The Emergency Management Network Podcast

If I wrote a piece about planning for a pandemic in April 2019 and warned you that communities needed to be ready for social distancing, supply chain issues, and a run on toilet paper, you would have thought I was crazy. After 9/11, critics stated that one of the problems emergency managers have is a failure of imagination. So, today, we need to discuss geopolitics.  As tensions continue to rise b...

2023 looks set to be another turbulent and unpredictable year, with various new stressors and challenges facing individuals, teams, and organizations. From economic uncertainty and political volatility to technological disruption and environmental crises, many factors could impact the well-being and performance of teams in the coming year. Investing in understanding your team's strengths and motiv...

Natural and technological hazards are a fact of life, and disasters can strike anytime. The frequency and severity of these events are on the rise, and they can cause significant loss of life, property damage, and economic disruption. In recent years, we have seen hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and other disasters affect communities around the world. While focusing on local loss reduc...

Stewardship is a concept that has been around for centuries, and it involves the responsible management and protection of resources. It can apply to many different areas of life, including financial resources, natural resources, and even personal relationships. At its core, stewardship is about caring for what we've been given to pass it on to future generations in better condition. Stewardship is...

Last week I was out of pocket with a few events, so if you missed the podcast, it was me, not you. I was at the IAEM Region 9 Symposium. The team that put on the event did an excellent job. And Yes, I am currently the President of the Region. However, the conference committee needs to have the credit for this event. It was fantastic to see some outstanding speakers, and I got to meet some great em...

Andrew Owlett is a highly experienced security professional who has developed expertise in managing both cyber and physical security risks at a global scale. They are responsible for building and leading top-performing security teams that can handle the evolving threats in today's digital landscape. In addition to His focus on security operations, Andrew also plays a critical role in driving digit...

Leading in the AI age requires a unique set of skills and strategies to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. With AI technologies becoming increasingly pervasive in every aspect of our lives, leaders must have a solid understanding of the capabilities and limitations of these systems, as well as the ethical considerations that come with their use. This is a public ep...

Train Derailment Palestine, Ohio Unless you live under a rock, you are aware of the devastating train derailment in Palestine, Ohio, leaving several injured and causing major damage to the surrounding area.  The incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of emergency management procedures, as many have pointed to miscommunication and a lack of response from authorities as contributing fa...

A catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey, followed by a significant aftershock, resulting in thousands of casualties and widespread destruction in Turkey and Syria. With communities grappling with the aftermath and relief organizations mobilizing their resources, the question remains: how can the global community extend a helping hand? Additionally, the impact of this dis...

This devastating earthquake has left Turkey and the surrounding region in need of the world's assistance. Join the discussion about the challenges faced by communities as they try to rebuild, and what the future holds for Turkey in the wake of such a catastrophic event. This podcast aims to bring attention to the ongoing struggles of those affected by the earthquake and shed light on the long road...

The other day I was talking to a group of young emergency management students. One of them asked me how I have coped with the tradies I have seen over the years of my service.  Studies have shown that laughter and humor can help to reduce stress by releasing endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Humor can also temporarily distract from stress, allowing a person to step back from the...

In crisis situations, leaders are rarely fully prepared. Despite experiencing the same nerves and anticipation with each crisis, they respond with the desire to make a difference. Ed Conley, a former FEMA responder and NATO advisor, provides ten principles in "Promote the Dog Sitter" to guide leaders in acting swiftly and effectively in disasters. With his extensive experience, Conley offers a uni...

As we close out the first month of the year and stick with the theme of resolve to be resilient, I thought it would be prudent to discuss building a disaster-resilient community. Why we need to build Disaster-Resilient Communities  Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can have devastating consequences for communities. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of di...

Fitness can help you lead in several ways. Regular exercise can improve physical health and stamina, increasing energy and focus and allowing you to perform better in work and personal tasks. In addition, regular exercise can improve mental health and reduce stress, leading to better decision-making and problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, fitness can help boost self-confidence, making it easie...

The City of Buffalo needs a dedicated emergency management office to lead its emergency management efforts. This organization would be responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of emergency plans and procedures, working closely with the city government to establish policies and procedures that promote resilience and ensure continuity of operations during a disaster. The cost of h...

What is Enterprise Resilience? Gale Anders and T.J. Mead, who are members of Netflix’s global continuity program, discuss what a relatively new function for Netflix, established in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is. Their team was tasked to develop the best program possible. Their task, make Netflix more resilient than before. Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/ToddTDeVoe LinkedIn: ht...

Emergency managers are tasked with leading their teams and organizations through some of the most challenging and high-stakes situations imaginable. Given the critical nature of our work, we must invest time in studying leadership philosophy. By gaining a deeper understanding of the various leadership models and philosophies developed over the years, you can gain a deeper understanding of your lea...

Leading during a crisis requires a unique set of skills and a strong sense of resilience. A crisis leader must remain calm and composed under pressure while also being able to think strategically and make quick decisions. They must also communicate effectively with their team and stakeholders, providing clear and consistent guidance. In a crisis, a leader must adapt to rapidly changing circumstanc...

Throughout my career, I have history of excellence in building businesses through operations management, procurement coordination, HR management, contract negotiations, project management, payroll, sales development, benefits management, and social media marketing. Having worn many hats in my career, I gain immense satisfaction in developing impeccable strategies to significantly reduce operationa...

When I was thinking about resilient leaders, Teddy Roosevelt was the first to come to mind. It is not his bravado that interested me; what draws me to him, he should have never even made his way to local politics, let alone his rise to the President of the United States. TR was the first modern President; he fought his demons and tragedies. He was constantly proving himself, not to others, but to...

Resilient leadership is the ability to effectively navigate and overcome challenges, setbacks, and adversity in order to achieve success. It involves being able to adapt to change, bounce back from failure, and remain positive and focused even in the face of difficult circumstances. Resilient leaders are able to draw on their inner strength and resources to persevere and find solutions to problems...

The past year has tested leaders across all sectors, both private and public. Inflation, energy, the continued COVID crisis, disasters and war. Reflecting on the past year sheds light on pivotal moments and forges the path toward a resilient future. However, we can name 2022 to be a year of resilience. Links Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/ToddTDeVoe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddt...

While most of us will be spending the holidays with our families, parts of the world are still recovering from disasters. Thousands of our brothers and sisters are working today, managing recovery, feeding the poor, and holding the hand of the elderly who may not have their own families. And those serving as police officers, firefighters, military personnel, and other first responders throughout o...

Today, we are celebrating the holidays with our team. Come and join us as we discuss our dreams, goals, and how we can improve the world. It is the time of year to reflect and spend time with friends and family. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Links Todd DeVoe Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/ToddTDeVoe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddtdevoe/ Substack: https://emnetwork.s...

Sara Ruch has been in the emergency management profession since 2006. She is a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers. She is also a Certified Floodplain Manager through the Association of State Floodplain Managers . She is a past president of the Virginia Emergency Management Association and a former Board Member of FEMA’s Region 3 Advisory Council...