DHS&EM Get Ready Alaska Podcast

Get Ready Alaska - Hunter Preparedness with Lt. Ralf Lysdahl Get ready for the wild with Lt. Ralf Lysdahl of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, Lt. Lysdahl shares crucial advice for preparing to enter Alaska's backcountry. Every year, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts find themselves in distress in the Alaskan wilderness. Challenges like rough terrain, harsh weather,...

Get Ready Alaska - Ketchikan Landslides with Kacie Paxton and Rick Hines Landslides are a regular occurrence in Alaska, especially in the Southeast region. While many happen in remote areas with minimal impact, some have a significant effect on communities and individuals. In recent years, landslides have become the deadliest type of natural disaster event experienced in the state. Ketchikan, Alas...

Get Ready Alaska: UAA Emergency Management with John Huffman As a vital hub within Southcentral Alaska, the University of Alaska Anchorage plays a critical role in regional emergency response. This episode of "Get Ready Alaska" features UAA Director of Emergency Management, John Huffman, who will delve into the university's proactive approach to disaster preparedness. We'll explore how UAA safegua...

Get Ready Alaska – Emergency Management in Guam with Stephen Cahill The U.S. territory of Guam is often seen as a tropical paradise, with its warm climate, stunning landscapes, and welcoming community. However, the island is also vulnerable to powerful typhoons and potentially devastating tsunamis. In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, we’re joined by Stephen Cahill, Tsunami Program Manager at the...

Get Ready Alaska – Featuring Ben Hartlieb on Building Infrastructure Resilience In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, we welcome Ben Hartlieb, Co-Chair of the Alaska Partnership for Infrastructure Protection (APIP), to discuss how Alaska is proactively strengthening its infrastructure and businesses against future disasters. APIP is a collaborative public-private initiative that brings together gov...

Get Ready Alaska – Alaska Qualification System with DHS&EM’s Jonathan Nicoles The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) Training Section is launching a statewide Emergency Management Qualification System. This system is designed to help emergency managers identify and document the skills and experience needed to fulfill roles within the Incident Command System (IC...

Get Ready Alaska – Riverwatch with Jen Wallace (DHS&EM) and Kyle Van Peursem (APRFC) Each spring, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) partners with the Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center (APRFC) for the Riverwatch Program. This collaborative effort monitors Alaska’s rivers—particularly the Yukon, Kuskokwim, and other waterways prone to ice jams—during the...

Get Ready Alaska – Alaska Volcano Observatory with Kristi Wallace and David Schneider Alaska is home to numerous active volcanoes, making volcanic monitoring and research essential for public safety. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) plays a crucial role in tracking volcanic activity, studying both past and present eruptions, and issuing alerts when volcanic events pose risks to communities and...

Get Ready Alaska - Part 2: Emergency Management Assistance Compact with Andrew Jen Wallace and Dave Reilly When disaster strikes, affected states can call on neighboring states for help through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This mutual aid agreement enables all 50 U.S. states and territories to request and provide disaster-related support. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, sev...

Get Ready Alaska - Part 1: Emergency Management Assistance Compact with Andrew Sather & Jonathan Nichols When disaster strikes, affected states can call on neighboring states for help through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This mutual aid agreement enables all 50 U.S. states and territories to request and provide disaster-related support. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, s...

Get Ready Alaska - Izzy Brown and the Youth Preparedness Council The FEMA Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) empowers young people to take an active role in emergency preparedness. Izzy Brown, a member of the YPC from Denali, Alaska, joins Get Ready Alaska to share her experiences with the council. In this conversation, she discusses the importance of giving back to her community, the friendships sh...

Get Ready Alaska - Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility with Sandy Baker After a disaster, water is one of the most essential resources in demand. Sandy Baker from the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility joins Get Ready Alaska to discuss AWWU's infrastructure, the disruptions caused by the 2018 Cook Inlet Earthquake, boil water notices, and practical steps people can take to prepare for pot...

Get Ready Alaska - Mat-Su Borough Animal Care Facility The Mat-Su Borough Animal Care team joins Get Ready Alaska to discuss pet care during disasters and emergencies. We'll explore recent disaster events, the care of exotic pets, managing pet-related donations, and more. Learn more about Mat-Su Animal Care at matsugov.us/department/animal-care . Tune in to the Get Ready Alaska Podcast on popular...

