Disaster Podcast

Helen Hynson Vettori (https://www.helenhynsonvettori.com/) is a former EMT/paramedic and retired senior medical intelligence analyst at the Department of Homeland Security. We have her on the show to share her insights and the two sci-fi thriller novels she wrote based on her experiences. Helen channeled her real-world emergency response and pandemic-planning experience into her sci-fi disaster thriller series, beginning with Black Swan Impact and followed by Black Swan Shock. A “Black Swan” event is a term used to describe a catastrophic incident that no one could have foreseen or imagined because of its unprecedented impact. Helen didn’t imagine crisis from the outside, rather she spent years preparing for biological threats, including pandemics, and then watched COVID unfold in real time. That insider perspective and her frustration with confusing messaging and federal missteps became the fuel for fiction that feels uncomfortably plausible. Dr. Joe Holley from Paragon Medical Education Group joined the podcast as well as our disaster emergency management expert Becky DePodwin and our disaster weather expert Dan DePodwin. The episode is co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Winter Storm Impact and Preparations The meeting focused on a major winter storm expected to impact large parts of the United States, with Dan providing detailed forecasts of snow, ice, and travel disruptions across multiple regions. The group discussed the storm’s potential effects on various cities, including Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and the Northeast, emphasizing the danger of ice accumulation and power outages. They also advised listeners to consider rescheduling flights and prepare for travel disruptions, particularly in the affected areas. The conversation ended with an introduction to their guest, Helen Hinson Vittori, a former EMT and intelligence analyst at the Department of Homeland Security, who will discuss her experiences during the pandemic. Emergency Response Expert’s Pandemic Novel Helen shared her extensive background in emergency response, including her work as a paramedic, her role in biothreat planning at DHS, and her experience creating pandemic response plans. She retired in 2018 but became concerned about the government’s response to COVID-19 in 2020, which led her to write a sci-fi political thriller novel called “Black Swan Impact” that explores a catastrophic pathogen event in the year 2113. The novel served as a cathartic way for her to process the chaotic response to the pandemic she had witnessed firsthand. Emergency Preparedness Through Personal Writing Helen shared her experience as an emergency manager and author, discussing how writing provided her with both peace and a mission to educate others about emergency preparedness. She emphasized that individual preparedness is crucial for both personal and community-level disasters, and highlighted a book club question in her second book, “Black Swan Shock,” that encourages readers to assess their own emergency preparedness. Federal Pandemic Planning and Leadership Helen shared her experience working on federal pandemic plans and witnessing their partial abandonment during the actual crisis, expressing disappointment in leadership’s failure to communicate effectively and adhere to established protocols. The discussion explored how better preparation and public education could improve future responses to pandemics and other disasters, with Helen emphasizing the importance of all-hazard planning that starts at the individual level. The group agreed to have Helen return for another podcast episode, and several...

We delve into the recent surge of Influenza cases across large swaths of the United States in recent weeks. This year is shaping up to be a particularly difficult year for health care facilities and the patients who need them for treatment. Dr. Joe Holley joins us today to discuss what he’s seeing in the Memphis, Tennessee area and what the national flu outlook is. The most common Influenza A strain right now is causing a surge in ER visits and hospital admissions across the U.S. right now. The dominant Influenza A strain for the 2025-2026 flu season is the A(H3N2) subclade K, a variant with notable mutations. The annual vaccine is moderately effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalization and the subclade K variant responds well to antivirals such as Tamiflu. The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Flu Trends and Vaccination Impact Joe and Jamie discussed the recent surge in flu cases, particularly affecting unvaccinated individuals and those with underlying health conditions. Jamie shared his experience of being admitted to the ER with influenza A and noted that vaccinated individuals were more likely to be discharged. Joe confirmed that national trends showed higher hospitalization rates and deaths among the unvaccinated, elderly, and those with other medical issues. Flu Awareness for Healthcare Jamie shared his severe flu experience, which included a high fever, chills, and muscle cramps, leading him to seek emergency care. He emphasized the importance of flu awareness for healthcare professionals, noting the recent increase in flu-related deaths and pediatric deaths reported by the CDC. Healthcare Virus Transmission Prevention Jamie and Joe discussed protective measures for healthcare providers against virus transmission, emphasizing hand hygiene, respiratory protection, and avoiding confined spaces with sick individuals. Joe highlighted the risk of virus spread in confined environments like airplanes, while Jamie shared personal experiences and encouraged listeners to take transmission prevention seriously, noting its impact on their community. Post-COVID Brain Fog Symptoms Jamie described experiencing “brain fog” after recovering from COVID-19, which made mental tasks difficult and required significant mental effort. Joe explained that this could be due to increased inflammatory markers and the body’s energy expenditure in fighting the infection. Sam noted that their household member who had not been vaccinated experienced different symptoms, and both Sam and their household member took about two weeks to regain their energy levels. Influenza Symptoms and Management Joe explained that vaccination can reduce the severity of symptoms, and both Jamie and Sam experienced typical symptoms of influenza A, with Jamie noting the importance of IV fluids in managing his symptoms. Sam described severe gastrointestinal symptoms, while Jamie mentioned being prescribed Zofran despite not experiencing nausea. Joe elaborated on how dehydration and inflammatory mediators contribute to symptoms, and rehydration can help alleviate them. Winter Virus and Flu Updates Jamie shared his experience of being delayed for release from the hospital due to low blood pressure, which was unusual for him. The medical team tried various methods to increase his blood pressure, including making him angry and having him walk around. Joe explained that while having the flu is unpleasant, it leads to the development of protective antibodies. Sam noted that the flu often overshadows other winter viruses, and Joe confirmed they are still seeing a variety of other...

