Dismantling Disaster

Are we actually making progress in disaster readiness, or are we just reliving the exact same emergencies over and over again?  In this episode of Dismantling Disaster, we expose a shocking historical loop. While staying in a hotel room, a chance viewing of C-SPAN uncovered a 1962 Los Angeles Fire Department documentary titled "Design for Disaster," detailing the 1961 Bel Air fire. The f...

When a major disaster strikes your community, do you assume the local government has a flawless plan to manage the crisis?  In this episode of Dismantling Disaster, we pull back the curtain on the massive structural vulnerabilities built into public emergency management. From the frontlines of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (MC-252) oil spill response—where an unexpected influx of thousands of workers...

When a major catastrophe hits, is the hazard itself the real danger—or is it the traffic jam created by everyone fleeing at the exact same moment?  In this premier episode of Dismantling Disaster, we break down the brutal psychology and logistics of evacuation gridlock. From surviving the eerie, silent prelude to Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana to navigating the infamous 53-hour "Carmageddon&qu...

When disaster strikes, there is one question that must be answered before anything else can be done. If this question is not answered properly, NOTHING else you do will matter.  What is that question, and how do you answer it properly? Find out...