About NEMA Forums

NEMA hosts two national forums providing opportunities to discuss national and regional emergency management strategies with other emergency management professionals from around the country and with experts in the field. The NEMA Mid-Year Policy & Leadership Forum is held in the Washington, DC, metro area in the spring. The Annual Policy & Leadership Forum is held in the fall, traditionally in the home state of the NEMA president for that year.

The forums focus on policy development, emergency management concerns, lessons learned, training and development, policy issues, and federal relations. They allow attendees to hear first-hand the latest issues impacting their agencies' programs. No other source can provide the current, comprehensive, behind-the-scenes information that NEMA forums offer.

Most states are represented at NEMA forums. As a result, federal agencies, members of Congress and the current Administration, and others attend the meetings to discuss policy and program issues and get input from state directors. 

Attendance and schedule for the annual and mid-year forums are very similar. Average attendance is 425 emergency management professionals made up of state emergency management directors, state staff, product and service providers, federal partners, organizations, and others in the field. The schedule format is four days and includes committee meetings, professional development workshops, a plenary session, and several networking opportunities. A two-day exhibition showcasing forum sponsors is also featured. Dates for upcoming forums are posted on the NEMA website calendar.