KEY TAKEAWAYS: ResCon 2026 set for March 9–11 in New Orleans Conference to address Louisiana‘s property insurance crisis Plenary sessions to examine wind, flood risk and federal policy shifts Event convenes resilience leaders from government and private sector   The New Orleans Erne st N. Morial Convention Center will host ResCon 2026 from March 9–11, bringing emergency management and resilience leaders to New Orleans for a three-day conference focused on insurance instability and potential changes in federal disaster policy. Organizers said the annual event will convene chief resilience officers, emergency managers, government officials and private-sector partners to address challenges facing communities as climate risks intensify and public funding frameworks evolve. This year’s program centers on three themes: innovative insurance models, sustainable funding strategies and the expanding role of states in managing disaster risk. Conference leaders say the goal is to advance practical solutions that protect infrastructure, businesses and residents while strengthening long-term economic stability. A key focus will be Louisiana’s ongoing property insurance crisis, which has strained homeowners and commercial property owners following repeated hurricane seasons and rising reinsurance costs. On March 9, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is scheduled to headline a plenary session examining wind and flood risk across the state. The discussion, moderated by Carol Friedland, director of the LaHouse Research Education Center at the LSU AgCenter, will explore how building standards, mitigation investments and statewide resilience efforts influence insurance markets. A second plenary session on March 10 will examine how state and local governments can adapt resilience planning amid potential shifts in federal emergency management programs. The panel is set to include Mark Cooper, a member of the FEMA Review Council and former chief of staff for the Louisiana Governor’s Office; Marguerite Harden of the Colorado Resilience Office; Shawn Talmadge of Dominion Energy; and Kelly Escheverria, emergency management director for Washoe County, Nevada. The session will be moderated by Dave Kaufman, vice president for safety and security at CNA. In a statement, convention center President and CEO Jim Cook said, “ResCon provides a powerful platform for collaboration among leaders who are committed to sharing best practices, fostering innovation and building stronger, more prepared communities.” He added that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region understand the importance of forward-looking resilience planning. Founded in 2012, ResCon has grown into a national forum for discussions on disaster response, emergency preparedness and resilience policy. Its return to New Orleans underscores the city’s role as a hub for resilience research and practice, shaped by decades of experience with hurricanes and coastal risk. The convention center, which features 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space, ranks among the largest facilities of its kind in the United States. Officials say its events have generated more than $93 billion in economic impact for the region since opening in 1985. Registration for ResCon 2026 is open. For more information visit resconnola.com. ...read more read less