In an effort to help first responders be better prepared for storms, the Connecticut Council of Small Towns held a statewide conference today.

An emergency management workshop was put in place to provide officials with the tools they need to respond to and recover from storms, disasters and other emergencies.

There are five designated emergency management regions in the state that deal with severe weather and a crisis situation. Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi is the chairman of Region 5. He spoke about what the conference was aimed at accomplishing.

"Another sense of collaboration," says Marconi. "Most importantly that we have a system that allows us to ask for help and we should do that."  

Some topics covered at the training today included the importance of state and local coordination, school security standards, planning, and training, post-disaster requirements and expectations. Other topics focused on tracking and documenting response costs, and enhancing public safety communications.