About this episode:

Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic force seemed to catch many by surprise, especially those living in western North Carolina. The focus is now on the response, but it’s clear from the devastation that old playbooks for preparedness and readiness must change to consider new risks in a new reality. In this episode: a conversation about what emergency responders are already learning in the aftermath of Helene and why nowhere is really “safe” from climate change.

Guest:

Dr. Joseph Barbera is the co-director of the George Washington University Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Show links and related content:

• Why Helene’s floods caught North Carolina off-guard—Washington Post

• Meteorology and Climate Change—Public Health On Call Podcast (July, 2024)

• Coping With The Psychological Aftermath of The Collapse of The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore—Public Health On Call Podcast (April, 2024)

• Disaster Planning For Extreme Weather—Public Health On Call Podcast (September, 2023)

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