NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) will host ResCon 2026 from March 9–11, 2026, bringing together leading voices in emergency management, resilience planning and disaster response for a three-day conference focused on strengthening communities in an evolving risk landscape.
Based in New Orleans, which leads as a globally recognized hub of resilience, disaster management and innovation, ResCon attracts a diverse mix of chief resilience officers, emergency managers, industry leaders and private-sector partners who convene to explore the issues shaping communities and economies worldwide.
This year’s conference is built around three powerful content pillars designed to inspire action and deliver real-world impact. Through focused discussions and practical exploration on innovative insurance models, sustainable funding strategies and the shifting role of states in managing risk, the summit aims to accelerate practical solutions that safeguard people, infrastructure and economies while catalyzing the next era of resilience leadership.
The programming will address critical and timely topics, including Louisiana’s deepening insurance crisis and the next steps in state and local resilience planning amid potential shifts in federal emergency management policy.
On Monday, March 9, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple will headline a plenary session examining the state’s wind and flood risk and the growing insurance challenges facing homeowners, businesses and communities. Moderated by Carol Friedland, Director of the LaHouse Research & Education Center at LSU AgCenter, the discussion will explore how resilience actions at the building, community and state levels directly influence Louisiana’s insurance landscape.
On Tuesday, March 10, featured plenary session, Next Steps in State and Local Resilience Planning: Preparing for Shifts in Federal Emergency Management, will bring together senior leaders from across government and the private sector. Moderated by CAN Vice President for Safety & Security Dave Kaufman, speakers for ResCon 2026 include Mark Cooper, FEMA Review Council member and former Chief of Staff, Louisiana Governor’s Office and Executive Director, Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Marguerite Harden, Senior Resiliency Manager, Colorado Resilience Office, Shawn Talmadge, Manager, Emergency Preparedness Center, Dominion Energy and former State Coordinator, Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Washoe County, Nevada Emergency Management Director Kelly Escheverria. The session will examine how states and local governments can strengthen resilience planning and execution amid potential restructuring of federal programs and evolving intergovernmental roles.
“New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region understand firsthand the importance of forward-thinking resilience planning,” said Jim Cook, NOENMCC President and CEO. “ResCon provides a powerful platform for collaboration among leaders who are committed to sharing best practices, fostering innovation and building stronger, more prepared communities.”
Founded in 2012, ResCon has grown into a premier forum for exploring resilience, emergency response, disaster management and related fields. The annual event continues to solidify New Orleans’ role at the forefront of national resilience conversations.
Visit resconnola.com to learn more about ResCon 2026 and ResCon’s work locally in New Orleans. Registration is open, and interested parties can visit resconnola.com/registration for more details.
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC is tied for the sixth-largest convention center in the United States. NOENMCC is a 2025 Exhibitor Magazine Centers of Excellence recipient and is consistently named a regional top workplace by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. A recent LEED Gold certification makes NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance, as well as the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, NOENMCC event activity has produced $93.2 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening.