Prep Talk

Volunteering is good for you, and it is good for your City! In honor of National Volunteer Week, “Prep Talk” hosts chatted with Paula Gavin, NYC Service chief service officer, and Jonas Ballreich, deputy director for Community Resilience at NYC Emergency Management about the importance of volunteers before and during emergencies. You will also hear from two Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers who help to build stronger, more resilient communities through their service.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk9

Donations and emergency management go hand in hand. In this episode of “Prep Talk,” experts from NYC Emergency Management, the NYC Department of Sanitation’s donateNYC program, and the Salvation Army of Greater New York discuss donations during times of disaster, including what the City does to help communities through “donations management,” as well as the best ways New Yorkers can help those in need.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk8

In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, the latest “Prep Talk” episode features women in emergency management. The podcast hosts sat down with MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region III, Christina Farrell, Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs at NYC Emergency Management, and Samantha Phillips, Director of the National Center for Security and Preparedness (NCSP) at the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany).

The episode takes a close look at each woman’s journey and highlights each successes and challenges in the field. The guests reflect on how major emergencies — including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and the Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia — have shaped emergency management both on the local and national level, and look ahead to the continued evolution of the field.

Listen to find out how the public can get involved, and why community engagement is important in preparedness.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk7

It’s not too late to get your flu shot. That’s the message Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, has for New Yorkers. Dr. Daskalakis is the feature guest on the latest episode of “Prep Talk”, the NYC Emergency Management Department’s podcast series. Listen as Dr. Daskalakis discusses the efficacy of the flu vaccine and debunks some of the myths about this season’s flu virus. Find out who’s most at risk to contract the flu, whether or not you can get sick from taking the flu shot, and learn some of the best methods of preventing the virus.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk6

The latest “Prep Talk” episode focuses on the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system and the upcoming FCC vote on January 30. “Prep Talk” hosts sit down with NYC Emergency Management’s Christine Maier, Director of Watch Command, and Benjamin Krakauer, Assistant Commissioner for Strategy and Program Development, to discuss New York City emergency messaging procedures and protocols. In addition, Assistant Commissioner Krakauer urges the FCC to adopt additional improvements, including multimedia alerting, to the proposed rules released in the public Draft Order ahead of the January 30 vote.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk5

Oh no, say it ain’t snow! In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi sit down with Chief Edward Grayson, Director of the Bureau of Cleaning and Collection at the City’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY), to discuss snow removal in the city. Chief Grayson walks listeners through how DSNY prepares the city for a snow event, and provides a behind-the-scenes look into the plans and procedures that take place before the first snowflake.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk4

In this episode, Prep Talk sits down with NYC Emergency Management Press Secretary Nancy Silvestri and comedian Mark Benjamin, who introduce a new winter weather public service announcement, and also discuss the importance of keeping New Yorkers informed about how to be ready for emergencies this winter season.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk3

"Prep Talk" looks back at the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season with Gary Conte, Warning and Coordinating Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, and Henry Jackson, NYC Emergency Management's Deputy Commissioner for Technology & Strategic Resources.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk2

Episode 1 of "Prep Talk," the emergency management podcast brought to you by the New York City Emergency Management Department.

Read full transcript: https://on.nyc.gov/preptalk1