Advertise on podcast: Disaster Zone

Traffic is something we deal with every day in our work commutes and vacations. When disaster strikes, managing traffic becomes a critical task for local and state jurisdictions. Planning ahead can make all the difference.  Today's guest is Tom Kratt, Senior Vice President Operations - AWP Safety. With 40 years of experience in the electric utility industry, Tom brings extensive expertise and leadership to AWP Safety's national team of traffic management professionals. In his role, he focuses on enhancing traffic control planning at an enterprise level, providin utility customers with comprehensive, strategic insights to optimize their operations.  Kratt came to AWP Safety after an impressive tenure at AEP Ohio, where he held the position of Vice President of Operations for five years, overseeing the complete electrical distribution portfolio for nearly 1.5 million Ohio customers. His background also includes key roles at Indiana Michigan Power, where he managed operations, maintenance, safety, and financial performance for the electrical grid serving over 580,000 customers, involving a network of more than 250,000 miles of transmission distribution power lines. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

We are living in a technological century. Everything we do will have some form of technology supporting our collective functions. While voice communications have dominated public safety operations for a hundred years, there is an opportunity today to incorporate the visual element into how we operate. The podcast guest is Alex Joyce the company's Head of Tech Safety for LiveU. He leads a team focused on supporting public safety agencies & broadcasters with realtime video solutions leveraging cellular & satellite technologies across software and hardware environments. With over 30 years of experience in telecommunications, as well as FAA 107 and FCC Advanced Radio licenses and a passion for supporting 1st responders, Alex is excited to use this background to support federal, state, and local agencies to help demystify the technologies related to TAK, search and rescue drone programs, and community outreach via realtime video streaming and interagency collaboration tools that can save lives. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

In this podcast we review the highlights from a New Natural Resources Defense Council report, Rebuilding Safer: A Guide to State and Local Adaptation   The podcast guest is Dakota Fisher a Senior Advocate, Adaptation, Environmental Health with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and he works at the intersection of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, urban and regional planning, data analytics, and community empowerment. At NRDC, he works with state and local partners to development innovative, people-centered solutions that reduce the growing impacts of more frequent and severe disasters.  Before joining NRDC in 2025, Fisher spent 12 years as a public servant, working across local, state, and federal governments. He is proud to bring many practical lessons learned from partnering with communities, agencies, and elected leaders to his NRDC role.  Fisher holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of New Orleans. He is accredited by the American Planning Association's American Institute of Certified Planners and the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional. He is also a member of the American Society of Adaptation Professionals. Fisher is based in NRDC’s Washington, D.C., office. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

The World Cup has presented some unique challenges for a multitude of agencies and jurisdictions spread over three nations. Security is a paramount consideration for hosting these games. In this podcast we discuss the complexity of the situation and the need for better coordination and information between all the partners engaged in hosting these soccer matches. There is an opportunity to build on what has been accomplished in preparing for the games. That opportunity should not be squandered.   The podcast guest is Andre McGregor who is the CEO and founder of ForceMetrics, leveraging his background in law enforcement and cybersecurity to improve decision-making in policing. As a retired FBI Special Agent, Andre tackled high-profile cases in cybercrime and counterterrorism, handling hacks and international cyber threats. His early experiences growing up in a marginalized community shaped his commitment to creating safer, more informed interactions between police and the public. With ForceMetrics, he focuses on providing officers with real-time data to enhance situational awareness, de-escalate conflicts and support community-driven law enforcement. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

Chris Stewart is the President and Co-founder of IntelliMass Technologies Inc., a road- intelligence company based in British Columbia. A strategic and ethically-centered business leader, Chris has spent his career guiding cross-functional teams, developing commercialization pathways, and transforming innovative technical concepts into market-ready products. Driven by the reality that unpaved terrain presents unique, dynamic liabilities during emergencies, Chris leads the commercialization of an emerging platform designed to map and monitor remote infrastructure for the mining, forestry, and rural sectors. His expertise includes navigating unpaved performance technologies, driving organizational growth, and establishing operational systems that allow public and private stakeholders to accurately analyze terrain risks. Previously, Chris served as President and General Manager of KXI Wildertec—a subsidiary of a public transportation tech company—where he directed the commercialization of mechatronic technologies engineered specifically for unpaved terrain performance. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management with Distinction from the University of British Columbia, where his award- winning  thesis work harnessed early-generation AI for business optimization. Chris and his wife own and operate a small production farm in the Okanagan Valley of BC. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

