April 21, 2006 – The Lieutenant Governor's Office holds its second annual GIS conference June 22-23. This year's theme is "Technological Applications for Coastal Protection – Partnering with Our Caribbean and Insular Neighbors."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will participate again this year, and discussions and presentations relating to the integration and use of new technology for coastal protection planning and mapping.
The process of establishing a comprehensive clearinghouse for geospatial information sharing in the territory, using other models as a guideline, is another focus of the conference.
Reports will be made on NOAA's implementation of the CORS Stations and Height Modernization Projects and FEMA's implementation of the Flood Map Modernization Project.
Experts will share lessons from Hurricane Katrina and how communities can better protect coastal zones and shorelines.
In a press release, Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards said, "All in all, I believe this second annual conference will continue the critical discussion begun a year ago and will expand networks of expertise on this often neglected, but vital body of knowledge and technology."
"The case of Katrina and other natural disasters over recent years compels us to be more aggressive about collaboration, coordination and partnering for improved coastal protection," he said.

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