By JENNIFER GRAY THOMPSON
5
44 ratings
The podcast currently has 96 episodes available.
“If you're just doing a very limited role and not maximizing your contribution, you're selling yourself short. And it's probably not why you were selected.” -Aristotle Wolfe
Episode Description:
When disaster strikes, police officers take on the difficult but vital role of protecting the public. They establish security perimeters, communicate warnings, and keep other first responders safe, all while making fast decisions under pressure. Truly these officers are invaluable pillars of strength for communities in need, facing uncertainty and risks to their well-being to protect others from threats.
In this episode, Jennifer interviews CHP Officer Aristotle Wolfe to discuss the crucial but often unseen roles of law enforcement during emergencies, effective communication strategies, the importance of cross-agency cooperation, ways in which citizens can support first responders and continually improve our disaster recovery systems, plus much more.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
03:13 A Unique Job Description
08:08 What The Job Means
14:04 Who Plays Which Role?
17:01 Communication Lessons
22:34 Leader of Leaders
26:04 CHP’s Role in Supporting Local Officials
31:05 Be a Human Being
39:15 Maximize Your Role
46:32 Mental Health Support for Law Enforcement Officers
“You do have to bring in some science and some education. But there is something that people who have this generational knowledge can teach.” -Algeo Che Casul
Episode Description:
Mega fires pose a grave threat to private lands across California in the era of climate change. As hotter, drier conditions fuel larger and more destructive wildfires, the majority of wildlands that surround communities remain in private ownership. Adopting ecologically-minded stewardship techniques is necessary to not only protect personal property but also safeguard surrounding communities from the devastation of mega-fires.
In this episode, Jennifer interviews Algeo Che Casul, a seventh-generation rancher in Sonoma County. In addition to operating his ranch, Che runs the local nonprofit Circuit Rider Community Services which teaches at-risk youth ecological land management practices through paid vocational programs.
Tune in as Jennifer and Che discuss effective practices to mitigate mega-fires, the benefits and challenges of these stewardship techniques, invasive species impacting the landscape, strategies to build more fire-resilient communities, as well as helpful insights into balancing fire safety, sustainability, and equity concerns as climate change drives larger wildland fires.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebuildNorthBay/
X: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
05:28 Prescribed Fires
11:08 Education for Land Treatment
15:23 The Grazers Controversy and Responsible Land Stewardship
24:01 Wildfires and Their Impacts on Residents
27:26 Resiliency Practices
30:45 Priority Checklist
36:19 Fire Forward
41:16 Energy and Equity
45:20 Generational Sustainability
“Don't expect to go through it yourself. People will want to help, ask for it. And then when you get through your disaster, pay it forward.” -Margie Foster
Episode Description:
When catastrophe strikes, it falls to ordinary citizens to come together, support each other, and lead the recovery efforts from the ground up. And in these moments, they also discover inner strength and resilience within themselves and their community. By banding together through difficult times, they can help rebuild and renew their town stronger than before.
Margie Foster, a longtime resident of Glen Ellen, shares her first-hand experience of evacuating from the Tubbs Fire and the emotional toll it took on her tight-knit community. She discusses the frustration of the slow rebuilding process in the first year, the challenges of mitigating fire-damaged land, how she helped coordinate a local rehousing initiative and secure funding to support fire survivors.
Join in as Jennifer and Margie reflect on the importance of “neighbor helping neighbor” in times of crisis and valuable lessons on community preparedness, the emotional toll of disaster, and innovative ways citizens can lead recovery efforts through connectivity and grassroots organization.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebuildNorthBay/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
03:59 Surviving the Devastating Fire
10:22 Disaster Preparedness and Community Response
17:57 Rehousing Initiatives
23:08 Disaster Relief Efforts and Community Resilience
29:09 Rebuilding Challenges
33:04 Recovery and Emergent Leadership
"Be prepared so you can help, because everyone needs everybody in this situation." -Joshua Farrell
Preparation isn't just about survival— it's about having the capacity to help others. Our ability to lend a hand can significantly ease the burden and contribute to a faster recovery for the entire community.
In the previous episode, we covered the basics of individual disaster preparedness with citizen prepper, Josh Farrell. This week, Josh continues unpacking the contents of his go bag, sharing additional items that can help us transition from basic preparedness to a more proactive role.
Stay tuned as Jennifer and Josh cover communication and respiration needs to stay connected when infrastructure fails, rations and essentials to keep us fueled until assistance arrives, building necessities that allow innovative solutions in dire straits, pets necessities to reduce their anxiety during disaster, clothing, disinfection, and navigation supplies to keep us healthy on the move, and power supplies to ensure we can keep our lines open to coordinate relief efforts.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebuildNorthBay/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
02:06 Check #1- Communication and Respiration
07:41 Check #2- Rations and Essentials
17:38 Check #3- Building Necessities
23:20 Check #4- Shelter and Pets and Sunblock?
