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Twisters So S

Jun 3

2026

Georgia Southern Museum Statesboro, GA

with

Dr. Lissa Leege

Professor of Biology, Georgia Southern University

and

Len Fatica

Vice-Chair of Bulloch County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters

and

Lieutenant Erick Riner

Director of Emergency Management, Georgia Southern Police Department

Twisters— In Case of Emergency: How Science Informs Natural Disaster Prep

While southeast Georgia might not be known for its tornadoes, it's no stranger to natural disasters like hurricanes. Dr. Lissa Leege will share how climate change is impacting extreme weather events and how science can be used to help plan. Len Fatica and Lieutenant Erick Riner will share how data informs natural disaster preparedness and responses and the kinds of resources available right in the Bulloch County communities.

Georgia Southern Museum Statesboro, GA

Film Synopsis

A retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist is persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new technologies.

    Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) gets lured back to the open plains by her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.

    Photo credit: Universal Pictures

    About the Speaker

    Lissa M. Leege is a professor of biology at Georgia Southern University, where she specializes in sustainability, plant ecology and ecosystem restoration. She conducts sand dune restoration research at Tybee Island and is actively restoring a wetland in Statesboro, GA with her students. Leege teaches courses in Environmental Biology, Botany, and Global Sustainability and has taught summer study-abroad in Italy and Ireland. She is currently collaborating with the Georgia Southern Museum on an exhibit exploring climate change in the southeastern US and Ireland.

    Len Fatica, Vice-Chair of Bulloch County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, served as Chairman of the Greater Erie County American Red Cross and as Western Pennsylvania Disaster Chair. I have been deployed on hurricanes and other natural Disasters for the American Red Cross throughout the country. BILLOCH VOAD (Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster). Bulloch VOAD is part of both the GAVOAD organization and National VOAD. We work closely with Bulloch County Emergency Manager Director (EMA) Main focus is to bring together other community organizations and churches in time of Disaster. We also train volunteers to work in shelters, feeding locations and wherever are needed at the direction of the county EMA Director. We also work with FEMA and the American Red Cross to assist people who are affected by large disasters and even fires. . We also give training to individual and community organizations in disaster preparation.

    Erick Riner is a career criminal justice and public safety professional with 30 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Georgia. His experience spans law enforcement, investigations, emergency management, and public safety administration, with a strong commitment to leadership, education, and the development of future criminal justice professionals. Since 2020, Mr. Riner has served as the Director of Emergency Management for Georgia Southern University’s Department of Public Safety, overseeing emergency operations, strategic planning, and preparedness initiatives across the university’s multi-campus system. Before this role, he served as Chief Investigator for the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, leading major case investigations involving homicide, narcotics, and crimes against children. Before joining the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Riner spent eight years as an investigator with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office. He holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Georgia Southern University, a master’s in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Justice Studies from Georgia Southern University. Mr. Riner is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice at the University of North Georgia.