Trust is a basic ingredient in every relationship. This applies to individuals, marriages, business partners, nations and the relationship of governments to individuals. Trust is the topic we are going to explore today and how it applies to emergency management and disasters. Kehinde Bolu Adesina, also known as Kenny, is a PhD researcher in Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College. His work focuses on the intersection of crisis communication, disaster communication, public trust, and misinformation. He studies how institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations communicate during high-risk events, and why those communication systems often fail even when the people inside them are working hard and acting in good faith. He is a contributor to a major NSF-funded disaster resilience project at OU, where he conducts research on how organizations share critical knowledge during emergencies, analyze misinformation patterns on social media, and support cross-sector preparedness workshops involving emergency managers, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and public health communicators. His research builds toward a framework called the “Crisis Meaning-Making Model,” which examines how communities interpret events through emotion, identity, and social context, not just official information. Originally from Nigeria, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Communication at Beijing Normal University in China and his master’s degree in Communication at the University of Illinois Springfield. Before beginning his doctoral work, he served as an Illini Science Policy Fellow and Media Production Coordinator at the Illinois Department of Agriculture, supporting communication on conservation and climate resilience. Kenny is multilingual, speaking English, Yoruba, French, and Mandarin, and brings a distinctly cross-cultural lens to questions of trust, public risk, and institutional credibility. He has a newsletter, Making Sense of Uncertainty, translating crisis communication research into practical guidance for leaders working in emergency management, public health, and organizational communication. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

Flooding continues to be the number on hazard when it comes to disasters. Knowing what area is subject to flooding before a flood, the extent of what that flood impact might be, and then knowing the status of an ongoing flood is critically important. This is the subject of this podcast.   David Tobias the podcast guest serves as the Chief Product Officer at Nearmap Previously, he co-founded Betterview, the leading Property Intelligence Platform for property and casualty insurers, which was acquired by Nearmap in December 2023. David plays a pivotal role in driving the market strategy for Nearmap, enabling users to effectively identify and mitigate risk, enhance operational efficiency, and build a more transparent customer experience.   Before founding Betterview, David was instrumental in scaling Research Specialist Incorporated, an insurance loss control company. Under his leadership, the company expanded to conduct over 30,000 inspections annually with a network of more than 500 inspectors across the United States. Research Specialist Incorporated was later acquired by Alpine Intel. A veteran of the insurance and property intelligence industry, Tobias is focused on finding actionable, usable solutions to complex geospatial challenges. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

With every disaster there are legal considerations that come to the fore. In this podcast we explore the experience of one litigator advising FEMA Incident Management Teams (IMAT) and also dealing with damages and reimbursement processes for individuals who own property.   For two decades, LLRA, LLC owner Linda Litke served the United States, first in the U.S. Navy and then as a senior attorney within the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency. Her work placed her at the center of some of the nation’s most complex emergencies, disasters, and national security incidents—first as Deputy Associate Chief Counsel for Louisiana and Mississippi, where she led multiple legal offices across the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, and later as a Trial Attorney handling litigation tied to Public Assistance projects and the National Flood Insurance Program.   Her final federal role for the last six years—Legal Counsel to the National Incident Management Assistance Team (NIMAT–Red)—was among the most demanding in the emergency‑response world. As part of a small rapidly deployable federal team, she provided real‑time legal guidance to senior officials during national security and catastrophic incidents, often deploying within hours to support unified command operations on the ground. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

Wildfires have become one of the more common natural hazard disasters that can impact people where they live and work. In this podcast we learn about general Firewise solutions to protect homes and then a line of cost effective products that can help keep fire from entering your home. Nicholai Allen is the founder of SAFE SOSS and an active wildland firefighter (FFT1, FFT2, Engine Boss Trainee) in his third year fighting catastrophic fires.   After the 2018 Woolsey Fire threatened his family in Ventura County, California, Nicholai spent four years developing a three-step ember defense system addressing the actual cause of 90% of wildfire home loss from wind-borne embers.   His patent-pending products launched exclusively through 50 Lowe's stores at $30-$40 each. His mission is to prevent loss of life through honest education and science-based defense that prioritizes evacuation over property. Nicholai represents authenticity, preparedness, and life-first protection. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

If you are a nonprofit organization, it means that your goal is to not make money, but provide some form of service or product. The challenge is always how to do that without a steam of money to fund your activities. That is the subject of this podcast. There are tips here for very small organizations and other ideas that will work for very large nonprofit organizations.   James Misner is the Founder and Owner of The Kipos Group. With over 20 years of experience as an executive leader, James has a proven track record of building successful teams that have driven tens of millions in revenue growth. Additionally, he has helped non-profit organizations achieve sustainable growth and build stronger relationships with donors.   As a leader and coach, he cares deeply for his clients and their teams, bringing clarity and confidence to those he works with, providing guidance and support as they navigate the challenges of building a revenue engine. His expertise in strategy, culture, and leadership has made him an industry-leading consultant for non-profit organizations looking to grow and thrive. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

