In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, Kyle King challenges the core assumptions of American emergency management. He contrasts FEMA’s focus on efficiency with Europe’s emphasis on survival, revealing why traditional measures like response time and coordination no longer reflect the realities of modern disasters. Drawing on examples such as the Texas floods, Hurricane Maria, and the Texas winter storm, Kyle explains why it's time to measure how long communities can function without help, not how fast help can arrive.

Tune in for a critical look at outdated preparedness models, a fresh perspective from European strategies, and a path forward that prioritizes resilience over speed.

Show Highlights
[01:38] Why it is urgent to rethink how we measure disaster preparedness
[02:05] A look at the performance metrics in American emergency management
[03:05] The assumptions built into current disaster response strategies
[03:32] How Europe’s wartime mindset shapes crisis preparedness for survival
[05:27] Real-world failures from Texas floods to Hurricane Maria
[09:13] What the U.S. can learn from Europe’s focus on self-sufficiency and resilience
[12:40] A call to shift American emergency management from efficiency to endurance
[14:38] Reflections on building readiness for disasters when help may not come