Disaster response is unlike any other aspect of first responder work.  Whether deployed to hurricanes, wildfires, floods, line-of-duty deaths, mass casualty incidents, public health emergencies, acts of violence, or prolonged recovery operations, disaster responders are repeatedly exposed to trauma, human suffering, operational stress, and long deployments away from family and support systems.
 

The John P. Norris Memorial Disaster Responder Health & Wellness Symposium was created to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach to responder well-being.
 

This symposium examines the full spectrum of health and wellness for disaster responders, including:
 

• Physical health, fitness, sleep, nutrition, and recovery

• Mental health, resilience, stress management, and trauma exposure

• Emotional wellness, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and post-traumatic growth

• Spiritual care, meaning, purpose, and sustaining hope through difficult work

• Family support and relationship wellness

• Leadership strategies that create healthier organizations and responder cultures
 

Participants will hear from nationally recognized experts, experienced responders, clinicians, chaplains, peer support leaders, and wellness professionals who understand the realities of disaster response.
 

Whether you serve on the front lines, support responders behind the scenes, lead an organization, or care for those who respond, this symposium will provide practical tools, meaningful connections, and strategies that can be applied immediately.