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🎙️ Disaster Tough Podcast – Joel Welsh & Pete Gaynor | Bright Harbor In this episode of the Disaster Tough Podcast, host John Scardena talks with Joel Welsh, founder of Bright Harbor, and Pete Gaynor, former FEMA Administrator, about the realities of disaster recovery in America.

The discussion opens with Joel’s personal experience during the Marshall Fire, where he saw firsthand how survivors struggle through a confusing and exhausting process of insurance claims, FEMA assistance, and SBA loans. That experience led to Bright Harbor’s model of assigning expert advisors to survivors, helping them navigate the system step by step. Pete Gaynor shares hard truths from his time leading FEMA: recovery is often the slowest and weakest part of emergency management, leaving survivors in limbo for months or even years. He points to examples like Hurricane Katrina, where federal recovery dollars are still being spent nearly two decades later.

Together, they dive into the biggest challenges survivors face: underinsurance, delayed payouts, lack of local recovery expertise, and the emotional toll of navigating bureaucracy while displaced. They explain how communities suffer long-term when recovery drags on, with families moving away, businesses closing, and neighborhoods never fully returning. This conversation is about more than policy — it’s about people. Joel and Pete emphasize the importance of survivor-first leadership, faster funding, and better systems that allow individuals and communities to rebuild their lives with dignity and speed.

👉 Listen now to hear Joel Welsh and Pete Gaynor break down what’s broken in disaster recovery, why survivors are often left behind, and how communities can do better.

To learn more about Bright Harbor: https://brightharbor.com

For a personal masterclass on leadership: www.femapete.com

Sponsors: Doberman Emergency Management www.dobermanemg.com

Impulse: www.impulsekits.com

For questions or Sponsorship requests: www.thereadinesslab.com

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