How to Disaster

SERIES: Role of the Public Sector     "Resiliency defines this idea of not just being able to get hit and get back up, but … how we rise up and build better systems out of what we're dealing with and how we make sure that we own our place in the future."  -James Gore   E pisode Description:    Disasters breed emergent leaders.  But what is the true essence of being a servant leader? Ho...

SERIES: Role of the Private Sector   "The determination of the neighborhood symbolize the character of the community that it got done." - Gerardo Castillo   E pisode Description:  When disaster strikes, people thirst for guidance. Where does recovery even begin? This week, Jennifer interviews Gerardo Castillo, the Chief of Staff of AshBritt on the role private contractors play in a disaste...

SERIES: Role of the Community   E pisode Description:  "You can't hurry a longer process that is thoughtful in strategy. It needs to be done the way that it's done." - Jenna Murray-Johnson   In times of disaster, the most effective leaders can emerge unexpectedly. How can someone build efficiency in a chaotic environment? In this episode, Jennifer interviews Jenna Murray Johnson, C...

"If there's no help coming, then you better act because what's lost is hope." -Mark Martin Bras   "That gives people hope to know that there's a plan, to know that there are other people they can count on during that time. And that leads to sustainability too." -Kelly Thompson   E pisode Description:  Hurricane Maria, 2017- named "the worst natural disaster" and...

  "I couldn't keep up with myself. It was like my best problem I've ever had!" -Peter Alan   Episode Description:  What if somebody called you and said the thing you most dreaded to hear: "Everything's gone." G rief, disbelief, fear, uncertainty, and a mix of emotions you cannot identify are even worse than the fire itself. Yet, despite all that's happening, we can...

"It's all about hope. And hope is what carried slaves through the worst discrimination… So hold on to hope because tomorrow shall come." -Lorez Bailey   E pisode Description:    What makes leadership harder than it already is? It's when you're caught between being a leader that everybody needs and someone that your self need. Today, Jennifer interviews Lorez Bailey, the Executi...

"Advocate for each other. Come up together and rebuild together." -Belia Ramos Communication is a crucial factor in a successful recovery and rebuild project. But with all the chaos, communication is also the first defense to fail. In this episode, Jennifer interviews Napa District Supervisor, Belia Ramos about effective communication strategies. They talk about the major elements of getti...

 "Don't isolate first responders by making them into heroes. The greatest thing that anyone can do is just say, 'thank you for your service.'" -Susan Farren   "We owe it to our first responders to do whatever we can to help make their jobs easier." -Bailey Farren E pisode Description:    First responders are no doubt, modern-day heroes. But could naming them as such do...

"As soon as we start to understand and see the benefits of private sector contribution, and then we set the roadmap, so we can understand how we can all play, great things will come from it." -Renae Hanvin Episode Description:  When businesses are resilient, communities can thrive! Join Jennifer and Corporate2Community Founder, Renae Hanvin as they discuss the crucial role of the private s...

" If we're all working together, we will quilt these wonderful disparate pieces into a beautiful quilt solution." -Debbie Mason    Are you a fire survivor? This week, Jennifer and Debbie Mason talk about what it means to be a fire survivor- the struggles within and how to keep thriving. The 2017 wildfire left physical and emotional scars. Some wounds may heal and the things lost can be...

"We need to start from a place of humility and understanding that with ever-changing situations, we're not always going to get it right, but we can always learn." -Belia Ramos   Episode Description:    Talk about equity and cultural differences. Communicating can be a real challenge when multiple languages are spoken in a community. To help individuals understand the message accurately...

"That whole idea of what being a citizen means is that we all have responsibilities to make our government work and to make our communities stronger." -Cynthia Murray Episode Description:    The private sector is no doubt one of the first to be greatly affected in the event of a disaster. While we are all looking to revive the economy, some changes must be implemented first. Our guest, Cyn...

"There's no one perfect solution to any of this. It's a collection of a lot of different tools that can help make us safer, more resilient, and hopefully avoid any catastrophes and loss of life." -Reva Feldman   Episode Description:  Modernization made communication easier and faster, at least when there is a supply of power. But what if you're community faces a train of disast...

 "Be very careful what you promise unless you know you can deliver something. There is enough heartbreak in a disaster that people don't need to hear that you're going to solve all their problems, and then you don't." - Charles Brooks   The last thing we want to do in a disaster is to create another disaster, that's why having an organization to help build a system is inval...

  "We cannot and should not let our community down and go through another wildfire and lose them their life. That should be our mission, that should be our goal."  -Brad Sherwood   What mission do you have as a wildfire survivor? Today, Jennifer sits with Brad Sherwood, the Co-Founder and VP of Larkfield Resilience Fund, to discuss how we can be advocates, both as a local citizen and at th...

  "Navigating a disaster is never about one person." -Pamela Van Halsema     A disaster leaves its victim with questions and a lot of questions. Where do we go from here? When can we go back? How can we recover after a disaster? Hear these critical questions answered in today's episode. Jennifer interviews Pamela Van Halsema, Board Member of Coffey Strong, in her role as the Block Capt...

"Be prepared so you can help, because everyone needs everybody in this situation." - Joshua Farrell   We've learned the basics of being prepared enough. Now the question is, "Are you prepared enough to help others?" Besides our basic needs, some additional necessities and actions are needed to survive a disaster. Find out what items to pack- from food to shelter and padlocks to...

"If you're prepared, you're not freaking out, you're taken care of, and you can help other people." -Joshua Farrell   In the event of a disaster, help may come later than expected. Therefore, the question that holds the utmost importance now is: Are you prepared enough? As individuals and citizens, we hold the responsibility to be prepared. In this episode, Jennifer interviews...

"How to Disaster: Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine" is a podcast that focuses on the stories of individuals that have encountered a disaster. Most notably the 2017 wildfire disaster in counties north of San Francisco. On the evening of October 8, 2017, eleven fires erupted across four counties: Lake, Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino. These fires were "mega fires" and over the next 23 days, t...