The topics for the break-out sessions at the 2012 State of Florida Public Sector-Private Sector Disaster Preparedness Summit were the kind that challenge you — in the best way possible.

• Integrating the Private Sector into Public Sector Disaster Operations, Planning and Information Sharing

• Returning Your Business and Your Communities Economic Base to Normal: Business Continuity Planning

• Winning in Long-Term Recovery

• Supporting the Private Sector Emergency Operations Center

• The Tao of Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COADs)

As I noted in the last blog, 85-90% of our nation’s infrastructure is owned by the private sector, and yet it’s the public sector that is traditionally appointed responsibility of disaster preparedness and recovery. It takes the public and the private sectors working together to reduce community vulnerability to disasters.

This should be interesting.

As always, I think our biggest hurdle will be communication. First we’ll need to learn each others’ languages. The private sector talks about supply chains, public relations, values, and bottom-line profit. The public sector talks about programs, incident command centers, mission, and designated and un-designated funds.

Fortunately the State of Florida is already planning next year’s summit.

This is going to take a while folks.  Put your thinking caps on and join the discussion!