All Hazards Hour

This segment takes a closer look at the state of emergency management capacity across the country, highlighting ongoing staffing shortages, recent disaster funding announcements, and the growing challenge of managing multiple hazards at once. Using California as a key example, the discussion explores how emergency managers are being asked to do more with limited resources while responding to incre...

Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more destructive, and more complex, forcing communities to rethink how they prepare for and reduce risk before disaster strikes. In this episode, we sit down with Krystian Cole to explore the critical role of mitigation, planning, and community engagement in building resilience against wildfire threats and other emerging hazards. The conversation dives into th...

The new All Hazards Hour cohost Dan Nelson highlights the importance of preparedness and response in the face of natural disasters. Dan introduces the new addition episode of the All Hazards Hour, where he discusses significant emergency management news. This weeks focus is on Hurricane Isaias, federal disaster declarations, the Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill, and insights on emergency preparedne...

In this episode of The All Hazards Hour , host Morgan Greenwood sits down with Will Baumann, a public safety GIS specialist, to explore how GIS helps emergency managers make informed decisions before, during, and after disasters. How GIS has become an essential tool in modern emergency management, supporting everything from disaster preparedness and mitigation to response and recovery operations....

When disasters strike, effective coordination can mean the difference between chaos and an organized, life-saving response. In this episode of Technical Tidbit , we take an in-depth look at Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), one of the most important frameworks used in emergency management across the United States. From hurricanes and wildfires to major public health emergencies and complex, mult...

Summary Emergency management does not happen in a vacuum. Across preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, elected officials play an important role in setting priorities, establishing policy, approving budgets and supporting the resources communities need to prepare for and respond to disasters. In this episode of the All Hazards Hour, we talk with Alaska Representative Bill Elam about the...

Overview: This episode begins with a solemn reflection on September 11, 2001, honoring the lives lost and the first responders and emergency personnel who answered the call that day. Next, we examine a timely Congressional Research Service report, “Understanding State Capacity for Emergency Management,” and its implications for the future of emergency management in the United States. As Congress a...

Overview: In this episode of  All Hazards Hour , we sit down with Troy Wymer, Deputy State Fire Marshal for Indiana and a veteran of fire service, emergency management, and major-event planning. Troy shares lessons from planning for events ranging from the Indianapolis 500, NBA All-Star Weekend, and Taylor Swift concerts to his work on the safety and security planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olym...

Overview: This episode explores Community Lifelines and their role in emergency management. Lifelines identify the essential services that enable a community to survive, function, and recover following a disaster. We discuss how lifelines are interconnected, how disruptions can affect multiple services, and how emergency managers can use lifeline information to establish priorities and communicate...

Overview Tom Neal, a member of Indiana Task Force One, joins All Hazards Hour to share his path into emergency management and his experience deploying to Mayfield, KY after the December 2021 tornado outbreak. Indiana Task Force One is a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team. He walks us through the challenges of coordinating a large-scale search and rescue operation, the importance of clear communicat...

Overview: This episode discusses the evolution of emergency management education, from its origins in the Cold War through the establishment of the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) to the recent development of the National Disaster and Emergency Management University (N.D.E.M.U.), which reflects a shift from technical training to a structured professional continuum. This shift aims to dev...

Overview: This episode celebrates National Emergency Management Awareness Month by reflecting on various catastrophic events, including the 1953 North Sea Flood, the Johnstown Flood, the Odisha Super Cyclone, the Halifax Explosion, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Each disaster highlights how the the lessons learned have helped modern emergency management become what it is today. Takeaways: Less...

Overview: The conversation explores the concepts of prevention and protection in emergency management, distinguishing them from traditional phases and highlighting their importance in modern preparedness. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these mission areas and their role in creating a layered approach to resilience and safety. Takeaways: Prevention and protection complement the traditional...

Overview: The conversation explores the process, benefits, and impact of earning the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation. It delves into the requirements, professional contributions, and the impact of the certification on career advancement and professional credibility. The conversation covers the importance of CEM certification, the value of mentorship, the evolution of emergency manage...

Summary: In the last episode of the Phases of Emergency Management series, we delve into the often overlooked phase of emergency management: recovery. We explore the complexities of recovery, the FEMA National Disaster Recovery Framework, recovery support functions, individual assistance, public assistance program, challenges in recovery, building resilience, and transformational recovery. The dis...

Overview: The conversation delves into the unique challenges of healthcare emergency management, emphasizing the critical role of hospitals in emergency response. It explores the structure, evolution, and implementation of incident command systems in healthcare, as well as the rewards and challenges of working in hospital emergency management. The regulatory requirements, hazard vulnerability anal...

Summary This episode delves into the response phase of emergency management, highlighting its critical components, challenges, and lessons from real-life disasters. It emphasizes the impact of preparedness and mitigation on the effectiveness of the response phase, and concludes with a call to action for readiness and response. Takeaways Response phase is the immediate life-saving phase Preparednes...

Overview The conversation delves into the evolution of outdoor warning sirens, their diverse use, challenges, and misconceptions. It explores the origin of sirens and their role in civil defense, the transition to disaster warning systems, modernization of siren systems, challenges and misconceptions, relevance and integration of siren systems, public education, and future developments. Takeaways...

The episode delves into the various components of emergency preparedness, including the definition of preparedness, capability building, the role of planning, public education, training and exercise, community-level preparedness, national preparedness goal, lessons from Hurricane Harvey, and the distinction between mitigation and preparedness. It emphasizes the continuous cycle of planning, testin...

The conversation with Dave Snider, Tsunami Warning Coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center covers his journey from TV weather broadcasting to his current role, the challenges of tsunami warnings, and the function of the Tsunami Warning Center. It also delves into the impact of tsunamis in the upper Cook Inlet and the role of technology in tsunami warning systems. The conversation cove...

Overview: The episode focuses on the mitigation phase of emergency management, the importance of mitigation, types of mitigation actions, and examples of mitigation success and failure. It emphasizes the continuous nature of mitigation and the challenges it presents. Takeaways: Mitigation is a critical phase in emergency management Mitigation success and failure have significant impacts on disaste...

The conversation delves into the essence of emergency management, emphasizing the importance of leadership, relationship building, and emotional intelligence. It also explores the shift from reactive to proactive emergency management and the significance of community engagement and cultural relevance in preparedness. The conversation delves into the sustainability of emergency management practices...

The conversation provides an overview of the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Each phase is interconnected and plays a crucial role in effective disaster management. The discussion highlights the significance of understanding and implementing all phases for comprehensive emergency management. Takeaways Emergency management consists of four main...

The conversation delves into a comprehensive review of the FEMA report, highlighting key recommendations and their potential impact on emergency management. It emphasizes a shift towards local, state, and tribal management, reduced administrative costs, and a transformed FEMA agency. Takeaways Local, state, and tribal management emphasized Reduced administrative costs and a transformed FEMA agency...

The FEMA review council report highlights 10 key recommendations, emphasizing the role of states, local governments, tribes, and territories in disaster response. The report calls for the federal government to play a supporting role, with a focus on equipping and empowering local entities. The council members represent a mix of federal, state, and local officials, reflecting a comprehensive approa...