39:44 Check #5-Clothing, Disinfection, and Navigation
36:07 How Heavy?
39:16 Check #6- Power Supply
43:04 Prepared to Help
“If you're prepared, you're not freaking out, you're taken care of, and you can help other people.” -Joshua Farrell
Being prepared for disaster is crucial for citizens and communities alike. When emergencies like wildfires or other natural hazards strike, they can overwhelm local response efforts and leave many residents vulnerable in the aftermath. However, with some basic preparation at an individual level, people can significantly improve their resilience and ability to weather crises.
In this two-part podcast series, Jennifer interviews her friend, Josh Farrell, about his experiences with the devastating 2017 wildfires in Sonoma County, California, and how it prompted him to become more prepared for emergencies as a citizen.
In part one, Josh shares his harrowing experience evacuating his elderly mother from the rapidly advancing wildfires. He recounts the chaotic scenes upon returning to find the town without power or resources. This personal encounter was the catalyst for Josh to seriously focus on disaster readiness.
Listen in as Jennifer and Josh talk about the importance of promptly heeding evacuation orders, must-haves in a go-bag, ways to ensure that necessary documents are accessible, how to maintain preparedness, and how even small steps at an individual level can boost community resilience in the face of catastrophe.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebuildNorthBay/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
03:34 Fire Evacuation and Preparedness
07:39 The Impact of Wildfire
11:07 Firefighting Efforts
14:52 How to Prep
19:03 Emergency Response Strategies
23:55 What to Have In Your Go Bag
32:51 Other Essentials
“Don't isolate first responders by making them into heroes. The greatest thing that anyone can do is just say, ‘thank you for your service.’” -Susan Farren
“We owe it to our first responders to do whatever we can to help make their jobs easier.” -Bailey Farren
Episode Description:
Our first responders and healthcare workers sacrifice so much to care for our communities during times of crisis. They put their own health and safety at risk on a daily basis to save lives. However, the trauma and stress of responding to disaster after disaster take a tremendous toll. Thus, we must find ways to support their well-being. Truly, our first responders deserve nothing less for their selfless service.
In this episode, Jennifer interviews two outstanding pioneers in this field, Susan Farren, Founder of First Responders Resiliency, a nonprofit organization that provides proactive training to help mitigate the effects of trauma and stress for first responders, and Bailey Farren, CEO and co-founder of Perimeter, a map-based platform to provide real-time situational information to first responders and citizens. With over 33 years of experience as a paramedic, Sue was inspired to start First Responders Resiliency after being diagnosed with kidney cancer and learning about the health impacts experienced by many in the first responder community. On the other hand, Bailey was motivated to start Perimeter after seeing how first responders and those affected lacked access to up-to-date information.
Join in as Jennifer, Sue, and Bailey dive deep into the increasing toll that responding to massive, fast-moving wildfires is taking on first responders' mental and physical health. They also highlight ways to create innovative solutions to support first responders, the challenges of funding organizations in this space, scaling technology to reach more communities, and valuable insights into how communities can better partner with and care for the public servants risking their lives every day to keep us safe.
Connect with After The Fire USA:
Website : https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/after-the-fire-usa-8241b7217/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
01:17 Different but Effective Ways to Help the Helpers
09:38 Improving Disaster Response Through Geospatial Mapping
12:29 First Responders Mental Health
16:07 Fire Safety and Tech to Reduce Anxiety for First Responders
24:40 Funding Challenges
32:20 Showing Support and Gratitude
40:14 Community Preparedness for Disasters
43:07 Resiliency Centers for First Responders
“Being a volunteer is a privilege… I wasn't documented so I volunteered a lot. And that volunteer work led many doors to be opened up for me.” -Jocksana Corona
Episode Description:
When disaster strikes a community, ordinary people frequently discover an inner strength and sense of purpose they never knew they possessed. Driven by a desire to help their neighbors through difficult circumstances, emergent leaders step forward to direct rescue efforts, organize relief supplies, provide calm guidance, and more. Though they may lack formal titles or training, these individuals understand that leadership isn't defined by a position, but rather by one's willingness to serve others in their hours of greatest need.
Jocksana Corona exemplified what it means to be an emergent leader, rising to the forefront of her community's response and recovery efforts following the devastating Alameda Fire in Southern Oregon. Through empathy, initiative, and an unwavering commitment to helping others, she made a profound difference for many families during an incredibly challenging time.
Tune in as Jocksana discusses the obstacles faced by mixed-status families in navigating recovery systems not designed with their needs in mind, the emotional toll of loss, and the strength and resilience required in supporting others in the face devastation.
Connect with After the Fire: Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine.
