Riding the Wave-Project Management for Emergency Managers

Business Continuity Insights with Erika Andresen: Lessons from Hurricane Helene

In this episode, Erika Andresen, a recognized business continuity expert, discusses the critical importance of preparedness for businesses, sharing insights from her latest books and experiences, including the response to Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. Key topics include the role of risk management, the limitations of relying solely on insurance, and practical steps for businesses to implement effective continuity planning. Erika also touches upon the psychological impacts of disasters, the importance of mental health in emergency management, and offers valuable advice for small and medium-sized enterprises to bolster their resilience.

Timestamps

01:00 Introduction to Erika Andresen

02:03 Hurricane Helene's Impact on Asheville

06:01 Recovery Efforts in Asheville

08:56 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene

15:37 The Importance of Business Continuity

31:21 Erika's Final Thoughts

About

Erika Andresen, JD, CBCP, MPA, is a recognized expert and consultant in Business Continuity. She has nearly two decades of experience as a lawyer in both the corporate finance world and the military. Erika became a subject matter expert in national security and disaster preparedness and response while advising different commands including during high-risk situations while deployed in Afghanistan. Erika left active duty in 2020 and started EaaS Consulting, LLC, with the goal of keeping businesses in business. Erika is also a professor of emergency management for the MPA program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Erika is a widely quoted expert and has been featured in a variety of publications, including Forbes, ProPublica, and SUCCESS Magazine. She is a sought-after presenter and keynote speaker at conferences, addressed private events for Fortune 500 companies, and is an invited lecturer for both MIT's "Advanced Business Resiliency" and "Crisis Management and Business Resilience" courses. Her experience surviving Hurricane Helene in Asheville, NC, inspired her second book, When The Sh*t Hits The Fan: Business Survival Guide to Thrive, Grow and Keep Your Cash Flow After Disasters. Her first book, How to Not Kill Your Business: Grow Your Business in Any Environment, Navigate Volatility, and Successfully Recover When Things Go Wrong, has sold every month since it was released in September 2022.

Erika is a fan of combining her Emergency Management background with Business Continuity to maximize impact for community resilience. She is also a 2x Amazon Best Seller, international podcast guest, recovering lawyer, and generally a hoot (so she’s told).

Links

Erika as a Service (EasS) Website

https://www.eaasc.com/meet-erika

Get Your FREE BC Worksheet

https://www.eaasc.com/free-worksheet

Books

When The Sh*t Hits The Fan: Business Survival Guide to Thrive, Grow, and Keep Your Cash Flow After Disasters

https://www.amazon.com/When-Sh-Hits-Fan-Disasters/dp/B0DZ2N43CS/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JIIl0vHPnAUqzAgEQBqiSaC-4ohf9eCmiP8FTvXzFM3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.PZwlDp_cFIJXaszJXrmySSqttfVkRNsca8cpRD6gV7Q&dib_tag=se&qid=1768432109&refinements=p_27%3AErika+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-3&text=Erika+Andresen

How to Not Kill Your Business: Grow Your Business in Any Environment, Navigate Volatility, and Successfully Recover When Things Go Wrong

https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Kill-Your-Business/dp/199018538X/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JIIl0vHPnAUqzAgEQBqiSaC-4ohf9eCmiP8FTvXzFM3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.PZwlDp_cFIJXaszJXrmySSqttfVkRNsca8cpRD6gV7Q&dib_tag=se&qid=1768432109&refinements=p_27%3AErika+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-4&text=Erika+Andresen

Part 2 of my podcast with Michael Stone, President of the IFRC Alumni Association features a discussion on leadership and team dynamics within the context of emergency management and Red Cross principles. They reflect on effective leadership practices during their IFRC mission in Georgia (former Soviet Republic), and highlight key strategies such as monthly staff gatherings, fostering equality among international and national staff, and leveraging national staff talents. The conversation includes anecdotes about cultural integration, the importance of respect for national identity, and the value of collaborations with NGOs.

Timestamps

Introduction and Acknowledgements — 00:00

Diplomacy and Leadership Insights — 01:29

Reflections on Mission in Georgia — 01:51

National and International Staff Dynamics — 03:47

Cultural Integration and Team Building — 05:44

Challenges and Achievements in Georgia — 07:49

Leadership Anecdotes and Lessons — 12:30

About Michael:

Michael Stone currently serves as the President of the IFRC Alumni Association, where he fosters a global network of former Red Cross and Red Crescent staff. A distinguished humanitarian specialist, he has spent decades managing complex emergency responses for refugees and internally displaced persons. Stone formerly served as the Head of International Operations for the British Red Cross, directing major relief efforts in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans. He is perhaps best known for orchestrating and leading Princess Diana’s historic 1997 anti-landmine mission to Angola, a pivotal moment in the global campaign to ban landmines. His extensive career also includes senior leadership roles with the United Nations and various international NGOs.

