More than 3000 people are in Ft. Lauderdale this week for the 21st Annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference.

In addition to Emergency Managers and others from Florida, there are also attendees from Europe, South America and the Caribbean. Charlotte County’s Emergency Manager Wayne Sallade says that’s because Florida has learned its lessons well and become a leader in dealing with hurricanes and their aftermath.

“Hurricane Andrew was Florida’s Katrina. It was an absolute failure at all levels of government, failure to respond quickly, failure to respond efficiently and yet Florida has taken that to heart and has developed the finest disaster response system in the world and everybody acknowledges that.”

The conference kicked off with a speech from Governor Charlie Crist – and wraps up on Friday with a briefing by Hurricane Forecaster William Gray. What’s predicted to be an active season begins June 1st.