OKLAHOMA CITY, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak welcomed National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) President and Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelan, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin to the 2013 National Tornado Summit.
"No state is immune to the devastating effects of severe weather," said Doak. "The best way to prepare and respond is to share ideas and work together. I really appreciate Commissioners Donelan, Chaney and Goodwin for their dedication to public safety and for attending the National Tornado Summit."
The National Tornado Summit is sponsored by the Oklahoma Insurance Department, Oklahoma Emergency Management, National Weather Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Storm Prediction Center and the NAIC. It serves as a forum for national and state experts to exchange ideas and revise action plans on what to do before, during and after a severe weather event.
"Events such as the National Tornado Summit are beneficial on several levels - providing a forum for the discussion of best practices in coping with disasters while also raising awareness about the importance of being prepared," said Donelan. "Taking this proactive approach to dealing with catastrophes serves to strengthen and improve responses and better equips communities to deal with the unexpected when disaster strikes."
"In North Carolina, like Oklahoma, we are subject to devastating tornadoes," said Goodwin. "We've witnessed the damage that's wreaked havoc on our citizens. The National Tornado Summit is a great opportunity to meet with experts in emergency management, insurance and weather in order to better prepare for the next disaster."
"I found the National Tornado Summit to be an excellent event, filled with very timely and important information and a great way to meet and interact with experts from all over the nation who are concerned about preparedness, mitigation and all other aspects of disaster response," said Chaney. "I attend a lot of seminars and conference and this is one of the better ones I have attended. I also commend Commissioner Doak for the way he has the governing board set up."
This year's Summit, which ended Tuesday, included 850 attendees from 27 states and several countries. The list of attendees included regulators, insurance industry professionals, emergency managers, meteorologists and many more. This year, the Summit also included an expo open to the public. More than 1,500 people attended the free event that included a storm shelter giveaway, weather presentations from local meteorologists, a tornado simulator, face painting and much more.
The 2014 National Tornado Summit has been scheduled for Feb. 9-11 at the Cox Convention Center.
ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.
For more information contact:
Kelly Collins
(405) 522-0683
Kelly.Collins@oid.ok.gov
SOURCE Oklahoma Insurance Department
