For National Preparedness Month in September, experts at the University of North Texas are available for interviews to discuss ways families, communities and businesses can prepare for emergencies and natural disasters. Created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the month is designed to educate communities on ways to get ready for floods, wildfires, severe weather, power outages, biological and chemical threats, mass casualties, terrorist attacks and other emergencies.
Nancy Boyd Lillie, professor of management in UNT's College of Business, can discuss crisis management for businesses, how companies can prepare for situations that disrupt normal operations and the potential implications for business performance and reputation.
Boyd Lillie can be reached at 940-565-3158 or Nancy.Boyd.Lillie@unt.edu.
Ram Dantu, professor of computer science and engineering in UNT's College of Engineering, can discuss cybersecurity issues facing individuals and businesses. Dantu can discuss cybersecurity as it relates to various types of technology, including smart phones, applications, individual computers, computer systems and data servers.
Dantu can be reached at 940-565-2822 or Ram.Dantu@unt.edu.
Laura Siebeneck, assistant professor in the Emergency Administration and Planning Program in UNT's College of Public Affairs and Community Service, can discuss individual and family decisions about evacuating during hurricanes and other disasters, and also decisions about when to return home and how emergency managers can better communicate information about returning. She will also speak on protective action against wildfires, including what individuals may do to protect themselves and their homes. Siebeneck can be reached at 940-565-4893 or Laura.Siebeneck@unt.edu.
Ronald Timmons, lecturer in the Emergency Administration and Planning Program, can discuss preparation for power outages. Before teaching at UNT, he worked in emergency management and public safety communications for the City of Plano and served as the city's emergency management coordinator. Timmons
was also a firefighter, emergency medical technician and fire chief in New York State.
Timmons can be reached at 940-565-2213 or Ronald.Timmons@unt.edu.
Wendy Middlemiss, associate professor of educational psychology in UNT's College of Education, can discuss ways families can prepare children for potential disasters and other dangers, what to tell kids about the possibility of emergencies and how to talk to your children after a crisis.
Middlemiss can be reached at 940-369-8870 (office), 724-977-3067 (cell) or Wendy.Middlemiss@unt.edu.