Fugate, Honore’ to Keynote International Code Council Annual Conference Events

The critical role of Building and Fire Officials in code adoption and enforcement, plus new leadership and preparedness techniques in disaster mitigation and response will be the subjects of two keynote addresses at the International Code Council’s 2011 Annual Conference and Final Action Hearings, Oct. 30-Nov. 6, in Phoenix.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator W. Craig Fugate will serve as the keynote speaker during the conference’s Annual Banquet. He will address the role of code officials as part of the emergency management team and the importance of codes in disaster mitigation. Lt. General Russel L. Honoré, USA (Ret.) will be the guest speaker at the ICC Foundation Luncheon. He will discuss “The New Normal: Leadership and Preparedness in the 21st Century.”

“We are very excited to have these two distinguished leaders serve as guest speakers at our Annual Conference,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Richard P. Weiland. “In the wake of recent tornadoes, wildfires, Hurricane Irene’s flooding and even an earthquake on the East Coast, their timely messages will highlight the importance of Building and Fire Officials and their work—through the development, adoption and enforcement of codes—to protect lives and property in times of disasters.”

A renowned leader in emergency management and preparedness, Fugate was appointed by President Obama and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009 to serve as the FEMA Administrator. Previously, Fugate served as Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) where his agency coordinated disaster response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state’s 67 counties and local governments.

Fugate began his emergency management career as a volunteer firefighter, Emergency Paramedic, and finally as a Lieutenant with the Alachua County Fire Rescue. Eventually, he moved from exclusive fire rescue operations to serving as the Emergency Manager for Alachua County in Gainesville, Fla. He spent a decade in that role until 1997 when he was appointed Bureau Chief for Preparedness and Response for FDEM.

Prior to his command of Joint Task Force-Katrina – leading the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana – General Honoré served in a variety of command and staff positions which focused on Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense. As Vice Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., and, as the Commander, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security, United States Northern Command, General Honoré’s focus was Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense.

For four of the past six hurricane seasons, General Honoré supported DOD planning and response for Hurricanes Floyd in 1999; Lilli and Isidore in 2002 (both hit the Gulf Coast); Isabel in 2003; and Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe and sustainable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.