New York University

New York University

The Office of Public Affairs

Thursday, Feb 28, 2008

n-302, 2007-08

* Media Advisory *

New York University’s Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response (CCPR) will hold a symposium Monday, March 3, 2008, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at Kimmel Center, Rosenthal Pavilion, 60 Washington Square South, to discuss the Large Scale Emergency Readiness Project (LaSER) at NYU focused on government and private sector disaster preparedness and response.

Chaired by Lewis Goldfrank, MD, Professor and Chair, Emergency Medicine, LaSER is supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in part includes PLAN C (Planning with Large Agency-Networks against Catastrophes).

• PLAN C PLAN C is a multi-agent, computer based model that creates real time simulations of emergency response. PLAN C provides a platform on which emergency planners and managers can analyze the effectiveness of plans, such as investments in ambulances, defibrillators, and citizen preparedness, etcetera.
• A morning demonstration of PLAN C - 8:30-to-9:45 a.m. - will focus on the platform’s capabilities to simulate multiple catastrophic events.
• PLAN C will be demonstrated a second time, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Keynote speeches also will be presented, 12:30 - 2:00 p.m., by Joseph Bruno, Commissioner, New York City Office of Emergency Management, and Michael Balboni, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety, State of New York.
• Registration and Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m.
• TV and print media coverage is invited.

For further information, contact Robert Polner at the contact information listed above or David Berman, Associate Director, Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response, at 212.998.2208 or david.berman@nyu.edu

NYU’s Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response currently manages twenty-two research projects including over sixty faculty and staff. The Center is a national resource with added focus on the unique issues related to emergency preparedness and response in the urban environment.