Local Relief LIVE

Recorded in July of last year 2025, 

Local Relief Live brings together leaders and innovators who are making a difference in disaster response and community resilience. In this episode, Heather Hackett sits down with Aaron Titus and explores the work behind Crisis Cleanup, a powerful platform that connects volunteers, organizations, and communities to coordinate recovery efforts following disasters.

The conversation highlights the challenges of disaster response, the importance of collaboration, and how technology can help communities recover more efficiently when they need it most.

 Moving Money in Minutes: How Fintech Can Transform Disaster Recovery

On this episode of Local Relief LIVE, we’re joined by powerhouse fintech leader and Payments As a Lifeline co-founder, Kirsten Trusko, for a deep and eye-opening conversation about the future of disaster recovery — and how financial systems can either slow relief down… or accelerate it with integrity.

Kirsten has testified before Congress, been recognized globally as a “FinTech Superhero,” and built coalitions that connect government, nonprofits, and the private sector to move money in minutes — to the right person, at the right time, for the right purpose — with the data to prove it.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why traditional disaster funding often gets stuck in bottlenecks
• How real-time payments, AML safeguards, blockchain, and AI can reduce fraud and increase transparency
• What “traceable, transparent, and accountable” relief funding actually looks like
• The importance of dignity in disaster aid delivery
• How fintech and community-based platforms like Local Relief can work together
• Why moving money quickly isn’t just efficiency — it’s resilience

Kirsten shares how Payments As a Lifeline (PaaLPay.org) is building a global coalition to ensure aid funds are delivered faster, safer, and with measurable accountability. She also discusses her work in high-risk, highly regulated sectors and what it takes to align profitability with purpose.

At its core, this episode is about something bigger than fintech.

It’s about ensuring that when disaster strikes, financial systems don’t become another barrier — but instead become a lifeline.

Kirsten’s work reminds us that resilience isn’t just about rebuilding structures. It’s about rebuilding trust — with transparency, speed, and accountability.

If you care about disaster resilience, fraud prevention, financial access, or the future of recovery systems, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now and learn how moving money for good can change everything. 

In this episode of Local Relief LIVE, host Heather Hackett sits down with Brock Long, former FEMA Administrator for the United States and current Executive Chairman of Hagerty Consulting, to discuss the future of disaster recovery, resilience, and the critical role of community in extreme weather response.

With decades of experience in emergency management, Brock shares his candid insights on what’s working — and what’s broken — in America’s disaster response system. From federal coordination to grassroots resilience, this conversation highlights why local action and communication are key to saving lives and restoring hope.

Together, Brock and Heather explore:

Why local communities are the true backbone of disaster recovery

The biggest challenges facing FEMA and emergency management today

How technology, like the Local Relief app, is redefining how people prepare for and recover from extreme weather

Lessons learned from leading FEMA through historic disasters

🎧 Tune in to hear how we can all play a role in creating a more resilient future — one community, one connection, and one recovery at a time.

#BrockLong #FEMA #HagertyConsulting #LocalReliefLIVE #EmergencyManagement #DisasterRecovery #Resilience #CommunityStrong #ExtremeWeather

Who really helps small businesses after a disaster? 🌪️

In this episode, Heather sits down with Stacey Dadd, Associate Director at Florida SBDC at USF, to explore how small businesses can find the support, resources, and guidance they need after hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.

👉 You’ll learn:

• Who small businesses can turn to after a disaster
• The critical resources SBDC provides for recovery and rebuilding
• How to access disaster assistance, funding, and community support
• Steps every business owner should take before and after a disaster

The Florida SBDC has been a lifeline for thousands of businesses across the Tampa Bay region and beyond. Stacey shares her 20+ years of expertise in marketing, communications, and recovery to show entrepreneurs how to rebuild stronger and smarter.

💚 Join the movement:
 1️⃣ Donate $1 to the #OneAppOneCommunity challenge (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5544826973)

 2️⃣ Download the free Local Relief app — your hub for disaster resources and recovery

 3️⃣ Share this episode to help other small businesses prepare

📲 Learn more & get involved: https://www.localrelief.com/

Hurricane season is coming — are you ready?
Don’t wait until it’s too late. In this episode, climate expert Bob Bunting joins us to break down what’s changing with today’s storms and how you can protect your home and community.

From rising ocean temps to vulnerable infrastructure, we unpack the realities of stronger, slower, and more dangerous storms — and how climate change plays a key role.

Whether you're on the coast or inland, knowing your risks and having a plan could save lives.

Timestamps:
[00:00:50] CAC: A Key Tool" why the climate science is still important
[00:04:12] Climate Champions" the good events every year.
[00:06:47] A Marine Heat Wave? is this the new norm?
[00:20:30] Storms In Florida: Are you taking into account your local infrastructure?
[00:26:01] How the location can increase risks and costs?

Share this with your community to help others stay safe
Subscribe for new life-saving tips every Thursday!

#hurricanepreparedness #climatechange #disasterpreparedness #severeweather #bobBunting #hurricaneseason #localrelief #weatherresilience #stormprep #floridaweather #communitysafety #climatecrisis #stormreadiness

What really happens when a hurricane hits — and how can we be ready?

Heather from Local Relief Live sits down with Erik Salna from FIU’s Extreme Events Institute to discuss hurricane risks, the groundbreaking Wall of Wind, the truth about building codes, and how education and mitigation can help you protect what matters most.

Don’t wait for the next storm to start preparing. The time is now.

Timestamps
 (0:00:46) What is the Wall of Wind?
(0:01:16) Hurricane Andrew
(0:02:51) Research and the Build Environment
(0:04:36) How did you get involved?
(0:06:26) Extreme Events Institute
(0:07:32) Building Codes
(00:12:50) The Hurricane Zone
(00:15:57) The Build Environment
(00:19:05) Homeowner Mitigation
(00:21:50) Education and Knowledge

What are you doing to prepare for hurricane season? Drop your tips and plans in the comments — let’s learn from each other 👇🏻
Share this with your community to help others stay safe
Subscribe for more life-saving info every Thursday

Connect with featured profiles:
Instagram - @fiuinstagram
LinkedIn - @florida-international-university
Facebook - @floridainternational
X (Twitter) - @fiu
YouTube - @FloridaInternational
Erik Salna LinkedIn - @erik-salna-b0810755
Erik Salna X - @ExtremeWxExp

#hurricanepreparedness #wallofwind #hurricaneprep #mitigation #disasterreadiness #extremeweather #stormseason #windengineering #hurricanetips #FIU #ErikSalna #localrelief #preparedness #resilientcommunities #weatherready

Maximizing FEMA Assistance with | SBP | Claire Balsley

What if you could get 90%+ MORE from FEMA?
Most FEMA applicants are denied at first — but the story doesn’t end there. In this must-watch episode, Claire Balsley from @SBPUSA and Heather from Local Relief Live break down how disaster survivors can successfully appeal FEMA determinations and receive significantly more support.

Discover how SBP equips families with tools like free contractor estimates, expert appeal writing, and critical damage assessments — empowering them to maximize recovery.

Are you ready for the next power outage?

Join Heather from Local Relief Live as she talks with Jason Sutton of @firmanpowerequipment about how to prepare for disasters, stay safe, and keep the lights on during any storm! 

Save 30% + Free Shipping at FirmanPowerEquipment.com
Use code: LOCAL30

Local Relief talks with Mike Boylan from Mike's Weather Page. You can find Mike at the links below. 

Website - https://spaghettimodels.com/
FB -   / mikesweatherpage 
IG -   / mikes_weather_page 
YouTube -    / mikesweatherpage 
X -   / tropicalupdate 
TikTok -   / mikesweatherpage