Ice jam floods form when river ice jams along with pinch points and sharp turns in rivers after breaking up during warm or rainy weather. The ice jam acts as a dam, backing water up into riverine communities. This episode investigates the science and impacts of these unusual floods through interviews near the Pennsylvania-New York-New Jersey tri-state. Guests include Tom Vicchiariello, Director of Emergency Management for Port Jervis, New York; Bill Clark, President of Matamoras-Westfall Historical Society; and George and Betty Reaggs, long-time residents of the area.

It's amazing how much we rely on our phones and cell technology during major storms. In this episode, Jonathan Feuer, Vice President of Business Development for CellAntenna Wireless, shares insights about cellular technology with a special focus on natural disasters. He shares how Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) can be used to enhance cell service and gives advice on how homeowners, business owners, and managers of large facilities can take proactive steps to become better connected all the time.

Leona Chereshnoski provides stories from one of the snowiest inhabited places on Earth, recorded at her family’s farmstead on the Tug Hill Plateau of Upstate New York. Leona provides practical insights related to the importance of removing heavy snow loads from roofs and winter driving safety. She also shares about the importance of snow in this region, as winter tourism is a large part of the local economy. Leona’s family has turned the dairy farm into Old Lard’s Barn Bed and Breakfast, located right on the extensive snowmobile trail network that connects to many restaurants and other attractions.

German civil engineer Steffen Krei shares perspective on flood protection in Germany in this international episode of the GeoTrek podcast. This interview provides insights into Germany’s long-term flood records, major flood events, and efforts to protect the country in vulnerable ports like Hamburg. Mr. Krei also shares his personal reflections about growing up in East Germany, and how drastically life changed when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Mark Rayome is the building code official in Camden, New York, a village in the heart of the snow belt that receives more than 200 inches of snowfall annually. This high-energy episode covers a wide variety of topics, including Mark's passion for history, cross-cultural experiences, building codes and waste water treatment. This interview is particularly applicable for people thinking about construction practices in areas with extreme weather.

Don Gale and his wife Jodi have run Twin Maple SugarWorks in Lincoln, Vermont, since 1998. They produce certified organic, pure maple syrup in a 5200-tap sugarbush at the base of Mount Ellen. In this podcast, Don shares his wealth of experience to explain the intricacies of maple syrup production, including the impacts of weather and climate on this iconic regional product.

This is a question on a lot of people’s minds, as Christmas is right around the corner. Listen to this episode or read the article, What is the probability of a white Christmas this year? on geo-trek.com: https://geo-trek.com/blog/what-is-the-probability-of-a-white-christmas-this-year

Bonus episode: listen in as Geotrek guest host, Shaq Vaxter, interviews the Poor People's Campaign of Sacramento. Hear how they're working together with policymakers to develop solutions for the unhoused communities of California, and how they handled the pandemic to make sure the homeless were cared for.

This episode picks up with Megan's life in Guam, her adventures around the Tropical Pacific and Southeast Asia, and then her move to Death Valley, California, the site of the hottest recorded temperature on Earth. Megan shares about the beauty of Death Valley’s parched landscape, as well as a firsthand account of what it was like to feel temperatures reach 130F. She shares the tragic personal story of losing most of her possessions in a wildfire, and valuable perspectives on life, cultures, and travel. If you’re into adventure travel you absolutely do not want to miss this action-packed episode!

Adventurers and explorers, this episode is for you! Megan McAlonis Hernandez is a National Park Service employee who is currently stationed in New Mexico. For almost two decades, she has worked with the NPS, living in remote places like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Guam. During that time, she has traveled extensively, visiting 35 countries and 46 states. This episode is great for adventure travelers, as we hear Megan’s stories about exotic excursions—including trekking in the Himalayas, diving in the tropical Pacific Islands, and safaris in East Africa. This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on Megan’s adventure travels.