Disaster Tough Podcast

The late comedian Robin Williams once said, “Hurricanes are getting bigger and bigger, yet they usually give them names that don’t inspire fear.”

While the names of hurricanes may not always be intimidating, not knowing where it's going, what it can do, or how to be ready when the storm hits is an extremely worrisome place to be.

This week’s guest on the Disaster Tough Podcast, Jamie Rhome, knows this well.
Jamie is the Interim Director of the National Hurricane Center. He is also a certified meteorologist and considered one of the nation’s foremost subject matter experts on storm surge.

He has put that expertise into practice on the national level, working as a scientific policy analyst under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

In this episode, Jamie talks about how to be ready for and mitigate the effects of a hurricane or tropical storm. He also discusses how agencies can better work together in their response to such situations.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

“Success has to do with deliberate practice. Practice must be focused, determined, and in an environment where there's feedback,” said prominent writer, Malcom Gladwell.

This was the idea behind the recent three-day exercise held in Indiana called “Operation Lights Out”.

The exercise involved Emergency Managers from various entities in the Hoosier state along with officials from FEMA including this week’s guest, Jessica Kindig.

Jessica is the Emergency Management Coordinator for IUPUI and served as the main organizer for “Operation Lights Out”.

In this episode, she recaps the exercise, the lessons learned, the improvement that was seen over the three days, and where the various Emergency Management entities in Indiana hope to go from here.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

“A boring day is a good day” is a mantra that campus Emergency Managers like Debbi Fletcher live by every day.

Debbi joins the Disaster Tough Podcast from Indiana University in Bloomington where she is the Director of Emergency Management and Continuity.

She brings more than a decade’s worth of experience to the field from the campus side of things along with the government perspective in her previous role with the City of Indianapolis.

In this episode, Debbi discusses the differences between Emergency Management on campus and off. With multiple IU facilities under her watch throughout the state, Debbi also discusses the differences in response and coordination depending on where the situation occurs.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

“A boring day is a good day” is a mantra that campus Emergency Managers like Debbi Fletcher live by every day.

Debbi joins the Disaster Tough Podcast from Indiana University in Bloomington where she is the Director of Emergency Management and Continuity.

She brings more than a decade’s worth of experience to the field from the campus side of things along with the government perspective in her previous role with the City of Indianapolis.

In this episode, Debbi discusses the differences between Emergency Management on campus and off. With multiple IU facilities under her watch throughout the state, Debbi also discusses the differences in response and coordination depending on where the situation occurs.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

Lightning in a Bottle: Drones for Good - Interview with Chief Eric Funkhouser

“Work smarter, not harder,” is a saying that has been inspiring productivity for nearly 100 years.

Chief Eric Funkhouser of the Bargersville Community Fire Department in Indiana has been doing just that for the better part of the past decade using drones in their rescue operations.

As one of the first departments with a drone operation in the entire State of Indiana, the Bargersville Community Fire Department has become a model to follow for similar organizations around the country when it comes to drone operations in search and rescue and disaster response.

Chief Funkhouser believes drones can save considerable time and money in disaster response and search and rescue operations. In this episode, Chief Funkhouser shares compelling stories of this belief in practice both in his jurisdiction and those nearby.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

Granite countertops, or proper safety precautions for your home? These are the questions we explore in this week’s episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast featuring filmmaker George Siegal.

George is responsible for the acclaimed documentary, “The Last House Standing” which explores why homes are still being built that CANNOT withstand the effects of a hurricane, fire, or tornado, despite the technology existing to do so.

Recently, George spent time at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando where he partnered with The Readiness Lab as the Official Media Partner.

In this episode, George discusses the various things homeowners can look for to make sure their homes are ready and safe for whatever disaster may arise.

In this episode, George discusses the various things homeowners can look for to make sure their homes are ready and safe for whatever disaster may arise.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

As the weather warms, so does the need for readiness and awareness from those living in the potential path of a hurricane.

Hurricane Season in the United States spans from June 1 to November 30, and in an effort to promote readiness for this potentially perilous time, experts from all over the world have traditionally joined together at the National Hurricane Conference, and this week’s guest, Greg Padgett is one of the people responsible for that.

Greg is an award-winning meteorologist who serves as one of the main organizers of the conference. The 2022 edition recently happened in April and in this episode, Greg and John recap its many highlights.

Greg also talks about the future of hurricane readiness in the United States. Why do more major storms seem to be happening each year? What can be done to prepare and educate the public?

In this episode, Greg also shares his backstory and what led him to a career covering and analyzing major disasters such as hurricanes. He and John also look ahead to the 2023 National Hurricane Conference happening in New Orleans.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

John looks ahead to The Readiness Lab's upcoming Emergency Management Response for Dynamic Populations Course being held August 1-5 in Atlanta and reflects on the SUSAR MSOC Conference of last week.

Emergency Management Response for Dynamic Populations

To register: thereadinesslab.com/dynamic-populations

Ben Franklin’s quote may be the best way to describe the experience that Disaster Tough Podcast host, John Scardena had at the recent SUSAR & MSOC Conference in Columbia, South Carolina where he was a featured presenter.

In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, John recaps the many valuable lessons learned at the conference through collaboration with rescue workers, interactive training, and real-world scenarios presented by experts in the industry from all over the world.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com

Technology continues to make life easier in many walks of life and Emergency Management is no different.

Over the past decade, Heidi Hessler has been at the forefront of that effort as Co-Founder and CEO of Futurity IT. Their GIS and mobile enabled software tools aim to assist organizations in the way they communicate, coordinate and collaborate especially during disasters such as wildfires, floods or even training exercises where multiple organizations are involved.

In this episode, Heidi talks about some of those instances where effective communication and collaboration was aided by technology and data during a disaster. She also talks about the broader advantage of having more data available at your fingertips and how it can make the response efforts more effective

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.

When a child goes missing, time is of the essence. So, the quality of the information and effectiveness of its distribution is paramount.

Eddie Bertola, AMBER Alert Coordinator for California Highway Patrol understands this and in 2018, he began working to improve his state’s AMBER Alert plan.

Despite the ability to reach most citizens through their smartphones, Eddie and his team found that only a small fraction of those receiving the messages were able to access additional and vital information when using the link provided in the original AMBER Alert message.

After working for months with Community Outreach and Media Relations professionals, CHP launched the state’s first AMBER Alert Twitter Account. As a result, CHP saw a major increase in the percentage of people accessing AMBER Alert information with more than 98% of readers being able to receive the message in a matter of minutes and even comment or leave tips in real time.

Such success has set Eddie Bertola apart as THE subject matter expert in the field of mass messaging during times of emergency. He brings that wisdom and experience to this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, talking about how such innovation is possible for every agency through quality training, and a willingness to buy in and apply what is taught.

Doberman Emergency Management owns and operates the Disaster Tough Podcast. Contact us here at: www.dobermanemg.com or email us at: [email protected].

We are proud to endorse L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

The Readiness Lab is trailblazing disaster readiness. Early access for the highly anticipated course emergency management response for dynamic populations is currently live. Think you have what it takes? Join us in Atlanta for an immersive experience. Space is limited to 40. Go to thereadinesslab.com/training to learn more.