Listen to the first part of this interview in episode 21, where Michael presents the 12 Laws for Effective Emergency Management.

For more information on the IFRC Alumni Association:

https://www.ifrcalumni.org/

In part 1 of this insightful interview, Michael Stone, President of the IFRC Alumni Association, shares his extensive experience in humanitarian response and introduces his "Twelve Laws for Effective Emergency Response." Drawing from decades of fieldwork and leadership, Stone discusses the importance of understanding local contexts, ethical action, and the need for clear communication and teamwork in crisis situations. His practical wisdom and real-world anecdotes offer valuable lessons for emergency managers, humanitarian professionals, and anyone interested in effective leadership during times of crisis.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction for Michael Stone, his background, and the purpose of the episode.

05:00 – Michael Stone’s Humanitarian Journey: Michael shares his career path, early experiences, and key lessons from international humanitarian work.

THE TWELVE LAWS FOR EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

1. THE LAW OF RELATIONS: Seek first to understand, then be understood. [14:32]

Michael discusses the importance of humility and understanding local context before acting.

2. THE LAW OF SEEING: People see the world not as it is, but as they are. [18:28]

Explores how personal biases and perspectives shape our understanding of situations.

3. THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY: At the heart of all our minds is love and fear. Examines the core motivators behind human behavior in crisis [20:24]

4. THE LAW OF LANGUAGE: The most important communication may have no words. Highlights nonverbal communication and its power in emergencies. [23:34]

5. THE LAW OF DOING GOOD: It is not enough to do good, good must be done well. Stresses the need for quality and effectiveness in humanitarian action. [26:14]

6. THE LAW OF QUANTITY: Less is more. Advocates for brevity and clarity in communication and reporting. [27:34]

7. THE LAW OF CAUSALITY: Everything is created by something before. Emphasizes the importance of understanding history and context. [31:06]

8. THE LAW OF REALITY 1: Everything is about something else. Encourages looking beyond surface issues to underlying causes. [34:22]

9. THE LAW OF REALITY 2: The act of observation alters what is seen. Discusses how the presence of outsiders can change local dynamics and responses. [37:19]

10. THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: Any action has results that are not part of the actor’s intention. Warns of unexpected outcomes in humanitarian interventions. [44:14]

11. THINKING: The thinking which created the problem cannot be used to solve it. Calls for new approaches and perspectives to solve persistent problems. [47:28]

12. ENDS: Bad means are not justified by good ends. Affirms the importance of ethical action, even in pursuit of noble goals. [49:14]

52:00 – Reflections and Closing: Michael reflects on teamwork, leadership, and the importance of learning from experience. I provide a preview of Part 2: Leadership insights, cultural integration, and more.

About Michael:

Michael Stone currently serves as the President of the IFRC Alumni Association, where he fosters a global network of former Red Cross and Red Crescent staff. A distinguished humanitarian specialist, he has spent decades managing complex emergency responses for refugees and internally displaced persons. Stone formerly served as the Head of International Operations for the British Red Cross, directing major relief efforts in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans. He is perhaps best known for orchestrating and leading Princess Diana’s historic 1997 anti-landmine mission to Angola, a pivotal moment in the global campaign to ban landmines. His extensive career also includes senior leadership roles with the United Nations and various international NGOs.

Listen to the second part of this interview in episode 22, where we discus effective emergency leadership/teamwork. the IFRC Georgia mission, equity, respect, and UN and NGO collaboration.

For more information on the IFRC Alumni Association:

https://www.ifrcalumni.org/

The principal focus of our discussion centers around the critical importance of risk management as a foundational element in emergency management and business continuity planning. We delve into the transformative leadership experiences during crises, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as exemplified by our guest, Andrea Davis, who has extensive experience in both corporate and governmental sectors. Throughout our conversation, we explore the necessity of collaboration between various departments, emphasizing the need to dismantle silos within organizations to enhance resilience. Andrea shares her insights on practical strategies that have proven effective in implementing emergency management initiatives, drawing from her tenure at notable corporations such as Walmart and Disney. Ultimately, our dialogue underscores the imperative of proactive planning and cohesive teamwork to navigate the complexities of modern emergencies effectively.

