Episode 27 – Disaster Communications SystemsIn this episode, we speak Tony Bardo, Assistant Vice President for Government Solutions at Hughes Network Systems. We talk about the role of communications systems in disasters, and the intersection with government, industry, responders and survivors.Website:Hughes Network Systems - https://www.hughes.com…

Episode 26 – Redefining Emergency ManagementIn this episode, we speak with EmilyJane Zahreddine from Golden Hour Consulting and the Emergency Management Growth Initiative (EMGI). We discuss why old definitions may not fully capture what emergency managers do today, her work with the EMGI innovation hub, and what the future holds for the field. Webs…

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Irwin Redlener (@IrwinRedlenerMD) founder of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute (@columbia_ncdp) and co-founder of the Children’s Health Fund (@chfund) about the influx of unaccompanied minors into the US along the southern border. We discuss some of the complexi…

Episode 24 – National Flood InsuranceIn this episode, we speak with Cynthia DiVincenti (@CynthiaDiVince1), head of government relations at National Flood Services (@NationalFlood). In this episode we talk about the public private partnerships that facilitates flood insurance in the United States, the current state of the National Flood Insurance Pr…

Episode 23 – Modelling COVID-19 in AfricaIn this episode, we speak with Lawrence Were and Tom Achoki from the COVID-19 in Africa Data Science Initiative. We talk about their work modelling COVID-19 in Africa with a multidisciplinary team of Pan-African bio-statisticians, data scientists, economists, epidemiologists, and health systems researchers, …

In this episode, we speak with Shay Bahramirad (@Sh_Bahramirad), who is leading ComEd’s work to build the electrical grid of the future. In this episode we discuss the role of utilities in building resilience more generally, as well as how that is playing out in the current COVID-19 response. We also discuss the ongoing partnership with ComEd and t…

In this cross-over episode, Andy Revkin (@Revkin), director of the Initiative on Communications and Sustainability at Columbia University’s (@Columbia) Earth Institute (@EarthInstitute) sits down with national security experts Geoff Dabelko (@geoffdabelko), Alice Hill (@Alice_C_Hill), and Rod Schoonover (@RodSchoonover) to talk about where we are a…

In this episode we talk with Suzanne Bernier (@sbcrisis) about her book Disaster Heroes (@DisasterHeroes), as well as her new podcast and why extraordinary acts by everyday people is so important to celebrate and harness in our disaster systems. Suzanne Bernier’s Website: https://www.suzannebernier.com/Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (ht…

In this episode, Daniel Aldrich (@DanielPAldrich) returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, Black Wave: How Networks and Governance Shaped Japan’s 3/11 Disasters. We go deeper on social ties and how they impact disaster response and recovery, and why it matters beyond the disasters in Japan. Other publications referenced in the discussion inc…

In this episode we talk with @DavidMazzuca about post disaster housing policy. He speaks about the post Hurricane Sandy housing recovery in New Jersey, and also shares lessons from across the country. We also discuss what states can do to be more prepared for the recovery process, and how changing the way we look at national funding may be necessar…

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Laura Evans from Bellevue Hospital Center and Dr. Michael Phillips from NYU Langone Health System. They talk to us about the Ebola crisis in 2014, what capabilities were built as a result of the emergency funding, and how it protects us from much more than just Ebola. We also talk about the complexity of treating E…

Marcie Roth (@IEMStrategies), CEO of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (@disasterstrat), and founder of FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination joins the podcast to talk to us about building more inclusive disaster strategies. We also talk about some pending legislation that can further enhance resilience for those …

Chauncia Willis and Curtis Brown, co-founders of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (https://i-diem.org/), join us to talk about diversity in emergency management, and why inclusion and diversity is essential for achieving whole community resilience. We also discuss ways to increase diversity through policy and organi…

In this episode we talk with veteran journalist Eve Troeh (@evetroeh) from Marketplace, and formerly WWNO, about her experience covering disasters. We also discuss the role of journalism in disasters, how disasters are covered, what some of the challenges are, and how good coverage can help inform and shape better preparedness, response and recover…

