Chaos & Communications: Management of Issues, Crises and Disasters

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Tim provides an update after his nearly 3,000 kilometre journey through British Columbia and Alberta. 

• Community rebuilding after wildfires
• Emergency management insights from the road
• Personal reflections on safety and service

00:00
Road Trip Reflections

02:57
Community Resilience and Hope

05:47
Insights from Emergency Management Professionals

09:02
Challenges on the Road

12:03
Upcoming Episodes and Future Guests

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What motivates people to prepare for emergencies? Is this the best week for emergency preparedness - or are there greater opportunities lurking? Join Tim and the conversation, recorded Live on LinkedIn and YouTube. 

In this episode, Tim will share his thoughts on what emergency preparedness means for responders, on your property and in your community. He's going to share the knowledge he's collected over a few decades spent hanging around fire halls and during large disasters. 

00:00 Introduction to Emergency Preparedness Week
03:28 Acknowledging Indigenous Communities
06:23 The Importance of Emergency Preparedness
09:37 Emergency Operations Center Dynamics
13:02 Role of Politicians in Emergencies
19:35 Systems and Processes in Emergency Management
24:28 Security and Hacking in Crisis Situations
30:27 Redundancy and Team Preparedness
34:46 The Importance of Redundancy in Emergency Preparedness
35:56 Community Preparedness: The Fire Smart Initiative
42:27 Personal Property Preparedness: Insurance and Debris Management
48:53 Essential Safety Devices: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
56:07 Motivating Community Preparedness: Insights from Pathways to Preparedness
01:03:51 Timing for Emergency Preparedness Messaging

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Join Tim today, Tuesday, May 5 at 1700 Pacific, 1800 Mountain, 1900 Central, 2000 Eastern, 2100 Atlantic or 2130 in Newfoundland, for the next Live, on the Butterfly Effect Communications channels on YouTube, LinkedIn, and maybe on Facebook and TikTok too. 

During the Live Episode:

• What motivates people to get prepared?
• Is Emergency Preparedness Week the best week for emergency preparedness info?
• Sharing tips from residents and responders over my decades 
• Challenging emergency managers and crisis communicators to push their preparedness to another level
• Listen to episode 23, From Evacuee to Emergency Manager: Robert Cosma on Indigenous Leadership 

Join the conversation live by texting your thoughts through the link above or commenting on one of our Live posts. 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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What's happening right now in crisis communications, emergency management, and issues management - and what should we be talking about? 

Live Fridays (could be any day as Tim tries this out) is your space to ask questions, share what you're seeing in the field, and join an honest, real-world conversation about how we prepare for, respond to, and communicate through disasters and crises - in Canada and beyond. 

Every Live, Tim Conrad, APR, opens the floor: bring your burning questions, a story from your week, a headline you can't stop thinking about, or a challenge you're navigating right now. Just the conversation this community wants.

Whether you work in emergency preparedness, public safety, crisis communications, or disaster recovery - this is your room.

Key Themes in this episode:

·         Groupthink Prevention

·         Public Engagement Strategies

·         Crisis Communication Protocols

Drop your questions in the chat or in the comments below.
🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a Live Friday

Learn more:
www.communicationspodcast.com

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Live Podcasting
02:20 Upcoming Events and Symposiums
05:01 Reflections on Past Wildfires
07:27 The Importance of Communication in Emergencies
10:04 Navigating Difficult Conversations
12:53 Challenging Groupthink in Crisis Management
15:16 Learning from Past Mistakes
18:04 The Role of Training in Emergency Preparedness
20:47 Workshops and Media Training
23:24 Conclusion and Future Plans
25:57 Mastering Public Engagement
26:38 The Importance of Public Participation
27:22 Indigenous Community Engagement
28:52 Crisis Management in Emergencies
33:35 Pathways to Preparedness Project
35:18 Current Emergency Situations in Canada
36:50 Self-Care for Responders
38:57 Video Production in Emergency Response
49:22 Acknowledging Emergency Responders

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In this Quick Bits update, Tim shares a deeply personal reflection following the recent passing of his mother, Carol Conrad, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Through stories from his childhood, Tim explores how his mother’s decades of volunteer work with the Canadian Red Cross shaped his own lifelong commitment to helping people during their hardest moments.

This short episode is both a tribute and a reminder: volunteers and helpers often never see the full impact of their work — but it matters, sometimes decades later.

Key Themes

• Remembering Carol Conrad, a dedicated Canadian Red Cross volunteer
• Childhood memories of the equipment loan program and community helpers
• How early exposure to volunteerism shaped Tim’s crisis communications path
• The quiet, often unseen impact of community volunteers
• Gratitude for helpers everywhere - past, present, and future
• A brief pause in new episodes and what’s coming next
• A special sign‑off dedicated to his mom: “with ice cream and strawberries.”

Featured Episode Mention

🎨 Nobody Talks Recovery Like Her with Deb Borsos
Now available on the Butterfly Effect Communications YouTube channel, including visual aids to enhance the viewing experience.

