Northern Michigan residents will have an opportunity to learn about storm recovery and preparedness during a free community workshop scheduled for Sept. 26 at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
The event, called "Conservation Con: Post Storms Community Workshop," is being organized by HeadWaters Land Conservancy, Huron Pines and the Otsego Conservation District, according to a community announcement. Organizers said the program is intended to help residents prepare for severe weather and better understand available recovery resources.
The workshop is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Treetops Resort and is free and open to the public.
"Northeastern Michigan communities are incredibly resilient," Amanda Vanaman, community project manager at Huron Pines, said in the announcement. "However, nature can still catch us off guard. This event is about giving our neighbors practical tools, resources and information so every family has a better understanding, a stronger plan and deeper knowledge of where to turn for support when it matters most."
Organizers added that Northern Michigan has experienced multiple natural disasters in recent years, prompting questions about recovery, mitigation and future preparedness. Conservation Con will bring together conservation groups, emergency resources and residents for presentations and discussions focused on environmental disaster preparation and response.
Attendees will hear from speakers representing forestry, utilities, water quality, environmental services and emergency management. Organizers said participants will receive information aimed at helping them respond after storms and prepare for future weather events.
"There are still a lot of unknowns about storm clean up, long term effects and how to be better prepared for future disasters," Kelly Draeger, executive director of the Otsego Conservation District, said in the announcement. "The goal here is to provide as many answers as possible to the community about what to do next."
The event will use three rooms at Treetops Resort, with four speaker sessions scheduled in each room throughout the day.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon, all sessions will pause for a moderated panel discussion and community question-and-answer session. Exhibitor tables featuring local vendors and resources will also be available throughout the event.
Conservation Con is funded through a grant from the Disaster Response Fund of the Otsego Community Foundation.
Registration is expected to open in August. Residents can suggest topics for discussion through an online form available at headwatersconservancy.org.
"This event grew directly out of what our community has been through," Dianne Farner, deputy director of HeadWaters Land Conservancy, said in the announcement. "We wanted to build a day where people could get real answers and resources from the experts who are already doing this work in Northern Michigan."
Organizations interested in serving as speakers or exhibitors also can find participation forms at headwatersconservancy.org. Organizers said speaking opportunities are limited to nonprofit and government organizations. Confirmed speakers will receive lunch and a travel stipend.
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This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Free Gaylord workshop to focus on storm recovery, readiness