Manager - Recovery and Resilience
DEMHS Hazard Mitigation Section
Middletown, CT
Zach Smith is the Head of Recovery & Resilience at the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEMHS), where he directs the state’s comprehensive disaster recovery operations and long-term hazard mitigation strategies.
Before joining DEMHS, Zach served as the Foresight & Innovation Lead at FEMA, where he built the agency’s strategic foresight program, developed governance structures, and wrote policy. With more than nine years of experience across federal and state government—including service with the U.S. Park Police—he specializes in bridging the gap between present-day crisis recovery and future-focused planning.
Zach holds a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Connecticut.
Understanding the future of flood risk requires looking beyond rising water marks and traditional hazard mapping. This presentation will explore how changing climate conditions, development patterns, infrastructure, and emerging risks may influence flooding and community resilience. The session will highlight the value of strategic foresight in helping emergency managers and community leaders anticipate future challenges, identify vulnerabilities, and develop more resilient approaches to flood preparedness, mitigation, and recovery.
Summit speakers will participate in a roundtable discussion addressing flooding disasters across the country from an emergency management perspective. Panelists will share experiences, lessons learned, challenges, and best practices related to flood preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The discussion will provide participants with practical insights into how communities and emergency management agencies can better prepare for and respond to significant flooding events.
