Join local design professionals and scientists from ETSU in a day-long workshop focused on Hurricane Helene and other recent natural disasters impacting northeast Tennessee and our surrounding region. We’ll review factors of risk and discuss climate trends that have and will impact the health, welfare and safety of our local communities. Maps and data will be shared for 5 local counties (Washington, Cocke, Unicoi, Carter, and Johnson) that were severely affected by Hurricane Helene and are participating in a coordinated long-term recovery effort. This event is a unique opportunity for citizens, professionals, local government, and county Long-Term Recovery Group members to come together, share information, and engage in unified planning towards regional resilience in northeast Tennessee. 

We will begin the morning with tea, coffee, and a risk perceptions exercise guided by the Tennessee Climate Office.  After opening remarks, Dr. Andrew Joyner will give his presentation exploring recent disasters, climate trends, and data.  We will then open up the floor for a Q&A to explore how our risk perceptions align with the information presented.  

In the afternoon, free lunch will be provided for guests who register in advance, and we will have an opportunity to mingle with one another.  We will then move into breakout groups that will rotate through different stations focused on different areas of risk, each facilitated by a professional table lead.  As information and ideas are shared, we will be encouraged to jot down notes, aspirations, and concerns on large base maps provided for each county at the center of the room.  Along with these community comments, notes will be taken at each station and will be shared with each of the Long Term Recovery Groups after the event. 

*This event has been sent to AIA National for CEU approval. We will update this page once CEUs are approved.

Note: The webinar portion of the event will take place from 11am to 1pm.