Prep Talk

¡Prepárate! A Conversation with NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez by NYC Emergency Management

Prep Talk - Episode 83: Coordination with Utility Partners by NYC Emergency Management

The latest episode of “Prep Talk” podcast highlights the strategic plan as well as one its key priorities: talent retention and recruitment, and the agency’s goal for its workforce to reflect the communities it serves. The new episode featuring NYC Emergency Management Monitoring and Evaluation Program Manager Jimmy Deats and Deputy Director of Talent & Culture Veronica Geager.

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season outlook forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, discusses the science behind the outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. He reveals what sparked his interest in meteorology and how he got started in field. Rosencrans also shares how NOAA fits into the disaster cycle and how they work with emergency ma...

Prep Talk - Episode 80: Emergency Planning by NYC Emergency Management

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Commissioner Zach Iscol discusses his experiences, expectations, and what he is looking forward to the most in his new role. Commissioner Iscol also chats about what sparked his interest in the emergency management field, what keeps him up at night, and his leadership approach.

As the emergency management field expands, so too does the need for diverse, knowledgeable professionals. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” two women leaders in emergency management from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Elyse Morris and Cory Pardo, discuss the role of women in public service, leadership, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. Each guest also shared h...

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Sonja Orgias, acting deputy chief counsel and co-chair of the equity and diversity council at NYC Emergency Management, discusses this employee-led initiative, the importance of diversity and inclusion in hiring practices and emergency operations, as well as mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. She also shares how a lack of diversity in th...

With an increase in extreme weather like heavy rain, heat waves, and man-made hazards such as oil spills happening across major U.S. cities, emergency managers understand the unique challenges dense urban areas face. To construct the best approach in emergency response, the Council for Excellence in Government founded the Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM) in 2005. The nonprofit organization serve...

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Acting Commissioner D’Amora discusses his experience in a career in public service, the challenges in responding to heat and snow emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of technology in emergency management response. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk75

One of the best ways to be prepared for an emergency is having a plan, but it is imperative to practice your plan to ensure you are prepared for anything that comes your way. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Paula Carlson, director of exercises at NYC Emergency Management, discusses the importance of exercising emergency plans and how she and her team conduct drills and exercises to evaluate...

Before an emergency strikes, it is important to that all organizations have a plan, including businesses. New York City has over 200,000 organizations representing four million people. Any major disaster will a have huge impact on the economy. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management’s Strategic Partnerships Specialist Erika Amaya discusses how organizations can be ready for...

As the nation continues to face a range of concurrent disasters, from severe weather to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to take the time to make and review our emergency plans. This includes preparing our pets and service animals for disasters. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management’s Andrew Perlman discusses ways we all can make sure our pets and servi...

Join us for a very special episode of "Prep Talk," featuring staff members recounting their experiences of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk71

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner Henry Jackson and Director of Government Relations Yokarina Duarte discuss their multiple deployments to Puerto Rico and reflect on some of the challenges still facing the island following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the 2020 earthquakes. The guests also talk about New York City’s unique partnership with San Juan, a...

To commemorate this year’s “Ready School of the Year,” NYC Emergency Management released a new episode of its emergency management podcast, “Prep Talk.” During the episode, NYC Emergency Management Assistant Commissioner Anita Sher and Sal Puglisi of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management discuss the importance of students developing emergency management skills earlier in their educati...

To mark the beginning of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the New York City Emergency Management Department today unveiled the City’s revised hurricane evacuation zones. New York City Emergency Management also relaunched the Know Your Zone hurricane awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to find out whether they live in one of the City’s six hurricane evacuation zones, and take steps to be...

The New York City Emergency Management Department welcomes back John Scrivani to his new role as commissioner for the agency. Commissioner Scrivani brings a wealth of knowledge to the department, which includes leadership roles with New York City government, the New York City Police Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation. A member of public safety community for more than two deca...

Ahead of her departure from NYC Emergency Management, NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell sat down with “Prep Talk” to discuss her tenure at the agency, including the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-evolving threat landscape that the country faces, the importance of equity across all emergency management operations, and the future of the emergency management fi...

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Laura Rog, NYC Service’s acting chief service officer, and Moriah Washington, New York City Emergency Management’s director of community engagement, share the impact that volunteers have on assisting agencies and organizations fulfill their mission during National Volunteer Month and throughout the year. Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk65

To close out Women’s History Month in March and looking ahead to National Volunteering Month in April, NYC Emergency Management’s latest “Prep Talk” podcast episode highlights the careers of three female emergency managers and Peace Corps alumnae who share how their experiences, including both successes and challenges, have shaped them into the professionals they are today. NYC Emergency Managemen...

Join us as we give a fond farewell to co-host Omar Bourne! Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk63

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions African Americans have made in U.S. history. In a year where COVID-19 has disproportionately ravaged minority communities, it has become transparent that inequities continue to plague neighborhoods where black and brown people reside. This harrowing reality has fast-tracked the need for the equitable distributi...

Donating blood can help save a life. That is the message New York Blood Center’s Andrea Cefarelli wants listeners to know on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” While January is recognized as National Blood Donor Month, Cefarelli encourages listeners to donate year-round. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a chronic deficit in blood donations needed for patients in the hospitals served by the New Yo...

As the world turns the page to a year filled with new beginnings, an age-old concept should continue to ruminate at the forefront of every emergency manager’s mind: the need for more diversity in the field. That is the message Curtis Brown, state coordinator for Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), shares on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” In a candid discussion, Brown undersco...