Before, During & After

Before, During & After episodes:

• 04.25.2024

  Episode 134: Emergency Communications Month - Partnering with CISA to Highlight Key Communication Resources

  April is Emergency Communications Month, and our friends at CISA are honoring the nation's emergency responders and communicators, emphasizing the importance of emergency communications and the need to work together in building resilient, critical infrastructure. In keeping with the month's...

  
• 04.25.2024

  Episode 134: Emergency Communications Month - Partnering with CISA to Highlight Key Communications Resources

  April is Emergency Communications Month, and our friends at CISA are honoring the nation's emergency responders and communicators, emphasizing the importance of emergency communications and the need to work together in building resilient critical infrastructure. In keeping with the month's...

  
• 04.18.2024

  Episode 133: A Nod to the Volunteers Who Help in Times of Need

  Voluntary agencies are typically some of the first organizations to respond and are often the last to leave a community, sometimes years after a disaster. The work of federal, state, and local governments is only part of the response and...

  
• 04.04.2024

  Episode 132: With a Total Solar Eclipse on the Radar, Emergency Managers Talk About How They're Preparing for the Crowds

  On April 8th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. This is no doubt one of nature's most awe inspiring events. The moon passes between the sun and the earth...

  
• 03.21.2024

  Episode 131: Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Operations

  In late 2023, FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, or ODIC, released a new version of its training course IS-368.A "Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Operations." We don't always cover specific FEMA training courses on this podcast, but...

  
• 03.12.2024

  Episode 130: Streamlining the FEMA Application Process. Empowering Survivors to Rebuild Faster After Disaster

  FEMA is on the verge of making some of the most significant updates to survivor assistance in the last 20 years. Experiencing a disaster and the loss and displacement that it can bring is often one of the most profound...

  
• 03.07.2024

  Episode 129: Building Resilience in Communities that Are Most Vulnerable to Natural Hazards

  Natural disasters can be a stressful and traumatic time for anyone, but they can be especially devastating to vulnerable communities who have been historically underserved. Today, we'll discuss how FEMA is working to build resilience across the country by designating...

  
• 02.22.2024

  Episode 128: Taking Leadership to the Next Level with the Naval Postgraduate School

  Strengthening the emergency management workforce at the state, local, tribal, territorial, and national levels is crucial to building and maintaining a strong profession and keeping the public safe. This is such an important task that FEMA's administrator, Deanne Criswell, included...

  
• 02.08.2024

  Episode 127: #WinterReady - Being Fire Safe in the Winter Can Help Save Lives

  Fire dangers increase during the winter months and claim more lives than at any other time of the year. Deaths caused by fire are only part of the story as there are thousands of displacements when homes are destroyed, contributing...

  
• 01.25.2024

  Episode 126: Tips on How to Identify and Prevent Human Trafficking

  January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a presidentially designated observance designed to educate the public about human trafficking and the role they can play in preventing and responding to human trafficking. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services theme...

  
• 12.14.2023

  Episode 125: #WinterReady - Winter Preparedness and the Unique Challenges the Cold Can Pose

  Heatwaves are on the increase and garner well-deserved attention from the media. While these extreme heat events are growing in frequency and severity, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, found that more deaths...

  
• 11.30.2023

  Episode 124: A USFA-Led Conversation with the Creators of "Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire," A New Documentary Focused on Cultural Fire

  Our friends at the U.S. Fire Administration recently had the opportunity to screen the new documentary “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” with the film creators. Before the screening, the U.S. fire administrator, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, sat down with one of the film’s...

  
• 11.16.2023

  Episode 123: Resilience After Wildfire - The Point Dume Bombers. A Conversation with Journalist Adriana Cargill, Creator of the "Sandcastles" Podcast

  In 2018, the Woolsey Fire consumed huge swaths of Los Angeles and Ventura County in California. The fire burned nearly a hundred thousand acres and destroyed thousands of structures. This was one of several fires in California at the same...

  
• 09.14.2023

  Episode 122: #SummerReady - FEMA Mitigation Grants Help Build Community Resilience

  This summer, we launched a four-part series in support of FEMA's #SummerReady campaign, where we're exploring the effects of extreme heat and how collaboration among local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal partners can lead to more educated communities. In this...

  
• 08.17.2023

  Episode 121: #SummerReady - A Deep Dive into California's Heat Ready Campaign

  This summer has been hot. We're seeing some of the hottest days on record, and the extreme heat is without borders impacting not just the United States, but countries across the globe. So welcome back to episode number three of...

  
• 08.03.2023

  Episode 120: A Chat with CISA on its Efforts to Prevent Bomb Threats and Protect Communities

  Our nation's, roads, waterways, hospitals, and utilities support the millions of activities that people conduct each day to transact business, travel, communicate with friends and family, maintain health and safety and more. They also include the venues where people gather...

