Veteran emergency manager Todd Hutchings draws on decades of experience from the front lines of CAL FIRE to the consulting world, delivering a powerful message about getting "back to basics" with wildfire preparedness. Discover why he believes true resilience starts at the grassroots level, the importance of low-impact mitigation like goat grazing, and why communities can't afford to wait for FEMA to solve their problems.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Back to Basics: Why the most effective preparedness starts with simple, fundamental actions.

• The Consultant's Role: How to help organizations focus on prevention first, not just recovery paperwork.

• Lessons from Pebble Beach: Using low-impact mitigation like goat grazing in high-value communities.

• The "What If" Mindset: The importance of planning for the unknown and expecting the unexpected.

• Leadership is Key: Why a lack of forward-thinking leadership is one of the biggest obstacles to community safety.

• The Frontier Mentality: The need to embrace self-reliance and neighbor-helping-neighbor instead of waiting for federal aid.

• Your Go-Bag: A critical reminder to have your bag ready—and maybe even keep it in your car during fire season.