On this episode of the Disaster Podcast, Dr. Joe Holley joins us to share his insights following the 2026 Gathering of Eagles Conference recently held in Florida. This annual conference brings together the EMS leaders and physicians from the largest cities and jurisdictions. Its purpose is to give them a chance to share new science and trends in the field and find consensus on where best practices lie in those trends.

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Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.

Podcast Discussion Summary

The podcast episode focused on severe weather conditions in the Midwest, particularly tornadoes. Dan explained the meteorological ingredients needed for tornado formation, including warmth, moisture, wind shear, and atmospheric conditions. He noted that while Illinois had experienced a record number of tornadoes in June, the actual number of tornadoes on the day discussed was lower than expected, though there were significant wind damage reports and hail. The weather discussion concluded with a brief mention of weather concerns for upcoming World Cup events, particularly regarding uncovered stadiums in areas prone to summer storms.

The group discussed the end of the Midwest severe weather season and the impact of Tropical Storm Arthur, which caused catastrophic flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi. Becky mentioned the emergency preparedness planning for World Cup events and suggested getting a Philadelphia emergency management official on a podcast after the tournament.

Dan explained that while Arthur was short-lived, it demonstrated how tropical systems can cause significant impacts regardless of category, and noted there was a slight chance it could reform off the East Coast.

Joe explained that the Gathering of Eagles meeting is the annual conference of the Metropolitan EMS Medical Directors Global Alliance, bringing together medical directors from large cities worldwide to discuss challenges and share experiences. The conference was held in Florida in conjunction with the Florida State EMS Conference, consisting of several days of state-of-the-science presentations and discussions on problematic issues.

This year’s meeting focused on topics including mass gathering medicine, weather-related concerns, VIP management, immigration issues, infectious diseases, and terrorism-related threats.

The group discussed preparations for large events like the World Cup, focusing on challenges such as managing non-English speaking athletes and fans, potential health risks including infectious diseases, and ensuring public safety. Joe highlighted new scientific advancements in pre-hospital care, including blood transfusions and trauma treatment.

Becky emphasized the importance of local planning and coordination in emergency management. The team agreed to conduct a deeper dive into event planning and preparation after the games, potentially involving experts like Kyle for insights into event management.

The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group.

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