DENTON (UNT), Texas — As Hurricane Laura continues through the south, it is increasingly important that people have an accurate source of information. Faculty from the Departments of Emergency Management and Disaster Science and Public Administration at University of North Texas are offering to share their expertise on what to expect after Laura.

• Gary Webb is professor and chair in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science who specializes in organizational preparedness for and response to extreme events. His research has been supported by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, and he has been quoted in national media outlets, including NPR, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and CNN. He can speak about the challenges of responding to disasters and the importance of flexibility in emergency management.
   
• Elyse Zavar is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science who specializes in disaster recovery and hazard mitigation, specifically land buyouts in flood mitigation. She was recently selected as a 2020 Early-Career Research Fellow by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with her work on areas of Harris County after Hurricane Harvey. She can speak about what long-term recovery in communities affected by Hurricane Laura may look like based on her experience in past flood areas.
   
• Ron Timmons is a senior lecturer in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science. He works with students to create realistic preparation for the demands present in the emergency services field. He is the internship coordinator for the department and can speak about student activities at jobsites throughout the area.
   
• Nathan Hutson is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Public Administration who specializes in intermodal freight and currently chairs the Transportation Research Board’s subcommittee on Intermodal Freight Terminal Design and Operations. He can speak on Hurricane Laura’s potential impacts on port traffic, port resiliency and shipping routes.

The undergraduate Emergency Administration and Planning Program, which is housed in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science, was established in 1983 as the nation’s first bachelor’s degree program in emergency management. UNT’s Master of Public Administration program with a specialty in emergency management is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top five in the nation.