Disaster preparedness professionals, first responders, and resilience leaders will gather on Thursday, March 5th, at Disaster Expo USA 2026 in Miami, FL—one of the nation’s leading events focused on disaster management, emergency response, and recovery solutions.
The event provides a space where public safety professionals, technology innovators, recovery specialists, and organizations can collaborate on real-world solutions that help save lives and strengthen long-term resilience.
Brendan’s story: turning personal loss into purpose and advocacy
Among the featured speakers is Brendan McDonough, sharing lessons learned from personal adversity and the long path toward healing and purpose.
As the sole survivor of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a 20-member wildfire crew that lost their lives during the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona, McDonough’s story has become a powerful example of resilience, accountability, and growth in the face of unimaginable loss.
Brendan will share insights on overcoming adversity, leadership under pressure, and the human side of disaster response. His perspective continues to resonate with professionals seeking to better understand how resilience is built within systems and people.
The hidden impact of crisis work: mental health and addiction among first responders
Behind every disaster response are professionals who carry the emotional and psychological weight long after the immediate crisis ends. Research shows that first responders such as firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, and disaster recovery teams face higher rates of mental health challenges and substance use disorders compared with the general population.
Alcohol misuse, prescription medication misuse, and other coping-related behaviors can emerge as individuals attempt to manage stress, hypervigilance, or emotional exhaustion. In many cases, these struggles develop quietly, as stigma within high-performance professions can make it difficult to ask for help.
Organizations such as AnchorPoint Recovery aim to help shift that conversation by emphasizing education, leadership development, and strategies that strengthen individuals and teams before, during, and after high-stress events.
AnchorPoint Recovery’s mission: building stronger leaders and communities
AnchorPoint Recovery is dedicated to helping organizations and individuals strengthen leadership capacity, resilience, and long-term growth in the face of adversity.
The residential treatment center’s presence at Disaster Expo USA reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing conversations around leadership and recovery. By connecting lived experience with actionable insight, the organization works to empower professionals to lead with clarity, adaptability, and purpose.
Attendees can visit Booth DE265 to meet the team, learn more about their initiatives, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Disaster expo USA 2026: event details & registration
Disaster Expo USA 2026 offers attendees the opportunity to engage with expert speakers, explore emerging solutions, and build connections that strengthen preparedness efforts nationwide.
Those interested in attending Brendan McDonough’s speaking session or visiting AnchorPoint Recovery at the event can learn more and register using the links below:
- Brendan McDonough Speaker Profile: https://disasterexpomiami.com/speakers/brendan-mcdonough
- Event Registration: https://disasterexpomiami.com/register-tickets
- AnchorPoint Recovery Exhibitor Profile: https://disasterexpomiami.com/exhibitors/anchorpoint