  
• 07.20.2023

  Episode 119: Supporting Employee Mental Health to Ensure a Strong and Resilient Workforce

  Disasters are devastating on multiple levels. Every year, our communities are affected by disasters which disrupt the mental health and wellbeing of millions of Americans. While the psychological effects of disasters on survivors and communities is well documented, the effects...

  
• 07.06.2023

  Episode 118: #SummerReady – The Impact of Extreme Heat on Critical Infrastructure

  Heat and Extreme heat continue to impact communities across the globe. We've seen more frequent events and cascading disasters over the past few years. Staying ahead of them requires that we review our response plans regularly and make adjustments as...

  
• 06.22.2023

  Episode 117: FEMA Hosts an Extreme Heat Summit and Launches #SummerReady

  Heat and extreme heat continue to impact communities across the globe. We've seen more frequent events and cascading disasters over the past few years. Staying ahead of them requires we review our response plans regularly and make adjustments as needed,...

  
• 06.08.2023

  Episode 116: Building a Response and Recovery Federal Interagency Operations Plan

  Federal government-wide disaster planning dates to the Cold War era Federal Response Plan, and similar documents, that describe how the United States would respond to nuclear war and severe disasters. This singular plan was maintained and updated after the Cold...

  
• 05.25.2023

  Episode 115: FEMA Fire Grants and the UL Help Enhance Community Safety

  FEMA has some tremendous programs to help firefighters and, in turn, assists with the safety and security of our communities around the country. We do this through our support to the fire community via the U.S. Fire Administration and the...

  
• 04.13.2023

  Episode 114: The Role of Local Elected and Appointed Officials in Disaster Response and Recovery

  Emergency managers play a critical role in successfully navigating disaster response and recovery. But there's another player whose efforts are just as critical – and that’s local elected and appointed officials. As leaders in their communities, they make significant policy,...

  
• 03.30.2023

  Episode 113: Tribal Roundtable - Investing in Emergency Management

  To accomplish FEMA's mission, we work with governments at all levels to ensure the agency is helping people before, during, and after disasters. One special relationship that federal agencies, such as FEMA, have is the relationship with tribal nations, since...

  
• 03.16.2023

  Episode 112: Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in Communities Near Chemical Stockpile Sites

  Since the 1950s, the U.S. Army maintained stockpiles of chemical munitions that were produced as a way to deter the threat of chemical attacks from foreign adversaries. In 1985, under the direction of Congress, the Army began destroying the aging...

  
• 03.02.2023

  Episode 111: Understanding the Importance of Protecting Your Property with Flood Insurance

  Flooding is America's number one natural disaster affecting 99% of U.S. Counties since 1996. Just one inch of water can cause roughly $25,000 of damage to one's home, and most homeowners don't know their flood risk or what they have...

  
• 02.16.2023

  Episode 110: Focus on Equity - Engaging Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Response and Recovery

  FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination serves to ensure our commitment to equity and inclusion for persons with disabilities before, during, and after disasters. On this episode, we catch up with Director Sherman Gillums, Jr. to explore his first...

  
• 02.02.2023

  Episode 109: The National Water Center - Addressing the Nation's Flood Risks

  A little over 10 years ago, congressional leaders responded to the growing need for water resources intelligence by having NOAA Build a National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The center is charged with developing and providing this new generation of...

  
• 01.19.2023

  Episode 108: Unpacking the EOC How to Quick Reference Guide

  For emergency managers across the country, the Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, can be home base. It's a place for deconflicting challenges, finding solutions and coordinating efforts to a host of emergencies facing their communities. For many, the EOC is...

  
• 01.05.2023

  Episode 107: Flood After Fire: Understanding the Risks of Increased Flooding After Wildfires Damage the Land

  In recent decades, wildfires have ravaged many areas of the country, especially the Western United States. Scientists note that climate change will worsen ongoing drought conditions, which will in turn increase the frequency and intensity of wildland wildfires. When the...

  
• 12.22.2022

  Episode 106: A chat with Joe Kelly, Minnesota's outgoing director of emergency management shares tips, insight, and lessons on navigating through the pandemic

  On this episode, we celebrate a great partner in emergency management. Joe Kelly, Director of Minnesota's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the last 11 years, will be retiring at the end of December. Like many who serve...

  
• 12.08.2022

  Episode 105: A New Guide for Continuous Improvement in Emergency Management

  In late October, FEMA released the National Continuous Improvement Guidance. The guidance provides an approach to conducting consistent and rigorous continuous improvement activities before, during, and after real world incidences. Emergency managers and other whole community partners can use this...

  
• 11.23.2022

  Episode 104: A Chat with Kelbie Kennedy, FEMA’s New National Tribal Affairs Advocate

  A big part of FEMA administrator Deanna Criswell's strategic plan centers around instilling equity in emergency management. With this renewed focus, we are delighted to introduce FEMA's first National Tribal Affairs Advocate, Kelbie Kennedy, to the podcast. Since joining FEMA...

