Disaster Zone

Chris Stewart is the President and Co-founder of IntelliMass Technologies Inc ., a road- intelligence company based in British Columbia. A strategic and ethically-centered business leader, Chris has spent his career guiding cross-functional teams, developing commercialization pathways, and transforming innovative technical concepts into market-ready products. Driven by the reality that unpaved ter...

Trust is a basic ingredient in every relationship. This applies to individuals, marriages, business partners, nations and the relationship of governments to individuals. Trust is the topic we are going to explore today and how it applies to emergency management and disasters. Kehinde Bolu Adesina, also known as Kenny, is a PhD researcher in Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylor...

Flooding continues to be the number on hazard when it comes to disasters. Knowing what area is subject to flooding before a flood, the extent of what that flood impact might be, and then knowing the status of an ongoing flood is critically important. This is the subject of this podcast.   David Tobias the podcast guest serves as the Chief Product Officer at Nearmap Previously, he co-founded Better...

With every disaster there are legal considerations that come to the fore. In this podcast we explore the experience of one litigator advising FEMA Incident Management Teams (IMAT) and also dealing with damages and reimbursement processes for individuals who own property.   For two decades, LLRA, LLC owner Linda Litke served the United States, first in the U.S. Navy and then as a senior attorney wi...

Wildfires have become one of the more common natural hazard disasters that can impact people where they live and work. In this podcast we learn about general Firewise solutions to protect homes and then a line of cost effective products that can help keep fire from entering your home. Nicholai Allen is the founder of SAFE SOSS and an active wildland firefighter (FFT1, FFT2, Engine Boss Trainee) in...

If you are a nonprofit organization, it means that your goal is to not make money, but provide some form of service or product. The challenge is always how to do that without a steam of money to fund your activities. That is the subject of this podcast. There are tips here for very small organizations and other ideas that will work for very large nonprofit organizations.   James Misner is the Foun...

There are different types of leadership styles. One common on that still persists is using fear as a motivator for people and organizations. We will be exploring the impacts of using fear in the workplace.   The podcast guest Dr. Laurie Cure , Ph. D., is a leading voice in executive coaching, serves as the CEO of Innovative Connections. With a focus on consulting in strategic planning, organizatio...

Every state has an emergency management program. It is a reflection of the hazards a state might experience and the allocation of resources by government to those risks. In this podcast we learn more about the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The podcast guest is Annie Mack Vest, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. She has 16 years of experience in di...

This podcast focuses primarily on aspects of disasters that impact operations here in the United States. In this particular podcast we will cast a bigger view at the international operations of one particular NGO providing disaster services around the world—that being Project Hope . The podcast guest is Arlan Fuller who is currently Project HOPE’s director of emergency preparedness and response. H...

If you are a leader, manager, or supervisor, it is likely that you are required and responsible for the completion of performance appraisals for your direct reports. I (Eric) must admit that completing appraisals, be they in the US Army or in civilian life, was not my favorite task to accomplish. The podcast gets into some tips, techniques and even some “wording” that you might consider using as y...

The use of drones for public safety is expanding widely. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Drones can be used for many nefarious purposes. In Ukraine they are being weaponized for war. Drug smugglers are also using them. Other criminal activities can be promoted and supported with the use of drones. Today we need systems that can be used by the “Good Guys” to counter the “Bad Guys.” This p...

Healthcare is an industry that provides critical services to our communities. It is vital that they are prepared to do that under less-than-ideal conditions—such as when a disaster strikes. In this podcast we explore what they can do to become better prepared for any situation, large or small. Martin Green is an internationally recognized, award-winning Security Management Professional with more t...

There has been a tremendous amount of change brought initiated by the Trump Administration throughout the federal government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is one small part of the changes that have been made and are still underway. The significant nature of the changes are hard to comprehend. This podcast will look at some of the changes that have been made so far and then a cont...

The National Guard can be found in every state. They play a unique role in being both a federal and state government asset. In this podcast you will learn about the role of the National Guard in our national defense and also when disasters strike. Our guest represents not only the Washington National Guard, but also emergency management for the State of Washington. Therefore, we’ll also examine th...

Flooding is the most common hazard we have in the United States. There are many different types of flooding that can occur. Today we’ll be talking with a local flood plain manager about how he and his jurisdiction approaches flood risks.   Helmut Schmidt – Pierce County Planning and Public Works. Floodplain Administrator & Floodplain Services Supervisor. He has 38 years working in floodplain m...

2025 has been a year of turmoil when it comes to emergency management. In this podcast we will be discussing how the future of emergency management will be shaped from one of the leaders in the profession. Bryan Koon is the President and CEO of IEM International, Inc., a leading professional services firm focused on emergency management, disaster recovery, and resilience. At IEM, he integrates inn...

As we look to the future, we need to find new ways of providing financial relief when accidents and disasters damage or destroy private and public property. This podcast looks at the parametric insurance model. Might it be a more efficient and effective way forward to compensate loss?   Examples of Parametric Policies:   NYC MTA:  https://www.artemis.bm/news/new-york-mta-seeks-metrocat-re-parametr...

In this podcast we will examine different forms of governance for cities, evaluating the pros and cons of each. We’ll also delve into how civic leaders think about the first responder community, emergency management in general and technology. We will be hearing from someone with vast experience in government having held a wide variety of positions.   Harry Black the podcast guest is a seasoned exe...

The 2025 Eaton Fire alone destroyed more than 9,000 structures and claimed 19 lives in Los Angeles County. Investigations by federal agencies and independent experts traced the fire's origin to Southern California Edison (SCE) equipment failures.   Ari Friedman, a partner and trial attorney at Wisner Baum LLP is leading the charge to hold energy and insurance companies accountable and responsible...

Renny Vandewege GM of climate and weather at DTN , has two decades of meteorological experience, educating business leaders on weather-induced disasters. DTN has an Operational Decisioning Platform that turns complex data into decision-grade insights—empowering customers to expand their margins, accelerate growth, and outpace risk. With more than 1,200 employees globally, DTN serves the companies...

The Trump Administration has been making statements since January 2025 that they, meaning both the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security, want to shift disaster costs, beginning with disaster preparedness and then also disaster response and recovery more to states and local jurisdictions. PEW Charitable Trusts recently released a report, What Waning Federal Disaster Aid Would Mean for S...

It has been decades since the last significant earthquake in the United States. Yet, there are earthquake risks across the USA. In this podcast we learn about how homeowners and businesses can take proactive steps to improve the seismic survivability of their properties.   The podcast guest is Kyle Tourjé, a second-generation contractor specializing in structural retrofitting, repair, and geohazar...

Nonprofits play a critical role in responding to and recovering from disasters. Today we will hear from one of those and then we will also have a discussion about how government and nonprofits can achieve better outcomes by what they do before and how they interact during disasters.   Liz Baker, CEO of Greater Good Charities — a global organization that has spent the last twenty years providing di...

We are at a point in time where the media universe is in complete turmoil. Legacy media like radio and television is fading, while social media in all its forms is ascendant. News and commentary are being mixed together so people can’t discern which is which, while major media conglomerates are merging and reforming. The purpose of this podcast is to understand all the changes that are in process....

In recent years the U.S. has seen an increase in hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding – causing record levels of destruction and damage. Despite these concerning trends, traditional insurance can fall short, leaving Americans and our small businesses vulnerable. But it doesn’t need to be this way – there is a tool out there to empower our small businesses to self-insure, ensuring they are protected...