The return of severe storms to central Oklahoma reminds its residents how serious and deadly the weather can become.
Emergency managers from across the state will be in Oklahoma City this week to discuss issues of emergency preparedness. Officials said they will focus on response to 2005's Hurricane Katrina disaster, the Oklahoma wildfires from early 2006 and terrorism.
Knowing what to do and which programs are effective during a time of disaster is key to handling emergencies, experts said.
Emergency management leaders will look at how city and county officials handled wildfires, for example.
"We do believe if we have to have disasters, we need to learn from them," said Oklahoma Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten.
Oklahoma is no stranger to disaster. Tornadoes have torn through towns, and in 2006, grassfires have been a daily threat. However, state leaders said they hope this conference will help agencies to be better prepared.
"Whenever you can get people together who can learn from each other, the state of Oklahoma can benefit from that," Ooten said.
On Tuesday, Oklahoma Forestry officials will give a presentation on the historic 2006 wildfire season and the command post that was established in Shawnee.
Officials said managers will get the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of that command post during the past wildfire season.
The three-day conference will also include a look at how the state responded to Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees.
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