Takeaways:

• The significance of leadership during crises is amplified by hands-on involvement and genuine concern for employees' welfare.
• Effective emergency management necessitates collaboration between risk management and crisis planning departments to ensure comprehensive preparedness.
• In times of uncertainty, organizations must prioritize risk assessment as a foundational step to safeguard their operations and resources.
• Successful crisis response relies heavily on proactive planning and the establishment of well-structured task forces to address unforeseen challenges.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Walmart
• Disney
• Pinnacle Performance Management
• Resiliency Initiative
• ABC
• ESPN

About Andrea:

Andrea Davis is President and CEO of The Resiliency Initiative, a Women-Owned Small Business, founded to support whole-community preparedness and recovery. Davis is a leading emergency management expert known for uniting public and private sectors to improve disaster risk reduction. She has held leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. government, and major NGOs, consistently advancing global initiatives that emphasize risk-informed decisions and inclusive community engagement.

At FEMA’s Hurricane Katrina Recovery Office, she oversaw media, intergovernmental, and congressional operations for a $25 billion recovery effort, helping restore FEMA’s reputation through innovative outreach, credited with transforming public perception. In the private sector, she led global crisis management programs for multinational corporations, designing emergency trainings, mass notification systems, and employee preparedness initiatives.

Davis is deeply committed to volunteer service and chairs the boards of the California Resiliency Alliance and the Northwest Arkansas Red Cross and serves on advisory boards for I-DIEM and the Dr. Lucy Jones Foundation, including past leadership roles at the American Red Cross and Save the Children. As a highly decorated leader, Davis has been recognized as a top inspiring CEO, the inaugural Emergency Manager of the Year, and an inductee into the Women’s Hall of Fame for Emergency Management. Her expertise includes crisis strategic planning, brand management, and continuity of operations.

For more information on the Resiliency Initiative , see: https://www.theresiliencyinitiative.com/

In episode 19 of Riding the Wave- PM4EM, my guest was Thomas Croall. We spoke about organizational and operation resilience, how corporations are addressing increasing risk factors in the post pandemic world, and how emergency management and business continuity are integrated into Enterprise Risk Management.

A longer bio is given below and contact info and links below that:

Thomas is a Resilience, Crisis, Continuity, Risk & Governance Expert. His broad experience extends across all areas of strategic, tactical and operational crisis management and continuity planning. He has worked in the public sector and blue-chip organisations.

Thomas was responsible for establishing an ISO 22301 certified business continuity capability for National Savings & Investments and Aegon's life protection business. In his previous roles, Thomas developed and led the business continuity and crisis management programmes for both Manchester City Council and HSBC Insurance Europe. In 2012 Thomas worked in the London Operation Centre (LOC) as Duty Supervisor for the London Resilience Team on the London 2012 Olympics.

Most recently, Thomas co-authored “Rail Resilience Review” – a resilience-based assessments/gap analysis of integrated emergency management capability across all UK rail infrastructure and train operating companies. He designed the Rail Resilience Programme plan leading to a Department of Transport funded 3-year programme of cross-industry improvements.​

Thomas has dealt with many major incidents having led the contingency planning to events such as national and regional electoral counts, major protests, and incidents such as computer viruses, H1N1 flu, severe winter weather and security threats. He is a former UK delegation principle expert at the ISO TC223 Societal Security Technical Committee where he was a contributing author to 'ISO 22325:2016 Emergency management - Guidelines for capability assessment' and 'ISO 22322:2015 Emergency management - Guidelines for public warning'.

He has previously chaired Scottish Continuity and Emergency Planning Society Business Continuity Working Group and is a founding member of the City Security and Resilience Networks Advisory Council. Thomas developed the 'Business Continuity for Dummies' concept and brought together the project team that have produced the innovative Government endorsed book. In 2011 Thomas was highly commended as CIR ‘Public Sector Continuity Manager of the Year’. Thomas holds his Global Executive MBA, is a Member of the Emergency Planning Society, an Associate Member of the Business Continuity Institute and is a Specialist Member of the Institute of Risk Management.

A longer version of this interview may be found on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/5kpTctiuAlM

Contact and links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomascroall/

Thomas' thought provoking article on Fairweather Business Models

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fair-weather-business-models-wont-stand-up-against-charging-croall?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&utm_campaign=share_via

Rail Resilience Project (RRP) Emergency Management Review: Findings and Recommendations Report

https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/media-centre-docman/12968-rail-resilience-project-report-final-version/file.html

UK Civil Continencies Act:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/36/contents

Chesterton's Fence:

https://fs.blog/chestertons-fence/

RIMS Enterprise Risk Management:

https://www.rims.org/community/global-professionals/rims-in-india/enterprise-risk-management

Find out more about our PM4EM workshop:

https://www.pinnacleperformancemanagement.com/planning-workshop

Find out more about the book Riding the Wave-PM4EM:

http://www.pm4em.com/

Kit Lee-Demery is an emergency management professional with public, private, and higher education sector experiences. Kit is the Senior Manager of Business Continuity for Proskauer Rose and is responsible for business continuity and crisis management for the firm. Kit is also an adjunct at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Previously, Kit worked for Pace University, where she led the development and implementation of the University’s emergency management and fire life safety program.

