Keynote Speaker: Governor Jim Hunt

Abstract

Governor Hunt described his experiences during Hurricane Floyd, which was the worst natural disaster to hit the area in recorded history. He spoke about the need to find out how to be better prepared in the future. During the recovery he was flying out every day to communities. FEMA did a lot, but not enough, so he threatened to call President Bill Clinton. He went to Congress, and they said come back later, but he persisted. He wore out President Clinton asking for money for North Carolina. He pushed and raised cane and told the human stories. He described how a lake filled up in one day and how water was covering I-95. From a helicopter, he saw caskets floating in Lenoir County and the death of millions of chickens and hogs.