Following the devastation from Hurricane Sandy on the New York City region, the second costliest hurricane in United States history, Mayor Bloomberg convened the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) to "analyze the impacts of the storm on the city's buildings, infrastructure, and people; assess the risks the city faces from climate change in the medium term (2020s) and long term (2050s); and outline ambitious, comprehensive, but achievable strategies for increasing resiliency citywide."

In June, 2013, eight months after the storm, the Mayor's office released the updated version of PlaNYC: A Stronger, More Resilient New York. In the same month, Urban Green's Building Resiliency Task Force's Report "for making New York buildings and residents safer and better prepared for the next extreme weather event" was officially considered by the New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings.

The reports' proposals include suggestions on updating building codes, raising homes, minimizing wind damage, reassessing flood plains, controlling stormwater, planning reliable and flexible power systems, protecting and managing water resources, and improving emergency management procedures and systems. Further concerns such as food delivery systems, transportation services, healthcare accessibility, school closings / reopenings and government assistance access and availability also need to be addressed before the next major weather event.

Join our panel of experts to address the contents of these reports and access New York's progress in answering the critical questions: "Where were we?" "Where are we?" and "Where should we be?" before the next major storm.