In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King introduces the “velocity of crisis”—a powerful yet overlooked concept in emergency management. As disasters escalate faster and ripple through interconnected systems, our current response models are falling behind.

Kyle explores how predictive analytics, anticipatory positioning, and automation can help us stay ahead. Featuring real-world examples like the 2021 European floods and innovations like California’s Alert program, this episode unpacks how we can shift from reactive to proactive crisis management—and build systems ready for the speed of modern emergencies.

Tune in to discover how understanding crisis velocity could reshape how we protect our communities.

Show Highlights
[00:00] What is the “velocity of crisis” and why it matters
[01:23] The dangerous speed gap in emergency response
[02:09] How modern disasters cascade through systems
[03:00] Spain & Portugal blackout: a case of systemic failure
[05:03] Why warnings failed during the 2021 European floods
[06:02] Tech solutions that anticipate crises, not chase them
[07:06] Three principles to interrupt crisis escalation
[09:19] Matching crisis velocity with automation and AI
[10:20] Rethinking emergency management for today’s risks