  
• 11.10.2022

  Episode 103: FEMA's Outreach Initiatives with America's Tribal Nations

  In addition to our ubiquitous role in responding to and recovering from disasters and emergencies, FEMA also administers numerous grant programs aimed at increasing the capacity of the nation's emergency management system. Part of that administration is understanding the challenges...

  
• 10.27.2022

  Episode 102: FEMA's National Advisory Council

  The National Advisory Council, or NAC, consists of 35 members representing a wide range of geographic and professional backgrounds and is tasked with advising the FEMA Administrator on all aspects of emergency management. The NAC held its first meeting of...

  
• 10.13.2022

  Episode 101: 100th Anniversary of Fire Prevention Week

  Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This tragic event inspired numerous changes in fire policies throughout...

  
• 09.15.2022

  Episode 100: "Partner Voices" from the Resilient Nation Partnership Network

  Investing in partnerships is critical to increasing the nation's resiliency. The 'Resilient Nation Partnership Network' released the Building Alliances for Equitable Resilience Resource in April, the result of a significant collaboration by 26 partners across the fields of equity and...

  
• 09.01.2022

  Episode 99: FEMA’s New Mobile App

  As we kick off National Preparedness Month, we're discussing the new and improved FEMA mobile app and discussing how it can provide crucial information to keep communities informed before, during, and after disasters.

  
• 08.18.2022

  Episode 98: Building Resiliency Using Strong Building Codes

  The launch of the National Initiative to Advance Building Codes and implementation of the FEMA Building Codes Strategy have created an opportunity to discuss building codes and their importance for creating a more resilient nation. In this episode, we will...

  
• 08.04.2022

  Episode 97: Colorado’s Marshall Fire Donations and Resource Center

  On this episode, we’re highlighting the State of Colorado and their successful partnership with voluntary organizations to set up a donations management and resource center following the Marshall Fire that burned over 6,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes...

  
• 07.21.2022

  Episode 96: 10 Year Anniversary of Wireless Emergency Alerts

  In 2012, FEMA created Wireless Emergency Alerts to send alert and warning messages through the agency’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. On today’s episode, we’ll talk about the countless ways Wireless Emergency Alerts have saved lives with Antwane Johnson,...

  
• 07.06.2022

  Episode 95: The National Hurricane Program

  On today's episode, we meet with members of the National Hurricane Program at the 2022 National Hurricane Conference to talk about how they work together to analyze forecast information and coordinate with emergency managers to assist them in making the...

  
• 06.23.2022

  Episode 94: Role of Faith Based and Community Organizations in Emergency Management

  A successful disaster response depends of the partnership of the whole community, including the tremendous support of voluntary organizations and the faith community. On today’s episode, we explore how leveraging the many strengths of neighborhood partners can ensure success before,...

  
• 06.09.2022

  Episode 93: Remembering Hurricane Agnes on the 50th Anniversary of the Storm

  On this episode, FEMA remembers Hurricane Agnes on the 50th Anniversary of the storm by looking back at the impacts to the Mid-Atlantic and looking ahead to predicting the future effects of hurricanes in the region. We discuss how Hurricane...

  
• 05.26.2022

  Episode 92: Heat Awareness Day and the Many Ways FEMA is Making Climate Resilience a Priority

  Climate change represents a profound crisis for our nation. On today’s episode, with National Heat Awareness Day upon us, we talk with three experts from FEMA about the challenges of extreme heat and why FEMA has made Climate Resilience one...

  
• 05.12.2022

  Episode 91: Public Information in Emergency Management

  On this episode, we sat down with two State Public Information Officers to discuss the importance of getting lifesaving information to the public during disasters. Greg Robinson, from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, and Malary White, from the Mississippi Emergency...

  
• 04.28.2022

  Episode 90: National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell at the National Hurricane Conference

  As hurricane season approaches, we sat down with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham at the National Hurricane Conference to discuss how the agencies collaborate to share vital weather and preparedness information during a storm.

  
• 04.14.2022

  Episode 89: An Equity Lens for Emergency Management

  On this episode, we take a deep dive into FEMA's Strategic Goal #1: Instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management. We’ll talk with Associate Administrator Anne Bink about how FEMA is continually and deliberately choosing to use an equity...

  
• 03.31.2022

  Episode 88: An Interview with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell

  In celebration of FEMA's 43rd Anniversary, we are relaunching the FEMA podcast by sitting down with Administrator Deanne Criswell to discuss her background, as well as agency priorities in the midst of expanding demands on the emergency management community.

  
• 01.26.2021

  Episode 87: A Message from Acting Administrator Bob Fenton

  We sit down with Acting Administrator Bob Fenton to discuss going through leadership transition within the agency and how it impacts FEMA’s mission.

  
• 01.12.2021

  Episode 86: Oregon Wildfires - Benefit Brews

  On this episode we talk to two Oregon based breweries, one owned by a wildland firefighter and another family operated, about how they are helping wildfire recovery through their craft.