Presenters: Natalie Brodie, Rachel Droessler, and Patrick McGinnis
Join the SDCAS for a panel discussion of the challenges and unique experiences associated with protecting and managing cultural resources following natural disasters. Panel participants have completed archaeological studies following fires and hurricanes, and will discuss a variety of topics from agency resources, and working collaboratively with emergency responders.
Natalie Brodie is a Senior Cultural Resources Manager with LSA, and has been working as a professional archaeologist for the past 16 years. Ms. Brodie managed a team of archaeologists and biologists to respond to a series of wildfires in 2015-2016, in support of Southern California Edison. She is the current Second Vice President for the San Diego County Archaeological Society and is also a past-President of the Society. Ms. Brodie’s interests include historical archaeology, the history of water development, and GIS applications.
Rachel Droessler is an archaeologist and GIS specialist with ICF and has been working as a professional archaeologist for the past 8 years. Ms. Droessler served as a consultant program delivery manager for FEMA in Texas in support of the Hurricane Harvey disaster response. The program delivery manager position involves project management; primarily coordinating efforts between project applicants and internal FEMA teams, including the environmental group. Ms. Droessler served this role during the implementation of a new project delivery system from 2017-2018. She has also served as an archaeologist and GIS specialist for several local FEMA mitigation projects. She is the current Social Media board member for the San Diego County Archaeological Society and her interests include historical archaeology, San Diego history, Mesoamerican archaeology, and GIS applications.
Patrick McGinnis is a Senior Archaeologist with ICF and has been working as a professional archaeologist for 22 years. Mr. McGinnis was a former Secretary for the San Diego County Archaeologist Society. Mr. McGinnis served as a consultant environmental specialist for FEMA in New York in support of the Hurricane Sandy disaster response from 2012-2016. He also served a similar role for several FEMA mitigation projects including in American Samoa in support of the disaster response for the 2009 earthquake and tsunami. His interests include precontact archaeology, historical archaeology, and architectural history.