Kit began her career with the NYC Emergency Management, working alongside CERT to prepare and respond to disasters in New York City. She then worked at the Office of Chief Medical Examiners and contributed to the regional mass fatality plan, trained hospitals on mass fatality management, and was involved in COOP planning. Kit holds instructor certifications in Stop the Bleed and adult/pediatric first aid, CPR, and AED. Additionally, she Co-Chairs NYCEM’s public and private sector partnership’s Legal Forum. Kit is part of FBI InfraGard and a member of NYPD SHIELD.

Kit received her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Pace University and her MPA, specializing in emergency management, from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is also a graduate of the FBI Citizens’ Academy.

In episode 18 we spoke about stakeholder management in EM/BC programs, how to leverage your network internally and externally to maintain and sustain an EM/BC Program, and what are the unique attractions of the EM profession. For a longer version of our interview, see: https://youtu.be/x4JWyLkl_9A

We are kicking off a re-inauguration of the podcast, and I have as my guest Todd T. De Voe. In this episode we discussed risk and recovery topics, including the Gray Rhino, antifragility, disaster risk reduction, and his 30-60-90 day recovery planning framework. See referenced links below his bio.

A full version of our conversation can be found at: https://youtu.be/AvUUUmtDQMg

Todd T. De Voe, MPA, CEM® is the Editor in Chief of the Emergency Management Network, President of IAEM Region 9, and Vice President of the Foundation for the Research and Advancement of Emergency Management. Todd's involvement in Emergency Response, Emergency Management, Education and Volunteer Management started in 1989 when he became a volunteer firefighter in upstate New York. In 1991 Todd joined the United States Navy and became a Hospital Corpsman assigned to the Fleet Marine Force. In 2005 Todd was hired by the City of Dana Point as the Emergency Services Coordinator. In 2008 Todd was asked to be on a steering committee for Coastline Community College, as they developed their emergency management program, later that year Todd was invited to join the faculty.

Today Todd is an instructor of Emergency Management at California State University Fullerton for the MPA program and, The University of California Irvine’s Certificate of Emergency Management. Todd is a graduate of the National Emergency Management Executive Academy’s Cohort VII. He is also the IAEM Region 9 representative on the University and Colleges Caucus.

Links referenced in the podcast:

Todd De Voe's EM Network: https://emnmedia.com/todd-t-de-voe/

Todd's blogpost on the 30-60-90 day principle of disaster recovery planning:

https://emnetwork.substack.com/p/the-30-60-90-day-principle-of-disaster?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2F%2520The%252030-60-90%2520Day%2520Principle%2520of%2520Disaster%2520Recovery&utm_medium=reader2#details

Antifragility: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/176227/antifragile-by-nassim-nicholas-taleb/

The miracle house in Lahaina Maui:

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/24/1195331310/red-roof-house-fires-lahaina-hawaii

The "Sand Palace" in Mexico Beach FL:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/14/us/hurricane-michael-florida-mexico-beach-house.html

NPR series on the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Houston:

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1115298139/below-the-waterlines-houston-after-hurricane-harvey

I spoke with Vincent B. Davis, Founder of Preparedness Matters Consulting and serves as Director of Disaster Services for Feeding America. Prior to joining Feeding America in January 2020, he served as workplace resiliency manager at Amazon, where he developed disaster frameworks to support the company’s 175 corporate offices. Before joining Amazon, Vince was senior preparedness manager for Sony PlayStation in San Diego, and manager of preparedness and response at Walgreens Co., where he developed disaster programs for their 8,600 U.S. stores and distribution facilities. Following a distinguished 23-year career in the U.S. Air Force and Illinois National Guard, Vince served as external affairs and community relations officer at FEMA, managing field teams for 11 Presidential disasters including the Utica Illinois Tornado, and Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. After leaving FEMA Vince served as regional preparedness manager for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, where he led research and development of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Go To 2040 Report on Emergency Preparedness, a 30-year planning effort to improve community disaster resilience. Vince was principal developer of the FEMA Regional Catastrophic Incident Coordination Plan for Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, a plan for mass care of a million residents of the Chicagoland region.

