The Biden-Harris Administration, through FEMA, is hosting the first-ever Wildfire Smoke Resilience Summit today [April 29, 2024], as part of its initiative to help communities and individuals prepare for and mitigate the risks associated with wildfire smoke.
The virtual summit, which begins at 2 p.m. ET today, is a component of FEMA’s Extreme Heat summit series, aiming to provide vital resources, funding information, and best practices on wildfire smoke resilience.
Throughout the month of April, FEMA has collaborated with various national partners to highlight the changing climate’s impacts and promote resilience strategies to address both current and future wildfire risks.
This summit marks a significant event in FEMA’s Year of Resilience, emphasizing the ongoing national effort to mitigate the effects of wildfire smoke through a comprehensive partnership among key federal agencies.
During the webinar, attendees had the opportunity to hear from several key figures, including U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell and representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for Resilience, Victoria Salinas, moderated the discussions, focusing on community and individual resilience strategies.
The Wildfire Smoke Resilience Summit precedes the conclusion of FEMA’s Extreme Heat series, set to end with a hybrid in-person and virtual summit on May 21, hosted by FEMA Region 5 in Chicago.
This event will build on the prior year’s discussions and learnings, facilitating further discussions, networking, and collaborations among government levels and community partners to enhance preparedness and response strategies for extreme heat and wildfire events.
Today’s inaugural Wildfire Smoke Resilience Summit represents a proactive step by the Biden-Harris Administration to address the increasing threat of wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
By focusing on education, resource sharing, and community engagement, FEMA is setting a foundation for enhanced national resilience.
As these events become more frequent and intense, the importance of such initiatives in shaping a resilient future becomes clear.
