The National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Conference is the premier annual gathering of rescue professionals worldwide, dedicated to advancing disaster search and rescue programs. Hosted by the State Urban Search and Rescue (SUSAR) Alliance, this year’s conference will take place from November 10-12, 2025, in Orlando, Florida, with pre-conference courses offered from November 6-9, 2025.
About the Conference
Each year, the US&R Conference provides a platform for technical learning, collaboration, and innovation in the field of emergency response. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in classroom sessions, hands-on training, and networking opportunities to gain practical insights into US&R best practices.
Through timely discussions and cross-functional collaboration, the event supports the SUSAR Alliance’s mission to strengthen search and rescue capabilities across the nation and around the world. These efforts help ensure teams are better prepared to respond to disasters when communities need them most.
Connect With Hagerty
Hagerty is honored to attend and contribute to this year’s conference. On November 10, Regional Client Services Director Cris McCombs will present on the benefits of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Later that day, at 3:30 pm Eastern Time (ET), Giselle Lee, Regional Client Services Director, and Dan Faivre, Preparedness Associate, will join Cris to lead two workshops on “How to Create Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Become Ready to Deploy Under EMAC.”
If you are attending this year’s conference, we invite you to join our sessions and connect with the Hagerty team! To learn more about this event, visit the National US&R Conference website.
Cristine McCombs is a Regional Client Services Director at Hagerty Consulting and the former Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), where she was the first woman to lead the 100-person agency. She guided Massachusetts to full accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) and earned the highest grade from the United States (US) Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Review, while leading planning for major events like the Boston Marathon. With over 25 years of experience, Cristine now advises clients on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery to strengthen community and organizational resilience.
Gisele Lee is a Regional Client Services Director at Hagerty Consulting with over 15 years of experience managing teams. She brings rich experience in training and exercises, having conducted more than 60 exercises using the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Previously, she served as the lead planner for Amtrak’s incident response program, creating the structure and plans for their Family Assistance Program (FAP), incident response team, and call center. In her current role, Gisele manages the development of emergency response, training, continuity, and strategic plans for federal, state, and local governments as well as private sector clients.
Dan Faivre is a Preparedness Associate at Hagerty Consulting, where he supports a wide range of initiatives focused on assessments, planning, and training. Prior to joining Hagerty, Dan served as the Emergency Management Planner for the City of Chelsea, Massachusetts Housing Authority, where he developed emergency plans and strengthened coordination among citywide stakeholders. Additionally, Dan currently serves as a Disaster Response Instructor with Team Rubicon, a national nonprofit that mobilizes volunteers to assist communities before, during, and after disasters. In this role, he trains volunteers in disaster response and fosters partnerships with emergency management agencies.