How to Get Involved

• Share your story or pitch a guest idea: www.communicationspodcast.com
• Leave a review or connect with past guests - your appreciation goes a long way
• Watch for upcoming live broadcasts on YouTube and LinkedIn

In Memory of Carol Conrad 

For those wishing to make a donation in her honour, please consider supporting:

• Alzheimer Society of Canada
• Terry Fox Foundation

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After a disaster, the world moves on, but communities don’t. In this episode of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast, host Tim Conrad talks with Deb Borsos, one of BC’s most respected recovery specialists, about what really happens after the emergency ends.

Deb shares decades of hard‑earned wisdom from wildfire zones, flood‑stricken towns, and remote communities in both Canada and Australia. She explains why communication failures can derail recovery, why communities need honesty instead of polished messaging, and how local leadership consistently outperforms outside contractors.

From daily unfiltered updates during wildfires to the rise of community‑led recovery movements like DisasterWise in Australia, Deb offers practical, grounded insights for anyone working in emergency management, communications, or local government.

If you want to truly understand recovery, this is the episode.

When disasters strike, response gets the spotlight, but recovery is where the real work begins. In this episode, host Tim Conrad sits down with Deb Borsos, one of British Columbia’s most respected recovery operations specialists, to talk about what actually happens after the cameras leave and the responders go home.

Deb brings decades of experience from rural BC to Australia’s remote communities. She shares candid insights on communication failures, community‑led recovery, the dangers of over‑promising, and why transparency matters more than polished messaging.

This conversation is a masterclass for emergency managers, communicators, elected officials, and anyone who cares about what happens after disaster headlines fade.

Resources offered by Deb:

Books - When the Dust Settles, Suzy Easthope; A Paradise Built in Hell, Rebecca Solnit

What You’ll Learn

• Why communications is the weakest link in recovery — and how to fix it
• How recovery begins during response, not after
• Why communities need truth, not protection
• The importance of local leadership vs. outside contractors
• How Australia’s rural communities are redefining community‑led recovery
• Why “build back better” often misses the mark
• The power of timely, honest, unfiltered updates
• How small communities can lead without being incorporated
• Why responders must remember: you are a guest in someone else’s community

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In this Quick Bits update, host Tim Conrad shares what’s new across the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications podcast. Our latest video episode, now on YouTube, features Robert Cosma, Emergency Program Manager for the Tŝilhqot’in National Government, paired with stunning visuals from the Chilcotin region.

Tim also highlights a run of powerful recent episodes, including Crowds, Crisis and Communications with three volunteer fire chiefs sharing 150 years of service, and a new video version of When the Attention Leaves with Heather Shtutka, featuring on‑the‑ground footage from the community where her son Ryan disappeared.

You’ll also get a preview of our upcoming conversation with British Columbia’s “recovery queen,” Deb Borsos, plus a call for future guests working in crisis communications or emergency management.

If you enjoyed the episode with Rob Cosma, don’t miss the two short companion episodes with Steph Masun: Recovering Together and Community Driven Recovery, which connect directly to the themes Rob explores.

Every listen, share, and comment helps build a stronger community of communicators and responders. 

Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.

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Episode Overview

In this powerful conversation, Indigenous emergency program manager Robert Cosma shares his journey from evacuee to one of the most respected emergency leaders in the Cariboo region. Robert speaks candidly about the realities of evacuations for First Nations communities, the cultural priorities that shape Indigenous emergency response, and why land, animals, and community must be protected together.

Episode Show Notes

Guest: Robert Cosma, Emergency Services Manager (former), Tŝilhqot’in National Government

Listen for:

00:00 — The Tŝilhqot’in Story and the Land
Colonial history, the Chilcotin War, smallpox, residential schools, and the path to self‑determination.

01:58 — Introducing Robert Cosma
Robert’s background, moving west, and how becoming an evacuee changed his life.

04:10 — From Evacuee to Emergency Manager
How 2017 shaped Robert’s mission to improve emergency response for First Nations.

06:20 — Family, Identity, and Learning from Elders
Stories of Roger Jimmie, cultural teachings, and the responsibility to future generations.

09:00 — Settler Mindsets vs. Indigenous Worldviews
Seven‑generation thinking, circles vs. boxes, and how perspective shifts change outcomes.

12:45 — Growing Up Away from Indigenous Identity
Robert’s early life, reconnecting with culture, and the contrast between Calgary and the Cariboo.

16:00 — Working with First Nations Communities
Pride, land stewardship, and the passion that shapes Indigenous emergency work.

19:40 — Why the Land Matters More Than Infrastructure
Animals, berries, hunting, and the long-term impacts of megafires on food systems.

23:10 — Inside the EOC: Cultural Lens in Real Time
How Indigenous representation changes decisions, speeds up response, and avoids harm.

27:00 — Tough Conversations and True Collaboration
Honesty, trust, and building relationships between Nations and local authorities.

30:15 — Cultural Protocols on the Fireline
The Batnuni story, tobacco offerings, and respectful entry into sensitive areas.

