ResCon 2026: New Orleans to Host Premier Resilience and Disaster Preparedness Conference
The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) will host ResCon 2026 from March 9–11, 2026, bringing together leading voices in emergency management, resilience planning, and disaster response. The three-day conference will focus on strengthening communities in an evolving risk landscape.
New Orleans, a globally recognized hub for resilience, disaster management, and innovation, will serve as the backdrop for ResCon. The event attracts a diverse mix of chief resilience officers, emergency managers, industry leaders, and private-sector partners to explore the issues shaping communities and economies worldwide.
Focus on Insurance Crisis and Federal Policy Shifts
This year’s conference is structured around three key themes designed to inspire action and deliver practical solutions. Discussions will center on innovative insurance models, sustainable funding strategies, and the evolving role of states in managing risk. The summit aims to accelerate solutions that safeguard people, infrastructure, and economies, while fostering the next generation of resilience leadership.
Programming will address critical and timely topics, including Louisiana’s deepening insurance crisis and potential shifts in federal emergency management policy.
Louisiana Insurance Crisis Under the Spotlight
On Monday, March 9, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple will lead a plenary session examining the state’s wind and flood risk and the growing insurance challenges facing homeowners, businesses, and communities. ResCon notes that the discussion, moderated by Carol Friedland, Director of the LaHouse Research & Education Center at LSU AgCenter, will explore how resilience actions at the building, community, and state levels directly influence Louisiana’s insurance landscape.
Navigating Changes in Federal Emergency Management
Tuesday, March 10, will feature a plenary session, “Next Steps in State and Local Resilience Planning: Preparing for Shifts in Federal Emergency Management.” Senior leaders from government and the private sector will examine how states and local governments can strengthen resilience planning and execution amid potential restructuring of federal programs and evolving intergovernmental roles.
Speakers include Mark Cooper, FEMA Review Council member and former Chief of Staff, Louisiana Governor’s Office and Executive Director, Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness; Marguerite Harden, Senior Resiliency Manager, Colorado Resilience Office; Shawn Talmadge, Manager, Emergency Preparedness Center, Dominion Energy and former State Coordinator, Virginia Department of Emergency Management; and Washoe County, Nevada Emergency Management Director Kelly Escheverria. The session will be moderated by CAN Vice President for Safety & Security Dave Kaufman.
New Orleans: A Leader in Resilience
“New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region understand firsthand the importance of forward-thinking resilience planning,” said Jim Cook, NOENMCC President and CEO. “ResCon provides a powerful platform for collaboration among leaders who are committed to sharing best practices, fostering innovation, and building stronger, more prepared communities.”
Founded in 2012 and formerly known as the International Disaster Conference and Expo, ResCon has become a premier forum for exploring resilience, emergency response, disaster management, and related fields. The event continues to solidify New Orleans’ position at the forefront of national resilience conversations.
Registration for ResCon 2026 is now open. More information can be found at resconnola.com.
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center boasts 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space and is tied for the sixth-largest convention center in the United States. It is a 2025 Exhibitor Magazine Centers of Excellence recipient and a regional top workplace. The center has achieved LEED Gold certification, making it the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. Certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance. Since its 1985 opening, NOENMCC event activity has generated $93.2 billion in economic impact.