Welcome to Natural Disasters Expo Houston! For its fifth year, Natural Disasters Expo USA comes back to Houston on October 14–15, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. And there’s no better place for it. This city knows what it takes to prepare for disasters, respond, and rebuild afterward. For two days, industry leaders, government agencies, first responders, and resilience professionals will come together with one shared goal: helping communities’ weather the next storm stronger than the last. Explore new solutions and technology, learn from experts who have been on the front lines, and meet the partners who will help you turn preparedness into action. Whether you’re here to learn, share, or collaborate, you are part of the effort to build a more resilient nation.
In this speaker series, Tom Fox interviews Atascocita Fire Chief Mike Mulligan on Hurricane Harvey Frontline Leadership Lessons.
Chief Mulligan, from the Atascocita Fire Department serving Harris County ESD 46, covering a 25-square-mile area of 75,000–90,000 residents in unincorporated northeast Harris County. Mulligan previews his conference panel, “Lessons From the Front Line,” describing Harvey-era preparation and rescue execution, political and resource-prioritization challenges, the unexpected arrival of the Cajun Navy, and an EMS-related “tug-of-war” over a resource that drove extended after-action discussions. He explains that before Harvey the department had limited high-water exposure, lacked boats and swift-water capability, then added equipment and planning after prior floods while still maintaining normal EMS call volume during Harvey. Mulligan also discusses attending a broader disaster conference to learn how emergency response affects downstream mitigation and recovery.
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