Emergency managers need good data to administer their programs. Surveys offer a great way to collect some of that data. Unfortunately, surveys are subject to a number of biases, any one of which can dramatically affect survey outcomes, even ruin them. In this episode we speak with an accomplished researcher and professor to learn more about research bias, how it can ruin even the simplest survey and how emergency managers can develop better information.

We know fear does not work to get people to prepare for disasters, so why do we use it?  In this episode of the Complete-EM podcast we talk with a veteran of martketing, disaster preparedness education, and grass roots campaigning. We discuss fear-based campaigns and what really works to improve disaster preparedness.

Emergency managers outsource an enormous amount of essential work. The net result of that can be good or bad, depending on the way work is defined and contracts are managed. In this episode we discuss how emergency managers contract, effectively manage big projects and meet the needs and expectations of the public and elected leaders.

What do campaigns and emergency management have in common?  Hopefully, a lot. Marketing is an important role for emergency managers who must engage program sponsors, internal and external stakeholders and the public. In this episode of the Complete EM podcast, we talk with a veteran of many campaigns who has also worked in emergency management. Like other guests, he shares what works, what doesn't, and how to effectively market ideas and action.

Emergency managers don't often get a look inside incidents that occur in other jurisdictions or have to attend an annual conference to hear polished presentations months after incidents occur. Soon after the occupation of the Malheur Wildife Refuge, Harney County Judge Steven Grasty and Emergency Manager Loren Emang share what incident response was like at the local level; how a small rural community activated to address an unusual, large and complex incident

Some might say Public Assistance is the life blood of recovery for local and state governments following a major disaster.  It generates large federal expenditures, so program delivery is often fine-tuned for each disaster and, occasionally, the entire program is refined. That refinement process is now underway, so we caught up again with Gerard "Jerry" Quinn, a 30-year program veteran to hear what’s going on.  

Is climate change a bigger issue for emergency management than 9/11? That’s the contention of enough people now to suggest emergency managers need to do something about it. In this episode of the Complete EM Podcast, we define climate change, discuss its origins as a topic, the science behind it, its political implications, and what emergency managers can do about it.

Emergency managers who believe first responders get all the attention, credit and support during response may often be correct, but the latter don’t save more lives. Rather, the opportunity to do so lies with public information officers. In this episode of the Complete EM Podcast, we speak with a 30-year veteran of public information to hear how the profession has changed, what’s always been important to program and personal success, and where the profession is headed.

Ever wonder what Burning Man is all about?  How about what it's like to develop and manage a public safety department created for 70,000 people, one week per year? In this episode, we talk with the guy who was instrumental in putting it all together and keeping it running for 18 years. We also talk about the importance of pre-planning for special events.

Advance planning - understanding what might happen and what to do about it - is a cornerstone of great emergency management programs. Special events provide regular opportunities to practice our planning and deployment skills. Sgt. Fox joins us in this episode to discuss special event planning in one of the most populous counties in the U.S.