Community leaders will gather for a Nov. 18 panel discussion on how prepared Iowa is for floods, heat waves and drought. The session will also focus on ways the state can address causes of more frequent natural disasters that threaten public health. The session is free and open to the public and runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at DART Central Station, 620 Cherry St. Panelists will include Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie; Dr. Yogesh Shah, associate dean of global health, Des Moines University; Chris Anderson, assistant director, ISU Climate Science Program; and farmer Ann Wolf. Register online.