FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS — A Polis Center official at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis will testify Thursday on behalf of the National Institute of Building Sciences to a congressional subcommittee that is exploring how to lower the rising costs of federal responses to disasters.
Kevin Mickey, director of professional education and outreach for the Polis Center and the 2016 chair of the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Multihazard Mitigation Council, will address the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee, headed by 7th District U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind.
The hearing will examine data related to disaster costs; the trends observed over time; and future projections under current federal disaster assistance policies, programs and requirements. In addition, the hearing will continue exploring potential solutions for lowering the overall costs of disasters and avoiding devastating losses.
The hearing begins at 10 a.m. EST. It will be streamed live online.
The Polis Center, part of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, is one of the nation’s leading university-based units working with communities to enhance their preparedness for natural disasters. It specializes in providing place-based research tools to transform data into usable information for more effective local decision-making.
The Multihazard Mitigation Council, one of 18 councils of the National Institute of Building Sciences, works to reduce the total losses associated with natural and other hazards by fostering and promoting implementation of consistent and improved multihazard risk-mitigation strategies, guidelines, practices and related efforts.
“As the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, I am pleased to welcome such a distinguished Hoosier to testify,” Carson said. “Kevin Mickey will not only showcase IUPUI and their important work at the Polis Center, but also his national leadership as chair of the Multihazard Mitigation Council. Congress often hears from national advocates and experts, but it’s important that we hear from local and regional leaders about their work and contributions, which are critical to national dialogues.”
The Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee oversees various federal real estate programs. Its jurisdiction of federal management of emergencies and natural disasters includes FEMA activities relating to disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, as well as programs relating to first responders.