prepare. respond. recover.

If you have spent any time in the Northeast during the winter (or in other areas of the world with regular snowfall), you may have seen on the local TV or heard on the radio that schools and businesses are closed due to snow. We call this a snow day. COVID-19 has impacted the way we live our lives, and the world has just experienced the largest collective snow day in the history of snow days. Mark McCourt waves the tail of what it means to pivot and make changes due to unforeseen problems (Black Swan events), as well as make changes due to issues that we should have seen coming (Gray Rhino events).

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

Join us as host Todd De Voe sits down with the CEO of one of the most dynamic, disaster recovery non-profits in the United States, SBP. SBP was founded in March of 2006 by Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney after they volunteered at St. Bernard Parish after Hurricane Katrina. Rosenburg noticed a deficiency in how recovery was being done, and together he and Liz put a plan in place to help rebuild a community in need. Today, SBP has built thousands of homes for disaster victims across the United States with a simple five step plan. Tune in now for this must-listen episode of the prepare.respond.recover podcast.

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

Jeff Schlegelmilch joins us to discuss the educational programs that the faculty and staff of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute are bringing to the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo this year, taking place November 17-18 at the Javits Center in New York City. As a veteran in the emergency management space and host of his own podcast “Disaster Politics,” Schlegelmilch’s lively discussion touches on issues we all face while working in emergency management. Listen in today and learn more about NDEM Expo at www.ndemevent.com.

For more than 35 years, IEM has been advising government agencies and industry professionals on improving protection for people and infrastructure. In this episode, we talk to Bryan Koon, Vice President of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, on how IEM works with numerous public and private organizations to increase their capability to battle emerging threats, as well as apply technology to gain efficiency and resiliency.

Thank you to our sponsor, ILC Dover for their support. Visit them at https://www.ilcdover.com/flood-protection/

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

In 2020, we saw stadiums, arenas, concert halls, and convention centers go dark. While some facilities transformed to care centers and vaccination sites, others started planning for fans to return under new COVID guidelines. Not only do these large event spaces need to take into account man-made or natural crisis situations, now they must plan for a safe and healthy return of guests. So much goes on behind the scenes to make sure your trip to the ballpark is not only enjoyable, but safe. In this episode we talk with James DeMeo, founder of Unified Sports & Entertainment Security Consulting. DeMeo, who consulted on the opening of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, shares with us what you don’t see behind the scenes.

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

Thank you to our sponsor, ILC Dover for their support. Visit them at https://www.ilcdover.com/flood-protection/

From Superstorm Sandy to Hurricane Maria and the Baltimore Riots, communications and network interoperability are key. Hughes provides an array of satellite communications solutions that allow key stakeholders to stay connected. When terrestrial lines go down and cell towers are damaged, Hughes delivers the essential connectivity governments and communities need. Tony Bardo, Assistant Vice President of Government Solutions, and Dan Willaims, Senior Director of Business Development in Defense, join us to discuss the critical role Hughes plays in connecting people and first responders.

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

Thank you to Hughes for sponsoring this episode, learn more at https://government.hughes.com/

First established in 2014, in response to the school shooting at Sandy Hook, the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) was created to bring together expertise from the education, public safety, and industry communities with a mission to develop a coordinated approach to enhancing safety and security in K-12 environments. In this episode, we speak with Vice-Chair, Mark Williams, on how PASS provides school administrators, school boards, and public safety and security professionals with the information, tools, and insights needed to implement nationwide best practices to secure and enhance the safety of school environments based on their individual needs. We are also joined by Paul Timm, VP at Facility Engineering Associates, to cover an all-hazard approach to school safety.

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

To learn more about the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools visit https://passk12.org/

A special thank you to Paul Timm from Facility Engineering Associates https://feapc.com/

Thank you to Hughes for sponsoring this episode, learn more at https://www.hughes.com/

In the Southern U.S., spotting the iconic Waffle House sign means a hot meal any time of day, a stop on a long drive, or a place to gather with friends. Waffle House is Americana at its best and a symbol of pride for Southerners. Following the 2011 Joplin Tornado, FEMA Director, Craig Fugate created the Waffle House Index, an informal metric that helped FEMA determine the impact of a storm based on if the local Waffle House restaurants were closed or open. But even before the index, continuity of operations was ingrained in the culture of Waffle House. We are joined in this episode by Will Mizell, VP of People for Waffle House to talk about how they prepare, respond, and recover from a disaster. While it may not make fiscal sense to remain open, Waffle House keeps operations going for the communities they serve. Don’t be surprised if you happen to be in a Waffle House after a bad storm, the person working the grill may very well be the CEO.

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

Thank you to Hughes for sponsoring this episode, learn more at https://www.hughes.com/

To find a Waffle House close to you, head over to https://www.wafflehouse.com/

After seeing firsthand the inefficiency and slow progress of traditional disaster recovery, Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney founded their own non-profit in 2006. Named for the parish they volunteered in post-Katrina, they called their organization the St. Bernard Project. Today, the organization is known simply as SBP. Headquartered in New Orleans, SBP seeks to achieve its mission through five interventions: Rebuild, Share, Prepare, Advice, and Advocate. In this episode, we speak with JR Sanderson, Senior Government Advisor and Director of the Resiliency and Recovery Lab about his role within SBP in preparing and advising public servants.

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com

Thank you to Hughes for sponsoring this episode, learn more at https://www.hughes.com/

To lean more about SPB go please visit them at https://sbpusa.org/

Flooding causes approximately $20 billion dollars a year in damage to homes and businesses and roughly 4.3 million homes are at substantial risk of damage from storm water and rising sea levels. In many cases, expensive premiums for flood insurance cost people their beloved homes. Today we talk with Tom Little of Floodproofing.com to discuss flood mitigation procedures that not only reduce premium costs but protect homes and business from serious damage and down time. With a suite of products for both wet and dry flood protection, Tom and his team work with insurance agents, builders, and homeowners to help determine the best possible mitigation techniques.

To learn more about Floodproofing.com visit: https://www.floodproofing.com/

If you would like to learn more about the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo please visit us on the web - https://www.ndemevent.com