Rethinking EM Part 1: From Resilient to Anti-Fragile

Crisis Lab

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King catches up with Todd DeVoe, a seasoned emergency management professional, on what’s been happening in the field of disaster preparedness and community resilience. This is Part 1 of a two-part series exploring how the field of emergency management is evolving—and why we need to rethink our strategies to meet new challenges.

Kyle and Todd dive into the foundational ideas shaping the profession, from the importance of trust-building with communities to the critical need for innovation in preparedness. They share opinions and insights into how emergency managers can pivot from just maintaining stability (resilience) to fostering growth after adversity (anti-fragility).

Show Highlights:

[03:41] The foundation for the research and advancement of EM

[06:06] The importance of a body of work in EM

[07:10] Challenges and misconceptions in EM

[14:01] The role of emergency managers in government and society

[20:26] Practical steps for community engagement

[23:03] Outsourcing mundane tasks

[23:24] Resilience vs. anti-fragility

[24:24] Real-world examples of resilience

[26:58] Building trust in communities

[28:03] The importance of anti-fragility in construction

[34:39] Learning from historical lessons

[41:37] Urban planning and eminent domain

[44:28] Preserving historical and cultural significance

Connect with Todd DeVoe

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🎧 Stay Tuned for Part 2! In the next episode, Kyle and Todd take the discussion further, exploring the challenges of building trust between government and the public in crisis situations. Todd DeVoe shares ideas on responding to the rapid spread of information and misinformation, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and community involvement.

We’ll also discuss engaging younger generations in public service and ways to strengthen community preparedness. Stay tuned for insights on these critical aspects of emergency management.