For weeks, the entire world caught its breath and set its eyes on New York City, the new epicenter of COVID-19 after Wuhan, China and Lombardy, Italy. To date, the metropolis has experienced over 200K confirmed cases and 20,000 related deaths. A city with a long history of trauma and resilience following 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, we wonder: How has the pandemic redefined the notion of a catastrophic event? Kelly McKinney, a long-time Emergency Management leader and the current Senior Director of Emergency Management and Enterprise Resilience at NYU Langone Health, provides a detailed answer.

Guest Bio
Kelly McKinney has had a leadership role in every major disaster in New York City for more than fifteen years, from the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to the present day. As Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Office of Emergency Management, he led the city’s response to Hurricane Sandy. As Chief Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross he rushed to the aid of people affected by train crashes and building collapses, most notably the March 2014 Con Edison gas explosion on 125th Street in Harlem. He is the founding principal of Emergency Management Americas, a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to advance the profession and practice of emergency management. Nationally known for his writing and speaking on the principles and practice of disaster management, he is the author of Moment of Truth: The Nature of Catastrophes and How to Prepare for Them. He is a professional engineer with a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Kansas and an MPA from Columbia University in the City of New York. He is a board member of the All-Hazards Consortium and of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management in New York City. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Emergency Management and Enterprise Resilience at NYU Langone Health, a world-class academic medical center based in New York City. Twitter - @kellymnyc

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