Northern IL Emergency Prep and Response Training Summit
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Northern Illinois Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Summit.
We are excited to have Registration open for the event. Click this link to save your space.
NIU ROCKFORD - 8500 E. STATE ST.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
8 AM - 4:30 PM
Northern Illinois Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Summit.
8:45-9:00 Opening Remarks
9:00-10:20 Keynote Speaker
Kaila Lariviere, Manager of Emergency Management Services
Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)
Presentation Title: Three year's later: The New Arrivals Mission
Description: Three Years Later: The New Arrivals Mission explores the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications' (OEMC) response to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis—the arrival of over 55,000 asylum seekers from the southern border. This session details the longest Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation in OEMC history, highlighting the challenges of managing a complex, resource-strained mission amid concurrent citywide emergencies. Discover how OEMC coordinated across agencies, adapted to limited funding, and worked to provide critical care and support as thousands sought safety and a new start in Chicago.
10:30-11:50 General Session
Erica Popovsky - Medical Director, Emergency Preparedness
Vishal Naik - Medical Director, Center for Transport Medicine
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Presentation Title: Disaster Considerations for Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs
Description: Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSCHN) comprise nearly one-fifth of the pediatric population in the United States. These children have unique developmental, behavioral and medical needs. First responders are likely to encounter these children daily and during a disaster. Disasters pose increased risks to CYSHCN due to physical and behavioral attributes, reunification challenges, pre-hospital and medical facility challenges and needs for specialized medications and equipment. In this talk, we will focus on including children in disaster plans, opportunities for community involvement to familiarize first responders with CYSHCN in their community, showcase existing resources and highlight ongoing pediatric training opportunities.
11:50-1:00 Networking Lunch
1:00-1:50 Breakout Session #1
Option 1 (Healthcare, Public Health, & Hazardous Materials)
Chad Finin, Protective Security Advisor
CISA Region 5, Chicago
Presentation Title: CISA - Protecting Critical Infrastructure
Description: CISA - Protecting Critical Infrastructure through conducting security and resilience surveys and assessments, conducting outreach activities and providing security resources and information, supporting National Special Security Events (NSSEs) and Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level I and II events, serving as a liaison between government officials and the private sector during incidents, and supporting improvised explosive device awareness and risk mitigation.
Option 2 (Healthcare, Public Health, & Hazardous Materials)
Dr. John Kahler, Co-Founder
MedGlobal
Presentation Title: Humanitarian Medical Disaster Relief: The Role of International Medical Teams in Global Emergencies
Description: Overview of how international medical teams mobilize volunteers, coordinate with local systems, and deliver emergency care in crisis zones. The session explores provider roles, deployment logistics, and the importance of cultural competence and ethical practice. Real-world examples from recent global emergencies highlight the impact of mobile clinics, trauma care, and mental health services. Attendees will also examine challenges in complex emergencies and learn strategies for integrating humanitarian principles into domestic preparedness and global health education.
Option 3 (Healthcare, Public Health, & Hazardous Materials)
Kimberly Waterman – Director, External Communications
Ascension Health
Kevin Hedemark – Public Information Officer
Will County Sheriff’s Office
Presentation Title: Clear Messages in Chaotic Moments: PIO Strategies for Multi-Agency Response
Description: Effective communication is critical in any emergency, especially when multiple agencies are responding. This session explores the role of Public Information Officers (PIOs) in coordinating clear, consistent, and actionable messaging during complex incidents such as hazardous materials releases, healthcare facility evacuations or public health emergencies. Participants will examine common communication challenges, review best practices for joint information sharing, and engage in an interactive exercise to practice building unified messages. Designed for emergency preparedness partners from fire, law enforcement, EMS, healthcare, public health and volunteer organizations, this session emphasizes how coordinated communication can save lives, build public trust, and strengthen multi-agency response efforts.
2:00-2:50 Breakout Session #2
Option 1 (Healthcare & Public Health)
Stacey Macchi, Communication Consultant
UNG, MHS, WIU
Presentation Title: Creating Connections
Description: Ah, crafting communication messages! Something we all do but often don't want to (or maybe don't know how to). How do we pick what to say to a group of people to make it meaningful? How do we change our message for target audiences when we have a particular purpose in mind?
This interactive workshop will guide you through how to talk about your organization and/or topic meaningfully so that others are compelled to not only pay attention but to become involved.
Option 2 (Healthcare & Public Health)
Dr. Liza Pilch
Chief Medical Officer, Milwaukee MEPS, Department of the Army
Presentation Title: Micro Invaders- Problem Creators
Description: In 1735, one of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, declared “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Since the beginning of the 19th century, the world has survived a multitude of pandemics including seven cholera pandemics, three plague pandemics, the Russian, Spanish, Hong Kong and Asian flu pandemics, HIV/ AIDS, SARS, Swine flu, MERS, Zika and COVID. Knowing where bugs hide—whether in software, nature, or real-world systems— provides that “ounce of prevention” by offering several benefits such as improved prevention, decreased fatalities, improved security, cost savings and enhanced knowledge and skills. The National Bio surveillance Integration Center (NBIC), a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs integrates, analyzes, and distributes key information about disease events to help ensure the nation's responses are well-informed, save lives, and minimize economic impact. This presentation will review the history of worldwide pandemics and their relationship to vaccine development, introduce the resources of the NBIC and examine some emerging threats.
Option 3 (Healthcare, Public Health, & Hazardous Materials)
Special Agent Anna Olin
FBI - Chicago Division
Presentation Title: Introduction to Agroterrorism Criminal Investigations
Description: Session will focus on the roles of representatives from law enforcement, animal health, and public health who become involved in a joint investigation of a potential or actual Agroterrorism event. Provide an understanding of the common concerns of law enforcement and the food and agriculture sectors: early identification of the criminal terrorist event, early identification of animal health emergencies, plant health emergencies, or food tampering, and the time sensitivity associated with obtaining information. The session will also review potential agents of Agroterrorism; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives, and identify potential indicators of an Agroterrorism attack.
3:00-4:20 Closing Speaker (Morris FD/PD)
Tracey Steffes, Fire Chief
Morris Fire Protection District
Presentation Title: Lessons Learned from Morris Warehouse Battery Fire
Description: Our life is becoming electrified by batteries more and more each day; from vehicles to everyday items that we use and depend on. These same batteries that make our days easier can also make it a day to remember if you respond to a battery emergency. Much of the fire service is not prepared with training and knowledge to be successful when responding to these battery emergencies. Join us as we discuss lessons learned, smart practices, and what we can do to keep our members safe while mitigating these incidents.
4:20-4:30 Closing Remarks
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