To: News Media
From: Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
Re:Speaker at Hurricane Conference
Release Immediately
Contact: Robert Jackson, 269-7978  or
              Brenda Thornton, 269-7819

S&WB EMERGENCY MANAGER IS SPEAKER AT NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE

Jason Higginbothom, emergency operations manager for the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, is one of four featured presenters at a key training session of the National Hurricane Conference being held in New Orleans April 2-6 in New Orleans.

Higginbothom, who holds a Louisiana Emergency Manager Certificate from the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, is a speaker at a session entitled, "Hurricane-Damaged Drinking Water and Wastewater Facilities in the Gulf Region: Impacts, Needs, Response and Lessons Learned." The program will be presented today and Wednesday.

He will be joined by water utility emergency managers from Louisiana, Florida and Alabama.

For several years, Higginbotham has served as liaison between the Board and the City's Office of Emergency Preparedness during emergencies. For Katrina he coordinated the Board's emergency management program with emergency personnel.

After the storm he was responsible for tracking all FEMA claims due to damage caused by Katrina. He also implemented a strategic recovery plan to repair all damaged water systems.

In February, he earned the S&WB Executive Director's Award for 2006 presented to the Board's Employee of the Year.

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