Prep Talk

To commemorate this year’s “Ready School of the Year,” NYC Emergency Management released a new episode of its emergency management podcast, “Prep Talk.” During the episode, NYC Emergency Management Assistant Commissioner Anita Sher and Sal Puglisi of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management discuss the importance of students developing emergency management skills earlier in their education. Puglisi discusses the overall mission of UASEM, including how the school combines in-class and hands-on experience to create a more holistic learning experience. The guests also highlight the impact the students have had in the community, providing emergency training to everyday New Yorkers.

Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk69

To mark the beginning of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the New York City Emergency Management Department today unveiled the City’s revised hurricane evacuation zones. New York City Emergency Management also relaunched the Know Your Zone hurricane awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to find out whether they live in one of the City’s six hurricane evacuation zones, and take steps to be prepared for coastal storms and hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk68

The New York City Emergency Management Department welcomes back John Scrivani to his new role as commissioner for the agency. Commissioner Scrivani brings a wealth of knowledge to the department, which includes leadership roles with New York City government, the New York City Police Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation. A member of public safety community for more than two decades, he is responsible for oversight of the City's efforts to plan and prepare for emergencies, educate the public about preparedness, coordinate emergency response and recovery, and disseminate emergency information.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk67

Ahead of her departure from NYC Emergency Management, NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell sat down with “Prep Talk” to discuss her tenure at the agency, including the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-evolving threat landscape that the country faces, the importance of equity across all emergency management operations, and the future of the emergency management field.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk66

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Laura Rog, NYC Service’s acting chief service officer, and Moriah Washington, New York City Emergency Management’s director of community engagement, share the impact that volunteers have on assisting agencies and organizations fulfill their mission during National Volunteer Month and throughout the year.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk65

To close out Women’s History Month in March and looking ahead to National Volunteering Month in April, NYC Emergency Management’s latest “Prep Talk” podcast episode highlights the careers of three female emergency managers and Peace Corps alumnae who share how their experiences, including both successes and challenges, have shaped them into the professionals they are today.

NYC Emergency Management’s Rachel Sulaymanov, executive director of government relations; Shraddha Ramani, director of public safety and the GIS data development center; and Lindsay Einhorn, interagency exercise specialist, discuss how their time with the Peace Corps impacted their careers and their lives, as well as their take on future of the emergency management field.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk64

Join us as we give a fond farewell to co-host Omar Bourne!

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk63

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions African Americans have made in U.S. history. In a year where COVID-19 has disproportionately ravaged minority communities, it has become transparent that inequities continue to plague neighborhoods where black and brown people reside. This harrowing reality has fast-tracked the need for the equitable distribution of resources to those hardest hit by the pandemic. On the latest episode of ‘Prep Talk,’ Dr. Torian Easterling, first deputy commissioner and chief equity officer at New York City’s Health Department, outlines the comprehensive strategies the department have implemented to ensure vulnerable New Yorkers receive fair and equal access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines. Dr. Easterling discusses the importance of leveraging relationships with houses of worships, nonprofits, community boards, and other trusted partners to build connections with wary community members.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk62

Donating blood can help save a life. That is the message New York Blood Center’s Andrea Cefarelli wants listeners to know on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” While January is recognized as National Blood Donor Month, Cefarelli encourages listeners to donate year-round. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a chronic deficit in blood donations needed for patients in the hospitals served by the New York Blood Center. Now more than ever, it is important to donate blood to ensure an adequate supply to support New York City hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk61

As the world turns the page to a year filled with new beginnings, an age-old concept should continue to ruminate at the forefront of every emergency manager’s mind: the need for more diversity in the field. That is the message Curtis Brown, state coordinator for Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), shares on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” In a candid discussion, Brown underscores the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in emergency management, noting that these concepts will help reverse inequitable practices that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations that often endure the worst of major emergencies and disasters. Moreover, Brown says emergency managers should integrate individuals from minority groups into every component of the emergency management process – from preparedness and outreach to response and recovery – to reverse systemic racism and structural biases that have plagued these communities throughout the years. He adds that emergency management could mimic the private sector’s model for representation, as studies have revealed the positive results diversity yields on decision making and tackling complex challenges.

Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk60