Disaster Discussions Podcast

In this episode of Disaster Discussions host Rachael Penton Gauthier is joined by Dr. Murray Morrison, IBHS Managing Director of Research and Steve Hawks, Senior Director for Wildfire for Part 2 of a discussion about the LA County wildfires. This episode details how the Palisades Fire started and the unique factors that allowed this wildfire to morph into a devastating urban conflagration. Plus, a...

In the first episode of 2025, we take a look back at some of the memorable moments from Disaster Discussion in 2024. This episode recaps season 3, and highlights favorite clips from some of our special guests that joined us on the podcast.

In this episode of Disaster Discussions we sit down with WCNC Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich and IBHS Lead Research Meteorologist Dr. Ian Giammanco to discuss the communication challenges of messaging for historic weather events such as Hurricane Helene. Topics discussed include: messaging seasonal tropical forecasts, communicating differences in storm intensity both before and during landfall,...

In this episode of Disaster Discussions we highlight the partnership between IBHS, Triple-I, and the U.S. Small Business Administration with an encore presentation of the LinkedIn audio event: Weathering the Storms: Strategies for Small Business Resilience. Then, we talk with Chuck Miccolis, IBHS Managing Director of Commercial Lines, to hear more about common vulnerabilities of commercial buildin...

In this episode host Rachael Penton Gauthier sits down with IBHS General Counsel Michael Newman and Public Policy Associate Manuela Ekowo, who together make up the IBHS public policy team. Learn how they're working to advance science-based public action to build resiliency for homeowners, businesses, and communities. Topics of discussion include building codes, wildfire policy, science-backed cons...

In this episode of Disaster Discussions, host Rachael Penton Gauthier sits down with the IBHS wildfire research team to discuss insights from research projects past and present. The researchers examine some of the reasons behind the growing issue of conflagration in the Wildland Urban Interface. They also define the three the types of fire ignition mechanisms, and discuss the research that has inf...

In this episode of Disaster Discussions we dive into the science behind the FORTIFIED standard, the series of construction and roofing upgrades that work together to create a system proven to strengthen homes against severe weather. Guest Fred Malik, Managing Director of the FORTIFIED program, gives us an in-depth explanation of the construction components that make up the standard, explains how h...

In this episode of Disaster Discussions we sit down with IBHS research scientists Dr. Ian Giammanco, Brenna Meisenzahl, and Jake Sorber to recap this year's hail field study. We discuss this year's active weather pattern that led to a record number of operating days and the characteristics of some of the storms teams were able to survey. We also discuss the nomadic elements of the trip and the log...

In this episode of Disaster Discussions we sit down with Bill Read, former director of the National Hurricane Center, to talk all things tropics as the Atlantic hurricane season kicks off in the month of June. Read reflects on accomplishments during his time as director, discusses some of the challenges he faced, and highlights the successes. We also discuss the active hurricane season forecast, c...

Now in its fifth edition, IBHS’s  Rating the States   report evaluates the 18 states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts based on residential building code adoption, enforcement, training, education and contractor licensing. In this episode of Disaster Discussions, we’re joined by Dr. Ian Giammanco, IBHS Managing Director of Standards and Data Analytics and Dr. Milad Shabanian, IBHS Codes and Stand...

In this episode of Disaster Discussions our guest host Dr. Ian Giammanco sits down with Dr. David Roueche from Auburn University to discuss where we are in our effort to reduce the damage caused by extreme winds. The two discuss the success story of the modern building codes used along the hurricane-prone coast but also the lack of progress in areas which primarily deal with the impacts of severe...

On this episode, meteorologists and wind engineers head to Bamberg, South Carolina to survey tornado damage after a January severe weather event. Join the discussion to explore an example of the operational application of wind engineering during a tornado survey from John Quagliariello and Matt Gropp with the Columbia, SC National Weather Service office. IBHS’s Ali Merhi joins the conversation as...

As we celebrate just over one year of our Disaster Discussions Podcast, our staff chose their Top 5 favorite episodes of our podcast so far. These conversations stood out to us as informative and engaging, and we invite you to go listen to each episode in its entirety! Thank you to all of our listeners for making this year plus of our podcast a success. We're looking forward to bring you more insi...

Wind-driven rain is not only a nuisance, but a damage amplifier, generating costly water intrusion claims each year. On August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia slammed into the Florida panhandle as a Category 3, and IBHS's Research Scientist, Ali Merhi, joined the University of Florida deployment team to deploy IBHS's wind-driven rain observing tower. This presented an opportunity to learn how rain drop...

We speak with Yana Valancovich from the University of California about her work in educating communities across California and the Western U.S. about the risks of wildfire. Different landscapes have different fuels that can make a community vulnerable to wildfire, so understanding your community and personal risk are key in preparing your home properly. Her on-the-ground perspective from studying...

Our second edition of the 'On the Radar' podcast series focuses on the early insights IBHS and the fire communities have gained on the devastating Lahaina wildfires. Our experts break down how a grassland fire evolved into suburban conflagration that destroyed nearly 2,700 structures and how the building components and vegetative landscape likely contributed to the rapid progression of this fire t...

With the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season well underway, Dr. Phil Klotzbach, Senior Research Scientist with the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University, joins us to explain the importance of seasonal hurricane forecasting. We begin with a history lesson, including the contributions and legacy of legendary CSU professor William Gray. Additional topics we discuss include: the pr...

This episode explores the cost-effectiveness of resilience with professor, author, and economist Dr. Kevin Simmons. Using data from decades of research, he explains how catastrophic weather events like Hurricane Andrew and the Moore, OK tornado can bring about public policy changes. He also shares details on how mitigation reduces damage, and he shows us the ways in which resilient construction ha...

It’s been an extraordinarily turbulent first half of 2023. A steady string of storms has caused death, destruction, and displacement. In a new segment, “On the Radar,” IBHS experts give their take on recent severe weather and its impact on the built environment. In this episode, IBHS Lead Research Meteorologist Dr. Ian Giammanco and Senior Meteorologist Sarah Dillingham join us with their observat...

IBHS’ FORTIFIED Program is celebrating 50,000 designations. No state has been more committed to resilient construction than Alabama. Close to 80 percent of all FORTIFIED designations are located there. To mark the 50,000 milestone, this month’s episode of the Disaster Discussions Podcast features Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) Commissioner Mark Fowler. Commissioner Fowler joins us to add...

For more than three decades, Steve Hawks has been instrumental in helping communities adapt to the threat of wildfire. He recently joined IBHS as Director of Wildfire Policy, advancing our work to give homeowners the tools to meaningfully reduce their wildfire risk. In the April episode of the Disaster Discussions Podcast, Steve opens up on why the 2018 Camp Fire was so personal to him. Drawing fr...

A core mission of IBHS is delivering top-tier science with the goal of strengthening homes. But there’s a key and perhaps overlooked piece to that mission that should be explored. That is the role of those who help us buy and sell homes: real estate agents. The March episode of the Disaster Discussions Podcast focuses on how realtors can help educate homeowners toward building resilience. We sit d...

For generations, disasters have often been described as unpredictable, unexpected, and unavoidable. But are these terms accurate? How should these events be characterized? And what's really causing them? In the February episode of the Disaster Discussions Podcast, author, researcher, scientist, and professor Dr. Ilan Kelman of University College London joins us to dispel, describe, and discuss.

In the January episode of the Disaster Discussions Podcast, we explore the winter season and its effects on the built environment. Anna Midgley and Brian Schwab of Western National Insurance join us to discuss the significant damage winter weather can bring. Plus, we share details on what insurance professionals are learning relative to winter weather and offer guidance on what home and business o...

We wrap up the 2022 hurricane season with Dr. Rick Knabb, Hurricane Expert at The Weather Channel. We revisit how Hurricane Ian flipped the previously quiet season on its head and investigate the challenges that storm brought. Plus, we discuss how emergency managers relay critical information to the public in advance of major weather events, as well as ways to empower individuals to act before the...