We gather our podcast regulars for a look at the past year on the show with our 2025 Disaster Podcast year in review. Dr. Joe Holley joined co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis for this episode. Kyle Nelson, Becky DePodwin, and Dan DePodwin sent in their top episode picks by email. Joe Holley kicks off the look back at last year with a vote for the clinical topics, especially the recent 5-episode run on head-up CPR during sudden cardiac arrest. We assembled a special page for the head up CPR topic with all 5 episodes listed. Joe also discussed the importance of understanding how research works and not to get caught up in a single social media post on a novel subject without really understanding the context amidst other research. His final choice was the look at K9 and USAR dog training with Kimberly Holley. Kimberly has extensive training alongside her two trained USAR dogs and the third dog she has in training. Kyle talked about the episode with the Combat Midwife, Jessica Arno. This was an in-depth look at maternal and pediatric disaster care. In addition, Stump Dan the weatherman was another favorite episode as host Sam Bradley used the internet to come up with some novel weather terms and try to stump our own Dan DePodwin. These episodes are an annual favorite as Dan has an amazing understanding of weather, especially winter weather. Investigating airline disasters with Edward Colson of Ready Northwest was one of Becky DePodwin’s favorites as we delved into aviation industry disaster planning. She also put in her vote for the Stump the weatherman episode linked above. Jamie added the annual look at the Winter X-Games in Aspen. Our own Kyle Nelson worked as Planning Section Chief for the incident management team before and during the event this past year and shared some of the challenges they faced making such an event as safe as possible. We covered many other excellent topics this past year. If you have a different favorite from the ones listed in this episode retrospective, leave your answer in the comments below. Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast for weekly insights from leaders in disaster response and research!

Kurt Bramer from Advanced CPR Solutions comes back for a final look at Head-Up CPR as we pull all the pieces from the earlier four episodes together. Dr. Joe Holley is back to bring in the latest research into the process as well. We will tie all this back to the global health disaster that is sudden cardiac arrest. Recent research from across the emergency medical community has pointed to impressive improvements in both return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) as well as survival to discharge and neurologically intact survival when compared to conventional supine CPR performance. We’ll have links below to some of those studies and papers. Research Bibliography for Head-Up CPR Studies The episode is co-hosted again by our regular hosts, Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Elevated CPR Series Episode One Elevated CPR Series Episode Two Elevated CPR Series Episode Three Elevated CPR Series Episode Four CARES Registry for Cardiac Arrest Stats Follow up on more of these segments as we continue to look at the current research trends in future episodes and what is on the horizon for the future. The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Head-Up CPR Research Update Jamie and Sam discussed the upcoming podcast episode, which will focus on wrapping up the last four episodes about head-up CPR and recent research. They mentioned the challenges of implementing new approaches in rural systems with volunteer staff. Sam noted that Dr. Joe and Kurt Bramer have been working on presenting the information in a way that can be applied responsibly. Joe briefly mentioned that SENA teams were activated to assist with floods in Seattle. The main focus of the episode will be on the latest data on head-up CPR, including improved physiology, survival rates, and neurological function, particularly for non-shockable rhythms like asystole. Advantages of Head-Up CPR Studies Sam, Kurt, and Joe discussed the significance of two seminal studies on head-up CPR. The 2016 preclinical animal study showed significant improvement in perfusion when compared to standard CPR, with a synergistic effect when using additional devices like the ITD and suction cup. The 2022 independent registry analysis demonstrated that head-up CPR resulted in a five times greater likelihood of neurologically intact survival compared to conventional CPR, even up to 20 minutes post-cardiac arrest. Joe explained that the bundled care approach for cardiac arrest patients involves multiple components, including appropriate ventilation, high-quality CPR, and post-resuscitation care, all of which contribute to improved outcomes. Bystander CPR System Implementation The discussion focused on the importance of proper implementation of bystander CPR, AEDs, and advanced techniques like impedance threshold devices and suction cup CPR to improve patient outcomes, particularly neurologic ones. Kurt emphasized the need for a system-wide approach, from first responders to hospital care, highlighting successful partnerships like Louisville’s, where continuity of care is prioritized. Jamie inquired about best practices for implementing this system-wide approach, to which Kurt responded with examples from different regions, noting that while ideal partnerships exist, proactive agencies can still achieve good outcomes even with less supportive hospitals. Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Bundle Implementation The team discussed the importance of addressing multiple aspects of cardiac arrest resuscitation simultaneously, as highlighted by Joe, who emphasized that successful outcomes require implementing all elements of the care bundle...

