Eric David of Guardian Environmental at the April luncheon. Guardian is this year's Major SCA Golf Tournament sponsor

Leo Grover, of Pinnacle Emergency Management, gave an insightful and thought-provoking discussion of the very real potential disaster that awaits the Sacramento Valley should one of the many levees in the region suffer a significant break. History of flooding, combined with extensive growth, could bring our own “Katrina”-like horrors if not prepared.
Leo came with encouraging words of the community coming together to put plans in place to be fully prepared.

"ServPro Annie", Anne-Marie McCarthy, is the new Client Services Director for Servpro of Rancho Cordova.

May 10 SCA luncheon
By Bryan Harrison

The side room extension was opened up in the downstairs banquet hall at Chops Restaurant May 10, 2007 to help accommodate the seemingly ever-increasing attendance at the Sacramento Claims Association luncheon meetings.

SCA Board Member, and past-Property Claims Forum President, Jon Aronson took the helm in the absence of President Art Coussoulis.
Jon did an admirable job in running the show. As 2007 President of the Claims Conference of N. California he offered an update on the planning progress for the September 13-14th event. He then introduced guest speaker Leo Grover, with Pinnacle Emergency Management, who took charge with a convincing discussion focusing on the need for local forces to put plans in place now in preparation for the next major flood to the area, or other disasters.

“Sacramento has such a wealth of talent and knowledgeable people in so many areas, that we should be fully prepared to handle whatever comes our way without having to bring people in from other areas to take charge,” he stated.

Leo, a well-seasoned veteran of disaster relief management, most recently having worked extensively in New Orleans as part of the Katrina relief effort, sees the potential for similar levee breach problems here.
“Sacramento has a long history of flooding, as does the central valley,” he noted. “In all likelihood, we’ll face more of the same at some point.

He utilized computer animations in his accompanying slide presentation illustrating the severity of a major levee break. Specifically, he showed before and after of the North Natomas area, making a dramatic statement of just how devastating a levee break flood could be.

“Plans must be put in place long before an actual event,” he said. Utilizing resources ranging from government agencies (fire and rescue), insurance companies, to restoration companies, contractors, engineers and the like, responding to any such emergency could set a new standard for effectiveness in minimizing damages and saving lives.

“If we wait for someone else to take charge, or take the attitude that someone will come rescue us in our time of need, results will be truly devastating,” he warned.

Leo Grover may be reached at: leo@pinnacle-emergency.com, or 916-371-7431.

Thanks to ALL Our
May Meeting Door Prize Contributors
CRDN
EFI Global
Enterprise Rent a Car
JM Environmental
Pinnacle Emergency Management
Sams & Associates
ServiceMaster
ServPro of Rancho Cordova

SCA President Art Coussoulis thanked guest speaker Eric Gershwin, MD for addressing the April gathering

.
SCA Board Member Kelly Szymulewski, with V&M Restoration, Inc., helped orchestrate the Door Prize drawings at the May meeting.

Carl Montgomery joins Sams & Associates.

Stephanie Tucker, of All Pro Restoration, Inc. at the May SCA luncheon meeting.