Website : https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/after-the-fire-usa-8241b7217/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
01:28 When the Reg Flag Stands
16:46 Stuck In Between Two Fires
21:53 A Tearful, Sleepless Night
25:40 Finding Shelter Amidst COVID
30:44 Being a Volunteer is a Privilege
41:19 The Beauty of a Community
45:53 Challenges Faced by the Undocumented Community
56:39Housing and Undocumented Communities
01:03:16 54 Days and Reunited
“You're in that place where disaster hasn't hit you, but you know it’s coming. Start training now.” -Tennis Wick
Episode Description:
In the aftermath of the devastating 2017 wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes in Sonoma County, Tennis Wick found himself at the center of recovery efforts as the director of Permit Sonoma.
This interview explores how to effectively navigate the dual roles of public servant and fire survivor in the crucial period after the fires. Listen in as Tennis details the immense challenges of the initial disaster phase from managing emergency response operations around the clock to setting up a local assistance center where displaced residents could access vital services.
Jennifer and Tennis also discuss how Permit Sonoma adapted its processes to better serve overwhelmed homeowners seeking permits with a commitment to rapid five-day turnarounds, creative problem-solving through the block captain system and leveraging community relationships, and lessons learned about the importance of mitigation and managing wildfire risk proactively.
Connect with After the Fire: Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine.
Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/after-the-fire-usa-8241b7217/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
02:11: On the Disaster Frontline
11:15: Meeting the Needs
16:04: How to Approach Rebuild Projects
20:35 The Role of a Block Captain
25:15 The Problem with Contractor Fraud
30:19 Be Disaster Smart
36:51 Risk Mitigation is a Collective Effort
42:31 How Helpers Can Help Themselves
SERIES: Role of the Non-Profit
“You cannot approach a community without respecting in full who they are and their autonomy. If you can't approach it that way, it's going to come off as ingenuine, and they're going to read it right away, and that disengages people right off the bat.” -Alma Bowen
Episode Description:
In the event of a disaster, first responders receive calls beyond number, but only a small fraction of these come from communities that need help the most. Oftentimes, they are the last to receive assistance because of language barriers, documentation issues, disabilities, and lack of technical knowledge. Hence, this episode focuses on helping 3 of the most vulnerable groups build resiliency: the Latin X community, seniors, and undocumented immigrants. Tune in as Jennifer and Alma Bowen, the CEO and Founder of Nuestra Comunidad, discuss the best practices and most appropriate approaches to bring the culture of preparedness and resiliency into these communities. They talk about practical steps to address problems in communicating information, creating an alert system, power outage, evacuation plans, and transportation. In addition to helping communities, hear how Alma and her team launched a special project on training the younger generations to become Preparedness Ambassadors. As a former 9-1-1 Emergency Services Dispatcher, Alma also shares how first responders can cope up with personal losses and trauma as they continue to serve the community. Join the conversation and discover ways to strengthen your capacity to serve!
Connect with After the Fire: Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine. Website : https://afterthefireusa.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA X: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/after-the-fire-usa-8241b7217/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
05:12: A Life-Altering Night
13:52: Helping the Vulnerable Population
25:07: Training Young “Preparedness Ambassadors”
30:06: Acknowledging the Bigger Problems
36:18: Meeting the Needs of the Undocumented Population
44:38: Helping the Senior Population
50:05 Building Capacity
53:04: How to Serve
SERIES: Role of the Public Sector Leader
“Sometimes we think physically doing something for someone is what's best for them. But sometimes they just want someone to hear their story… Sit back and listen. People want to be heard.” -Christa López
Episode Description:
There are so many layers to unpack in a disaster. Everything happens so quickly, people are anxious, supplies are running low, and people’s lives and livelihoods are at risk. If you are a leader, you may be challenged with making sure you address the needs of each community in your jurisdiction and help them develop resiliency at the same time. This can be a demanding yet exciting task. In this episode, Jennifer interviews one of the strong leaders of today, Dr. Christa López. Dr. López is the Chief of Staff for Community Development and Revitalization for the Texas General Land Office. Listen in as they teach how you can obtain the best knowledge possible during a crisis, find trustworthy investments, get the most of your insurance, and prepare for necessities during the YOYO (You’re On Your Own) period in a disaster. Dr. López also shares valuable insights for long-term recovery in terms of disaster housing, managing donations, and considering the culture of a community. Whether you are a leader or a community member, you can find ways to help- the right way. And sometimes, that help is simply becoming a friend who is ready to sit and listen to the victims.
Connect with After the Fire: Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine. Website : https://afterthefireusa.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheFireUSA X: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/after-the-fire-usa-8241b7217/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ
Highlights:
02:52: Life Lessons About Real Life Disasters
09:10: The First Step- Investments
15:12: Taking Care of the Needs of Those in Your Jurisdiction
18:26: Considerations Before Making Donations
21:44: Respect for Community Culture
24:21: Sit and Listen
31:05: Where Can You Help
36:18: How to be Resilient
42:00: Always Document
46:15: Disaster Housing and Innovations
52:20: No One Should be Re-traumatized
The podcast currently has 96 episodes available.