13.5 million through the FY 2025 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program, how can Tribes position themselves to compete for and secure federal emergency management grants?
• How do you know you are building the right team and clearly defining roles before a disaster occurs?

Successful emergency response depends on strong coordination, reliable communication, and unified command. Attendees will hear lessons learned and best practices for improving multi-agency response during emergencies.

• What are the biggest barriers to interagency coordination during an emergency?
• Which shared communication tools or radio channels actually work during a large-scale event?
• What have we learned from incidents where coordination either succeeded or failed?

This moderator-led, open-floor discussion will feature emergency management leadership who will discuss practical leadership insights on decision-making, team building, stakeholder engagement, and preparing their organizations for future emergency management challenges.

• What leadership skills are critical during a disaster response?
• How do you engage Tribal leadership in emergency planning?
• What strategies have been effective for building and sustaining a strong emergency management team?
• What lessons have you learned from leading through a major emergency or disaster?
• How are you preparing for the next generation of emergency management challenges?

As wildfire threats grow across Indian Country, Tribes are adapting to new challenges in preparedness and response. Attendees will gain practical lessons, strategies, and technologies to strengthen wildfire readiness and recovery.

• With more than 72,000 wildfires burning over 5 million acres in 2025, what lessons have we learned from recent wildfire events?
• How do limited resources and infrastructure impact Tribal wildfire response efforts?
• How can technology improve Tribal wildfire preparedness and long-term recovery?

As disasters grow more complex, Tribes must be ready to locate and protect residents during emergencies. Attendees will learn search-and-rescue strategies, technologies, and lessons learned from past disasters.

• How do disasters such as wildfires, floods, and severe storms change the way Tribes conduct search-and-rescue operations and account for missing persons?
• How are tribes using technologies such as drones, thermal imaging, GIS mapping, and emergency notification systems to locate missing individuals?
• What lessons from past disasters have improved search-and-rescue efforts?
• How can Tribes better prepare for large-scale search-and-rescue operations?

Portable shelters and temporary infrastructure play a critical role in disaster response and recovery. Attendees will learn how to select, deploy, and maximize these resources during emergencies.

• • How can portable shelters and temporary housing solutions support displaced residents following a disaster?
  • What factors should organizations consider when selecting temporary systems?
  • What operational lessons have emerged from recent temporary infrastructure deployments?
  • What are the critical success factors for deploying portable infrastructure within the first 72 hours?

With U.S. cybercrime losses exceeding $20.9 billion in 2025, enterprises face growing cybersecurity threats. Attendees will learn how to strengthen cyber defenses, improve incident response, and prepare for emerging risks.

• In the first 24 hours of a cyber incident, what priorities have the greatest impact on containment and recovery?
• How have past cyber incidents reshaped your approach to risk management, incident response, and business continuity?
• What strategic investments in cybersecurity, workforce development, and operational resilience are most critical for defending gaming enterprises against emerging threats?

Technology is reshaping the future of security and emergency response. Attendees will learn how AI, communications systems, and emerging technologies are improving threat detection, situational awareness, and incident response.

• How is A.I. changing the way your organization detects threats and responds to incidents?
• What communication technologies are most critical during a large-scale emergency?
• How do sirens and emergency lighting systems improve communication and decision-making during critical incidents?
• Looking ahead, what technologies should organizations invest in today to prepare for the future of security and emergency response?

Active shooter incidents remain a growing concern across the country. In 2025, the FBI reported 34 incidents that resulted in 166 casualties, representing a 42% increase from 2024. The FBI and ALERRT Center documented 223 active shooter incidents between 2020 and 2024. This session will show how you can strengthen preparedness, training, communication, and response capabilities to better protect your enterprise,

• How can you assess whether your team is prepared to respond?
• What scenario-based exercises are most effective?
• What qualifications and training should armed security personnel possess?
• What legal liabilities are faced following an incident, and what proactive measures can reduce those risks?
• What technologies are being used to prevent and respond to active shooter incidents?

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