100 Counties Prepared Training – Wake County

Thursday, April 9, 2026 • Wake County  

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, in partnership with North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM), has refreshed its 100 Counties Prepared training series and invites you to register for one of three identical in-person regional training sessions taking place this spring in the Piedmont, eastern, and western regions of the state.

While the course is designed primarily for county commissioners, counties are encouraged to register other key staff — such as emergency managers, county managers, public information officers, attorneys, or others involved in disaster response and recovery. Registration is limited to county officials and staff.

This spring’s in-person sessions will focus on Crisis Communications, including countering misinformation and navigating real-world disaster scenarios, and will also include a high-level Emergency Management 101 overview tailored for county leadership.

Featured Speakers:

• William Ray, Director of North Carolina Emergency Management, who leads statewide preparedness efforts and coordinates resources to support local response and recovery for all hazards. Director Ray also serves as North Carolina’s Deputy Homeland Security Advisor, collaborating closely with federal, state, and local public safety and intelligence partners.
• Mark Weaver, a nationally recognized crisis communications attorney and consultant with more than three decades of experience advising public- and private-sector leaders on crisis response, misinformation, and high-profile communications challenges.
• Norma Houston, Disaster Recovery Advisor, NCACC a highly respected leader in public law and emergency management with more than 30 years of public service. Houston is widely regarded as a trusted resource for local officials on emergency management authorities, FEMA compliance, and public procurement, and previously served as a lecturer at the UNC School of Government and adjunct professor at the UNC School of Law.

The other trainings will be on April 30 in Craven County (New Bern Convention Center) and May 14 in Buncombe County (Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College).

Schedule

• 8:30 a.m. — Registration Opens
• 9:00 a.m. — Welcome
• 9:15 a.m. — Emergency Management 101
• 10:00 a.m. — Break
• 10:15 a.m. — Crisis Communications – Part 1 
• 12:00 p.m. — Lunch
• 12:30 p.m. — Crisis Communications – Part 2, Scenarios in the Wake of Disaster 
• 2:00 p.m. — Break
• 2:15 p.m. — Federal, State, and Local Collaboration
• 3:25 p.m. — Closing Comments
• 3:30 p.m. — Wrap Up and Adjourn 

Click here to view the full agenda. 

Registration

Registration for this event is $25. Registration closed on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

On-site registration will be available. Please note that a credit card will be required for all on-site, day-of registrations. IMPORTANT: Due to additional security at the State Emergency Operations Center, if you plan on registering on-site, please arrive early to allow time to get through security. A government-issued photo ID will be required to enter the facility, and vehicles may be subject to search.

All attendees and participants in NCACC meetings and events are required to abide by NCACC’s Event Code of Conduct and acknowledge that NCACC may take photos/audio/video during the event which may be used in NCACC news and promotional materials, in print, electronic and other media.

Note: If you have any questions about this event registration, please email [email protected].