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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2010
Contact: Arturo Ballesteros
(512) 463-0120 office
(512) 810-1294 cell
Texas Hurricane Conference to be held in McAllen

McALLEN — State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa announced dates for the 2010 Texas Hurricane Conference, sponsored by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The conference, scheduled for May 17-20 in McAllen, Texas, will offer attendees a variety of resources to prepare and coordinate responses to catastrophic storms.

Conference invitees will include representatives from the emergency management community, first responders, and law enforcement agencies from coastal communities and inland sheltering communities.

Senator Hinojosa remarked on the value brought to South Texas by this conference.

"The Texas Hurricane Conference brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to this region. To best coordinate relief efforts during a storm, public and private first responder agencies must know each other's strategies. I am happy to see professionals from all sectors of the community forming part of this four-day conference. Our best protection against severe weather is preparedness," Senator Hinojosa said.

The Texas Hurricane Conference will feature a wide variety of workshops, presentations, training classes, and exhibits. Presentations will address all aspects of catastrophic storms: coordination and control, evacuations, sheltering, search and rescue, and re-entry operations after the storm.

Hidalgo County Judge Rene A. Ramirez emphasized the importance of continuing education for emergency management officials and praised the selection of Hidalgo County as the conference host.

"First responders understand the challenges posed by natural disasters such as Hurricane Dolly. Our emergency management professionals have firsthand experience to share. They also want to learn more from other experts. We look forward to expanding the knowledge of these men and women who work behind the scenes to protect all of us every day of the year, not only during hurricane season."

Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. Hurricanes can cause inland flooding and tornadoes hundreds of miles from the Texas coast.

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