Massive flooding in Minot, ND. A devastating tornado in Joplin, MO. For many meetings industry professionals, in the wake of recent, tragic headlines regarding destructive weather occurrences, thoughts often turn to contingency planning and what-if? questions. For instance: what if disaster strikes during your event?

Here in the Midwest, most residents are familiar with the seasonal woes and serious dangers caused by weather patterns such as floods, tornadoes, snowstorms, and the like, but even minor weather upsets can cause serious glitches in the event agenda. How do the locals carry on, business as usual, around such uncooperative natural factors? How do planners stay abreast of unpredictable situations that can occur suddenly and without warning during their events? In short... how do folks plan for this stuff?