Vince is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), conferred by the International Association of Emergency Managers. In 2019, he completed the FEMA National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA) for senior leaders, becoming one of the first group of 473 emergency managers nationally to graduate from the program. A passionate advocate for disaster literacy and underserved community preparedness, Vince has authored three books, Lost and Turned Out, A Guide to Preparing Underserved Communities for Disasters (Amazon 2012), and The Native Family Disaster Preparedness Handbook (Heritage Publishing 2017), and the Emergency Guidebook for Broadcasters Serving Indian Country in collaboration with Native Public Media. He has worked with numerous organizations as a consultant, mentor, and contributor to improve outcomes for underserved populations in disasters worldwide.

Vince is a lifetime member of the Black Emergency Managers Association International (BEMA), an Advisory Board Member for the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM), Honorary Chair for the International Council for Women’s Leadership in Emergency Management and Business Continuity (ICWL), and Advisory Board member for the Homeland Security Center of Excellence, Piece College, Washington.

We spoke about his recent open letter to the nominated Administrator for FEMA, Deanne Criswell (current Commissioner of NYC's Emergency Management Department) about the need for equity, diversity, and inclusion, how to meaningfully engage communities of color and marginalized communities in emergency preparedness and management, why we need to focus on community preparedness, and how we might address issues with the inequities wrought by the COVID-19 response.

Mr. Davis’ open letter to nominated Deanne Criswell:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vbdavis_an-open-letter-to-fema-administrator-deanne-activity-6757299215191408640-Ikdc

Citations on health inequities:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425845/

Chart of hierarchy of systemic areas to address:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425845/bin/img-130.jpg

Original research with the data

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4322

Why I Became An Anti-Disaster Kit Advocate

http://www.preparednessmatters.net/blog/why-i-became-an-anti-disaster-kit-advocate

I spoke with Todd De Voe, an emergency management educator and the host of EM Weekly, Business Continuity Today, Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo’s Prepare, Respond, Recover Show and is also the Produce the EM Student's Show. Todd's involvement in Emergency Response, Emergency Management, Education, and Volunteer Management started when he became a firefighter in upstate New York. Todd joined the United States Navy and became a Hospital Corpsman assigned to the Fleet Marine Force. He served as an emergency medical responder (EMT) in some of Los Angeles County's toughest parts after his service. Todd's first emergency management position was with the City of Dana Point. He led the city's effort to become the second city in California to earn the TsunamiReady designation from the National Weather Service. Todd helped the County of Orange become the first county in the nation to receive the TsunamiReady destination. The City of Seal Beach recruited Todd to develop its emergency management program. Todd responded to the Salon Meritage shooting, the worst mass murder in the history of Orange County. The lessons learned after the event highlighted the role of emergency managers during these types of events. Todd left Seal Beach and moved to emergency management in higher education. Coastline Community College asked Todd to join the steering committee to help develop their emergency management program. Later that year, he was invited to join the faculty. Today, Todd continues to teach for Coastline College and The University of California Irvine. Todd is a lifelong learner, and he is a graduate of the National Emergency Management Executive Academy's Cohort VII. He continues to research and write about important emergency management issues, crisis leadership, business continuity, and community re-license. Todd is an active member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and is on the Region 9 board.

We spoke about managing stakeholder expectations, how the role of the EM is changing, making the case to invest in mitigation projects, and his opinion on dealing with impacts of climate change. Todd is a prolific producer, educator, and networker, and has created an incredible volume of digital media on emergency management and is a voracious student and teacher in this industry.

Some links referenced:

EM Weekly

https://sitchradio.com/shows/em-weekly/

Todd De Voe's professional website

https://toddtdevoe.com/

Master Link for Todd De Voe

https://linktr.ee/emweekly

His email address for contact: [email protected]

This episode features Celia Seigerman-Levit, VP Risk Mgt., Olive Tree Holdings. Prior to Olive Tree Holdings, Celia was the Director of Risk Management at Sotheby's, Yeshiva University, and at the Related Companies, and lead the risk management consulting practice at Alliant Insurance Services, a large National Insurance Broker where her team provided outsourced risk management to a variety of industries including real estate, hospitality, manufacturing and non- profit organizations. Celia’s areas of expertise include: traditional risk transfer, alternative risk finance, captives, as well as loss control and claims management. Celia is best known for helping organizations determine their risk appetite and then design a program utilizing risk management tools to help mitigate their exposure to losses.

We talked about cybersecurity and cyber insurance, gaps she sees in cyber resilience, and the value companies can obtain from cyber insurance.