Get Ready Alaska: Earning a Degree in Emergency Management with Dean Cam Carlson from the UAF School of Business and Security Management Emergency management is a dynamic field that attracts professionals from diverse backgrounds including law enforcement, firefighting, EMS, and charitable organizations. Those with specialized degrees in emergency management are increasingly leading innovations an...

The Alaska Emergency Management Association (AKEMA) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the communication, credentials, and advocacy of Alaska’s emergency management community. In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, Casey Cook and Bethany Buckingham Follett discuss the benefits of AKEMA membership, who is eligible to join, and the process of becoming a member. For more information abo...

Get Ready Alaska – 1964 Good Friday Earthquake with Sue McClure The 1964 Good Friday Earthquake ravaged the City of Seward, bringing with it devastating ground shaking, tsunamis, and fire. In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, Seward Mayor Sue McClure recounts her personal experience of living in Seward before, during, and after the quake. She describes the harrowing moments when Seward's massive f...

Get Ready Alaska - Dave Snider with the National Tsunami Warning Center  Join us on Get Ready Alaska as we delve into the critical topic of tsunami alert and warning systems with Dave Snider, Tsunami Warning Coordinator at the National Tsunami Warning Center. Understanding how tsunamis are generated, detected, and the mechanisms behind distributing alerts and warnings is paramount for saving lives...

Get Ready Alaska - Preparing for Wildfire Season with DFFP Lily Coyle and Bryan Crisp Tune in to Get Ready Alaska as we gear up for the wildfire season with Division of Forestry and Fire Protection’s experts Lily Coyle and Bryan Crisp. We delve into the essential aspects of Alaska's burn permit process, strategies for forest fire prevention, and practical steps homeowners can implement to safeguar...

Get Ready Alaska – FEMA Youth Preparedness Council with Lane Christenson The FEMA Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) program brings together youth leaders from all corners of the nation to learn about emergency preparedness and to help their communities. Lane Christenson joins Get Ready Alaska to talk about his time at the FEMA Youth Preparedness Camp, role on the FEMA Region 10 YPC, and the friends...

Get Ready Alaska - 1964 Earthquake and Tsunami Survivor Steve Eleshanski Jr. During the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake a tsunami devastated the small fishing community of Chenega located on the western edge of Prince William Sound. Steve Eleshanski Jr. joins the Get Ready Alaska podcast to recount his experience of the event and the difficult times that followed.  The book “The day that cries forever...

Get Ready Alaska - Elena Suleimani with the Alaska Earthquake Center Earthquakes are the primary cause of tsunamis. As Alaska is one of the most seismically active regions in the world we also have a high tsunami risk in many communities. Dr. Elena Suleimani with the Alaska Earthquake Center joins Get Ready Alaska to talk about how tsunamis are generated, how tsunami energy moves through the ocean...

Get Ready Alaska - DFFP Training with Carrie Hale and Nathan Zalewski During Alaska's summer months wildfires are a common occurrence. The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection are tasked with fighting these fires. In order to do so in a safe and effective way they must train large numbers of seasonal workers to work as a team. DFFP Carrie Hale and Nathan Zalewski join Get Ready Alaska to discu...

Get Ready Alaska - Division of Forestry and Fire Protection with Norm McDonald and Sarah Saarloos It not unusual for Alaska to experience a wildfire seasons where millions of acers are consumed by fire. State of Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection's Deputy Director Norm McDonald and Fire Staff Officer Sarah Saarloos joins Get Ready Alaska to discuss how wildland fire fighting efforts a...

DHS&EM Get Ready Alaska – 1964 Good Friday Earthquake Survivor Dr. James Taylor The 1964 Good Friday Earthquake had a profound effect on the people who survived the traumatic event. Dr. James Taylor, who was a boy in Palmer Alaska, joins Get Ready Alaska podcast to recount his experiences of the second largest earthquake ever recorded.   The Get Ready Alaska Podcast is available on Apple Podca...

DHS&EM Get Ready Alaska – Alaska Geology, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis with Dr. Barrett Sailsbury, DGGS Alaska is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Dr. Barrett Sailsbury joins Get Ready Alaska to talk about the State of Alaska’s Division of Geologic and Geophysical Survey (DGGS), studying earthquake, tsunamis, and emerging technologies used to monitor seismic activity. Visi...