Kurt Bramer from Advanced CPR Solutions returns again this week to continue the series on Head-Up CPR and other promising sudden cardiac arrest treatments. There are three previous episodes in this series. Elevated CPR Series Episode One Elevated CPR Series Episode Two Elevated CPR Series Episode Three After the severe weather update from disaster meteorologist Dan DePodwin, the Disaster Podcast team focuses on the science and physiology of Head-Up CPR. They ask why this approach provides for better protection of neurological function during a cardiac arrest. Dr. Joe Holley does an excellent job of describing the specific concepts of pressure gradients in blood flow to and from the heart during CPR in various patient positions. Kurt outlines what he calls the Four Rules of Head-Up CPR that are essential components for successful resuscitation during cardiac arrest treatment. These rules come from Dr. Joanna Moore’s Editorial The Do’s and Don’ts of Head Up CPR: 1) Use of Suction Cup CPR and an ITD 2) A Priming Period is Needed 3) Cannot Lift the Patient Too High 4) You Cannot Lift the Patient Too Quickly CARES Registry for Cardiac Arrest Stats Follow up on more of these segments as we continue to look at the current research trends in future episodes and what is on the horizon for the future. The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Episode Opening segment and Weather update The meeting began with a discussion about travel weather for the country and record cold in many parts of the upper midwest and northeast with Dan DePodwin. The group then transitioned to their main topic, the physiology of CPR, with Dr. Joe Holley focusing our attention on the specific anatomy and process inside the body during CPR. Head-Up CPR Techniques Discussed Kurt and Joe discussed the importance of adhering to the “four rules” of head-up CPR, which were derived from a published editorial by Dr. Moore. They emphasized that studies showing no improved outcomes often violate these rules, highlighting the significance of proper technique. Jamie Davis, the host of the Disaster Podcast, introduced the episode, which would focus on the science and physiology of elevated CPR, while Sam and Dan briefly discussed the early winter weather conditions across the United States. Head-Up CPR Research Advances The discussion focused on head-up CPR, a novel research advancement in resuscitation aimed at improving neurologic survival. Kurt explained its origins, highlighting a case study involving a ski hill cardiac arrest patient who survived due to an elevated head position, which was later recognized as a critical factor. The conversation also touched on a study conducted in South Korea, where researchers developed a modified EMS stretcher to accommodate patients in high-rise buildings with small elevators, leading to the question of the optimal CPR position. Initial findings from animal studies suggested that a head-up position could reduce intracranial pressure, potentially improving outcomes during CPR. CPR Physiology and Blood Flow Joe explained the physiology of CPR, focusing on how differences in pressure inside the body create blood flow. He described how chest compressions increase intrathoracic pressure, pushing blood towards the brain and other areas of lower pressure. He emphasized that over-ventilation and incomplete chest recoil can be detrimental during CPR, as they prevent blood from flowing back into the heart. He also noted that patients who exhibit “guppy breathing” during resuscitation have a better chance of successful resuscitation. CPR Vacuum...

