The Emergency Preparedness Council (EPC) held its 2008 Senior Leaders Seminar at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Board Room on October 21, 2008. The goal of the seminar was to ensure that all jurisdictions in the National Capital Region are prepared to effectively respond to and recover from a pandemic influenza.

The seminar provided key leaders in the National Capital Region the opportunity to discuss their roles and responsibilities during a pandemic influenza. The event also provided an opportunity for leaders to discuss the potential impacts of a pandemic on the private sector and to identify strategies for the public and private sectors to cope with a catastrophic public health emergency.

The EPC seminar, through facilitated discussion, focused on high-level decision-making and communications collaboration within a regional framework. The seminar also provided a forum for leaders to discuss communicating with the public based upon the pre-determined response actions of the individual jurisdictions in the region and the influence of the private sector.

The Emergency Preparedness Council's 2008 Senior Leaders Seminar was funded by a UASI grant from Department of Homeland Security to the National Capital Region and was approved by the National Capital Region Senior Policy Group, the Chief Administrative Officers, and the Exercise and Training Operations Panel.