We discuss the #MeToo movement in emergency management and how to build a more inclusive field with Dr. Samantha Montano (@SamLMontano) the Disasteroligist (disaster-ology.com/). This episode also references and continues the discussion from a prior Dukes of Hazards episode (@hazardspodcast), and also discusses an op-ed in The Hill on EM’s #MeToo m…

In this episode we talk about fiscal federalism, and the intersection of state and federal spending on disasters. Our guest is Anne Stauffer (@AStaufferDC) from the Pew Charitable Trusts (@PewStates). Here are the links to a few of the reports we talk about on the podcast:From the Pew Charitable TrustsWhat We Don't Know About State Spending on Natu…

We discuss the growing field of drone technology with Guy Cherni (@guycherni) of Atlas Dynamics (@Atlas_Dynamics) about how drones are changing the way we look at disasters, as well as how regulation and management of the space could accelerate the usage of drones for the public good. Theme Music is Chicky & Chacky by KieLoBot (http://freemusicarch…

Take a listen to the live panel discussion after the US Premiere of Disaster Capitalism (@DisasterCapFilm) in New York City on March 27, 2018 at the Columbia Journalism School (@ColumbiaJourn). The panel includes the film’s director Thor Neureiter (@ThorNeureiter) and disaster experts Chernor Bah (@Cee_Bah), Jeff Schlegelmilch (@JeffSchlegel), Sara…

In the first part of our two-part series on disaster research, we talk with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (@NCDMPH) Director Dr. Tom Kirsch (@DisasterProf) and Education Director Kandra Strauss-Riggs. In this episode we discusss the state of disaster medicine research, why regions respond to catastrophes, and the origi…

In this episode we get all up in your business talking about continuity and how no one is an island onto themselves. We are joined first by Chloe Demrovsky (@ChloeDemrovsky) CEO of DRI International (@DRI_Intl) to talk about the big picture when thinking about business continuity, and why community resilience is so critical. We then speak with Jim …

In this episode we go deep into academia to look for answers to contemporary disaster policy issues. First we talk to a panel of policy graduate students from the Columbia University School for Intentional and Public Affairs. On the panel is Mima Mendoza (@ironmima), Sid Shah, Lauren Harper (@lololulula), and Jenna Lewein (@cordo_roxen). We also sp…

In Episode 6 we talk to a former staffer for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and current Policy Associate for the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense (@BiodefenseStudy), Robert Bradley. We talk about various disaster relief programs, what they do, and how they are legislated. This interview was recorded before the…

In Episode 5, we get out of domestic disaster response and take a deep dive into the causes, effects and structures for managing international disasters. Dr. Uzma Alam (@UzmaAlam3) joins us to talk about her experience responding to disasters like the Ebola crisis, and how geopolitics can be its own force of nature in creating international disaste…

From block parties in San Francisco to building ambulance services in the Dominican Republic and Tanzania, the building of resilience only works with local ownership. But how do you build resilient systems at the local level, and how does this fit in with national and international systems? Joining us to talk about this is the Director of the City …

Episode 3, with real life Emergency Manager Marc Burdiss (@MarcBurdiss) and the Zen Master of Disaster Data, Richard Smith from @Veoci. We talk about how stakeholders don’t know what an emergency manager does, but they know when they do it wrong. We then talk about how to feed many reporting mouths from the same trough. We also get on some tangents…

Episode 2 for your listening pleasure! We are talking about Biodefense and Healthcare Preparedness with Dr. Ellen Carlin and Karl Schmitt (@KarleSchmitt). We discuss the broad continuum of biodefense and the work of groups like the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense (@BiodefenseStudy) and EcoHealth Alliance (@EcoHealthNYC). We also talk about wh…

Our first full episode! Join us as we explore the complex landscape of the world of disaster politics in our opening panel with Jonathan Sury (@JonathanSury), Erin Sehnert (@ems2271), and with featured guests Nicolette Louissaint (@NLouissaint_PhD), and Vicki Johnson (@VickiJohnsonPhD). We discuss what Disaster Politics means, issues of funding, pu…