There are different types of leadership styles. One common on that still persists is using fear as a motivator for people and organizations. We will be exploring the impacts of using fear in the workplace.   The podcast guest Dr. Laurie Cure, Ph.D., is a leading voice in executive coaching, serves as the CEO of Innovative Connections. With a focus on consulting in strategic planning, organizational development, talent management, and leadership, Dr. Cure’s expertise in change management and culture evolution empowers her clients to achieve organizational success by enabling them to discover and release their human potential.   Over her 30-year career, Dr. Cure has dedicated herself to realizing strategic visions, collaborating with executives and senior leaders to drive organizational outcomes, and conducting research on pivotal industry issues. She is the author of "Leading without Fear," a book that addresses workplace fear, and has contributed to numerous publications on leadership, coaching, team development, and emotions. Dr. Cure has also served as a Meta-coach for the Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence program and as faculty at various universities across the country. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

Every state has an emergency management program. It is a reflection of the hazards a state might experience and the allocation of resources by government to those risks. In this podcast we learn more about the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The podcast guest is Annie Mack Vest, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. She has 16 years of experience in disaster mitigation and emergency management. In 2023, she was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to serve as Oklahoma’s Emergency Management Director, becoming the first woman to lead the agency. Annie has spent her career working in crisis environments and helping leaders make sound decisions during emergencies. She serves as the Governor’s senior advisor on emergency management and supports state leaders and local partners through disaster response and recovery. She serves as Regional Vice President of the National Emergency Management Association and is a former Chair of the Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association. She previously served as President of the National Hazard Mitigation Association, as an advisor to the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, and as a subject matter expert to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Resilient Investment and Planning Development Workgroup. Annie holds dual master’s degrees in Adult and Community Education and Executive Administration for the Public Sector, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Disaster Management. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

This podcast focuses primarily on aspects of disasters that impact operations here in the United States. In this particular podcast we will cast a bigger view at the international operations of one particular NGO providing disaster services around the world—that being Project Hope. The podcast guest is Arlan Fuller who is currently Project HOPE’s director of emergency preparedness and response. He provides overall management of response efforts for natural disasters and other emergencies. In his current and previous roles, he has engaged with people and communities affected by disaster or conflict in Haiti, Lebanon, Kosovo, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand. previous roles, he has engaged with people and communities affected by disaster or conflict in Haiti, Lebanon, Kosovo, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand. Before Project HOPE, Fuller was the Chief Operating Officer for Conflict Dynamics International, a nonprofit organization working on building peace in communities affected by conflict and other crises. He also served as Executive Director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, where he led field studies and policy analysis on health access and adversity in settings of disaster, conflict, and social marginalization. Fuller has additional experience working on global health and international development issues in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Fuller earned a JD from Boston College Law School; a Master’s degree in Peace Studies from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

If you are a leader, manager, or supervisor, it is likely that you are required and responsible for the completion of performance appraisals for your direct reports. I (Eric) must admit that completing appraisals, be they in the US Army or in civilian life, was not my favorite task to accomplish. The podcast gets into some tips, techniques and even some “wording” that you might consider using as you prepare for, write and then deliver performance appraisals for your staff. Trust me, you will learn a thing or two.    Ken Lloyd, Ph.D., is a management consultant, author, and public speaker who specializes in organizational development, human resources, and management coaching. He is the author of the book, Performance Appraisals & Phrases For Dummies (For Dummies: Learning Made Easy)   Lloyd taught in the MBA Program at The Anderson School at UCLA, and he has made numerous podcast, radio, and television appearances.    He is a member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]

The use of drones for public safety is expanding widely. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Drones can be used for many nefarious purposes. In Ukraine they are being weaponized for war. Drug smugglers are also using them. Other criminal activities can be promoted and supported with the use of drones. Today we need systems that can be used by the “Good Guys” to counter the “Bad Guys.” This podcast speaks to that issue. Brett Feddersen serves as Vice President, Strategy and Governmental Affairs, for D- Fend Solutions leading the company’s strategy, public policy, and government relations efforts and engagements with various government policymakers and decision-makers. He also plays a crucial role in identifying key legislative trends, managing corporate risks, building coalitions and enhancing D-Fend Solutions' influence and reach in counter-drone innovation. Feddersen joined the team with extensive senior leadership experience in major governmental agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the White House’s National Security Council, the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Defense Intelligence Agency, among others. Feddersen is a U.S. Army combat veteran and a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper. He also serves as Chair of the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) Counter-UAS Working Group, where he leads industry collaboration on counter-drone best practices and policy development. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at [email protected]