33:40 — Evacuations Through an Indigenous Lens
Why returning home is complex: food spoilage, generators, pack rats, and land-based living.

37:20 — The Trout Lake Flood Story
A personal example of overlooked damage and the consequences of not understanding the land.

40:00 — What Needs to Change in Emergency Management
Land-first priorities, community care, and the shift toward Indigenous leadership.

43:00 — Closing Reflections
The power of simple conversations, shared learning, and building a better future for the next generations.

What We Talk About

• Robert’s personal journey from Ontario to Nazko and the experiences that led him into emergency management
• What it feels like to be evacuated for 24 weeks and why that experience changed his life
• How First Nations communities care for their people during evacuations—elders, families, hunters, and land‑based households
• The cultural and emotional impacts of being uprooted from the land
• Why land, animals, and food systems must be considered in every emergency decision
• The difference between colonial emergency priorities and Indigenous priorities
• How Indigenous representation inside EOCs changes decisions in real time
• The importance of relationships, trust, and tough conversations between Nations and local authorities
• Stories of cultural protocol during wildfire response, including the role of elders and ceremony
• How the Tŝilhqot’in National Government is leading change in emergency preparedness and response
• The long-term impacts of megafires on ecosystems, wildlife, and community food

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Quick Bits: Three Fire Chiefs video episode with a preview of our time with the Indigenous National Government's emergency manager, Robert Cosma. Plus, watch for an updated video episode of last month's Heather Shtuka episode. 

Watch, listen and learn at www.communicationspodcast.com

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This episode brings together nearly 150 years of combined volunteer firefighting experience as three Bridgewater Fire Department leaders, Honorary Chief Reid Whynot, Honorary Chief Wayne Thorburne, and Chief Michael Nauss, sit down to reflect on the department’s 150th anniversary and the evolution of service, technology, and community over a century and a half.

Host Tim Conrad guides a conversation filled with history, humour, and hard‑earned wisdom from decades on the front lines.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How fire calls used to be dispatched
  From rooftop sirens to early pagers and today’s digital systems, the chiefs describe what it was like to get a call before modern communications existed.
• Stories from the calls that shaped them
  Propane explosions, downtown block fires, fatality incidents, ice jams, major floods, and multi-day industrial fires. Each chief shares the moments that tested them and the ones they’ll never forget.
• The evolution of public interaction
  Crowds used to gather by the hundreds at fire scenes. The chiefs talk about how community expectations, support, and behaviour have changed from the 1970s to today.
• Volunteer culture across generations
  What it meant to be a firefighter decades ago, how the role has changed, and why volunteerism remains the backbone of the department’s identity.
• Leadership under pressure
  Split-second decisions, mutual aid coordination, and the emotional weight of being responsible for your crew and your community.
• The calls that impacted the whole town
  Including the tragic mother‑and‑three‑sons fire, the Lunenburg church fire, and the Main Street fire that threatened to repeat the devastation of 1899, which led to the town’s incorporation.

00:00 – Land Acknowledgement & 150‑Year Fire Dept History
 00:23 – How Bridgewater’s Fire Service Began (1876)
 01:11 – Meet the Three Chiefs: 150 Years of Combined Service
 02:00 – How Firefighters Got Calls Before Pagers
 05:05 – Sirens, Power Outages & Firehall Renovation Stories
 05:55 – Propane Explosion Call: Wayne’s Most Intense Incident
 08:48 – Reid’s Toughest Calls: Winter Fires, Fatalities & Fish Plant Blaze
 10:12 – Michael’s Hardest Call: Responding to a Friend in Cardiac Arrest
 11:21 – The Main Street Fire: Stopping a Downtown Disaster
 13:16 – 2023 Bridgewater Floods: 104 Calls in 9 Hours
 15:01 – How Public Support for Firefighters Has Changed
 18:15 – Theft, Sabotage & Rare Internal Incidents
 19:10 – When Hundreds Showed Up to Watch Everything (Pre‑Internet Era)
 22:14 – Major Incidents: Ice Jams, Anthrax Scares & Plane Crashes
 22:43 – The Mother & Three Children Fire: A Tragedy That Changed the Town
 24:21 – Lunenburg Church Fire & Community Impact
 26:40 – Pride, Training & “Leave the Truck Better Than You Found It”
 27:22 – Firehall Camaraderie: Songs, Jokes & Brotherhood
 29:04 – Leadership Under Pressure: Trusting Your Crew
 30:17 – The “Holy F” Oil Truck Crash & Multi‑Agency Response
 31:10 – Communicating With the Public During Crisis
 33:38 – Working With Reporters: Honesty, Boundaries & Pressure
 37:16 – Safety Advice for Residents: Detectors, Driving & Common Sense
 40:27 – Mental Health in the Fire Service: What People Don’t See
 48:03 – Humour as Survival: Pranks & Firehall Culture
 57:18 – Staying Grounded During High‑Stress Calls
 59:39 – Brotherhood, Legacy & 150 Years of Service

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