Part of Its 40th Year of Innovation and Impact
August 29, 2025, Raleigh, NC– IEM, the nation’s largest professional services firm dedicated to disaster management, released a new video spotlighting the groundbreaking Hurricane Pam exercise—a pivotal moment in disaster preparedness that helped guide the response to Hurricane Katrina and influenced functional planning and exercises.
The release of the Hurricane Pam video marks the first of IEM’s 20th Anniversary of Katrina Video Campaign, part of the company’s broader commemoration of its 40 years of innovation, outcomes, and problem-solving. Over the coming weeks, IEM will release additional videos and stories reflecting on its enduring role in building resilience for communities across the nation.
In 2004, IEM designed and executed the Hurricane Pam exercise, which simulated a catastrophic storm striking the Gulf Coast. The lessons learned from Pam directly informed evacuation orders during Katrina—orders that were heeded by many, saving lives even amid historic devastation. The exercise underscored a vital truth that continues to guide IEM’s work today: preparedness saves lives.
“Pam was not just a scenario—it was foresight in action,” said Madhu Beriwal, Founder and Chairwoman. “The plans it inspired drove early evacuation and demonstrated the life-saving value of preparation. It proved that when you plan for the unimaginable, you can respond with purpose.”
Following the Hurricane Pam release, IEM will debut a second video highlighting Katrina recovery. The feature will showcase the leadership of IEM experts like Jon Mabry, the former head of Mississippi’s recovery, who pioneered the nation’s first large-scale Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) programs. Mabry’s work in Mississippi created the framework that still guides housing and infrastructure recovery nationwide.
“For four decades, IEM has been solving problems others thought impossible,” said Mabry. “From the planning that saved lives before Katrina struck to the recovery systems that rebuilt communities, our mission has always been clear: deliver innovation with impact and keep survivors at the center of every solution.”
As IEM reflects on 40 years of service, the 20th Anniversary of Katrina Video Campaign demonstrates our legacy of innovation, outcomes, and resilience as well as our ongoing commitment to helping governments and communities prepare for the next disaster and recover stronger than before.