This week on episode 84 we are talking about Artificial Intelligence and how it can help Emergency Managers, plan for, and respond to disasters. Natural disasters are out of the reach and influence of human beings. However, a lot can be done to minimize the loss of lives. Artificial intelligence is one viable option that can potentially prevent massive loss of lives while at the same time make rescue efforts easy and efficient.

This week we talk to Anne Stauffer of the Pew Charitable Trusts. Anne surveyed state emergency managers and their staffs requesting information on 2012-16 spending for state-funded disaster assistance programs, expenditures related to federal programs, and federal reimbursements received. Pew then determined each state’s total disaster spending

This week we are talking to Charles Lane about emergency management in hospitals. The Book Five Days at Memorial lays the groundwork for the reason to have a dedicated EM at your hospital. However, some people have not headed the challenge. Charles talks to us about the challenges and victories in hospital emergency management.

This week we talk to Tiffany Everett From Good360 a non-profit that connects business with other non-profits providing services to the community. This service allows the non-profit to spend more of their money on providing services rather than buying items. How Good360 fits in the EM space? They are experts in donations management, relieving the second disaster of donations.

This week we are talking about community preparedness at the grassroots. The Northeast L.A. Disaster Survival Task Force was born out of frustration from a group of community members that could not find disaster information for their neighborhood. They found general information, however, they felt that there could be more. Mark Lagacé one of the founding members of the group is here with us today to tell us how they formed and about their award-winning information piece.

This week we are discussing the role of the non-government disaster response organizations. Since 2000 there has been a steady increase in the number of organizations not affiliated with government that are responding to and doing an effective job during and after a disaster. Texas Disaster Inc, is a company that was formed after Hurricane Harvey by Jon Cole.

This week we are talking about keeping our schools safe with peer leadership. Julia Gabor brings us an excellent program that helps recognize teens that are at risk for violence and brings them into the mainstream with peer to peer workshops and more. Julia’s unique program may be that answer to help reduce school violence.

This week we are talking about going to school. Yep, that is right we are talking about the professional development of the emergency manager and higher education. Dr. Kemp from Capella University, one of the first Ph.D.’s in Emergency Management joins us to talk about how EM programs have developed and where they are heading.

This week EM Weekly Wants to Thank you for being a loyal listener of EM Weekly. We talk a little about what the future holds for EM Weekly, and we take a look at how disasters are shaping up for 2018.

This week we are talking Civil Defense with Preston Le Roy Schleinkofer from the Civil Defense Virginia. Preston has written for Michael Mabee’s blog on civil defense and is very active in organizing his state of Virginia and helping others start their own Civil Defense organizations.