As responders are deployed for disasters near and far, how do their families react and manage the departure of their loved ones? We dig into the effects of disasters on the families of first responders. What does family preparedness for deployment look like and what is the family's role in helping manage the aftermath of stress on responders.

In this episode of the Disaster Podcast we look at the clinical issue of altitude illness. To cover this we have Dr. Joe Holley and mountain rescue and ski patrol specialist, Kyle Nelson. We look at the various signs and symptoms, potential for long term effects, treatments and more.

Dr. Joe Holley from Paragon Medical Education Group is featured in today's episode. He talks about his recent trip to the NAEMSP (National Association of EMS Physicians) conference in southern California. During the conference they focused on building more understanding between prehospital and hospital medical professionals. What do people in the hospital need to know about how first responders do their jobs and manage disaster situations.

Dan and Becky DePodwin drop by to share their meteorological expertise with the Disaster Podcast team. Becky talks about the recent wildfire in Colorado that devastated multiple communities and destroyed over 1,000 homes. Dan looks at the multiple winter storms that swept across the country and ended up stranding thousands of motorists on a major highway for over 24 hours.

Dr. Joe Holley and meteorologist Kyle Nelson join our regular co-hosts, Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis on today end-of-the-year episode. We take some time to look back at our favorite episodes and guests from the previous year. We also look forward to 2022 and what we want to cover more in the new year.

Recent storms and tornadoes struck five states with loss of life and severe structural and infrastructure damage. Our Disaster Podcast team discussed it in our weather predictions for the coming week in the episode previous to this one.

Dan Zehner from NHERI (Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure) comes on the show with a fascinating update of what these eleven institutions are up to with disaster infrastructure studies. We also had Dan DePodwin and Becky DePodwin join us to chat about weather impacts in the coming week here in the U.S. including winter storms and severe weather warnings.

Wilderness Search and Rescue educator, Moose Mutlow, joins the Disaster Podcast team for this week's episode. Just the beginning of his bio at MooseMutlow.com says: Moose has over 30 years of traditional and alternative education experience around the globe.

Jason Friesen, MPH, EMT-P from TrekMedics.org joins disaster podcast co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis on today's episode. Jason stops by to share an update of his organization's innovative mobile phone software and how it continues to help people around the world provide emergency services to their communities without 1st world infrastructure.

Today on the Disaster Podcast, we invited Dan McGuire from CISM Perspectives to come by the show and talk about Stress and the Holiday Season for First Responders. He talks about the importance of understanding the increased expectations most people have surrounding the holidays and how living up to those expectations and traditions can be difficult.