We are joined by Kurt Bramer from Advanced CPR Solutions again this week to continue the series on Heads Up CPR and other promising sudden cardiac arrest treatments. He and Dr. Joe Holley kicked off the discussion in two previous episodes. Elevated CPR Series Episode One Elevated CPR Series Episdoe Two We open this week’s episode with a holiday severe weather update from our disaster meteorologist, Dan DePodwin. He reports on several storm systems that will impact Thanksgiving holiday travel across the eastern half of the country. Following that update, we kick off episode 3 of our heads-up CPR series with a look at the long history of the evolutionary changes to cardiac arrest treatment. Kurt Bramer from Advanced CPR Solutions leads off with a response to some comments to the first two episodes in this series. A few listeners worried that we might sound like we were criticizing the individual responders on cardiac arrest calls over the low survival rates for the condition. The team made a joint statement that no criticism of providers in the field was intended. We all are providers ourselves and are merely commenting on the results that everyone has been getting in response to treating cardiac arrest. Some systems do better with resource management than others, but even those areas fail to save even a simple majority of their cardiac arrest patients. CARES Registry for Cardiac Arrest Stats Follow up on more of these segments as we continue to look at the current research trends in future episodes and what is on the horizon for the future. The episode was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary CPR Challenges and Future Improvements The meeting began with a discussion about travel weather for the Thanksgiving weekend, with Dan DePodwin warning of widespread lake effect snow in the eastern United States and a potential ground blizzard in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The group then transitioned to their main topic, CPR, where Joe clarified that their previous discussion about CPR’s limitations was not meant to criticize CPR providers, but rather to highlight the challenges and lack of progress in the field over the past 50 years. They planned to explore potential improvements to CPR in future episodes. Advancements in CPR Techniques Kurt Bramer, with 40 years of experience in EMS and emergency management, discussed the history of CPR, highlighting its evolution from mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to modern techniques. He emphasized the need for better tools and more effective methods for emergency responders, as current practices are often based on outdated or insufficiently tested techniques. The group acknowledged that while responders are doing their best with limited tools, recent research may lead to positive changes in CPR practices. They also touched on the introduction of high-performance CPR in the 2010s, which aimed to maximize the effectiveness of current technologies and minimize detrimental pauses during resuscitation efforts. Mechanical CPR Guidelines Review The discussion focused on the American Heart Association’s recent guidelines regarding mechanical CPR, which recommend against routine use but allow for exceptions like transport scenarios. Kurt and Joe highlighted that the guidelines lump together different types of mechanical compressors, ignoring their unique physiological effects and training limitations. They emphasized that current research primarily focuses on patient survival as an endpoint, which may not fully capture the benefits of mechanical CPR, such as improved blood flow and reduced pauses during resuscitation. The conversation...

In this second episode installment of the sudden cardiac arrest and CPR series Kurt and Dr. Joe Holley discuss some key flaws in approaching cardiac arrest research like other medical diseases and treatments. The large number of unknown and uncontrollable variables surrounding sudden cardiac arrest make it hard for randomized control trials to effectively pinpoint positive treatment modalities.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a global disaster that rivals the recent viral pandemic in scope. Cardiac arrest is by far the number one killer worldwide according to every public health agency of note. Over the years, treatment of this problem has a less than 4 or 5 percent survival rate with only minor incremental changes to treatment modalities.

Marcus Coleman Vice President of Community Resilience Strategy, for the United Way Worldwide joins the podcast episode. He talks with the team about the 138 year history of the United Way and its commitment to 4 areas of community resilience: Disaster, Resilient Ecosystems, Economic Resilience, and Personal Resilience (personal connectedness and social capital). They commit to being there for people before, during, and after disaster strikes.

Tonight on the Disaster Podcast we dig into the expected impacts Hurricane Melissa will carry into Jamaica as it impacts the island country in the Caribbean. Disaster meteorologist Dan DePodwin and disaster emergency management expert Becky DePodwin join us this evening to look at the storm's origins and projected track.

Tim Conley, Emergency Management Supervisor Mercy Health Care System. He's also the co-founder of the IDMC (Interstate Disaster Medical Collaborative) with our co-host Sam Bradley. Sam invited Tim on the show to talk about his Illinois Regional Healthcare Coordination system. This allows local healthcare systems to collaborate to provide emergency and disaster preparedness systems to their regions.

This week's Disaster Podcast episode is a stump the weatherman episode with our disaster meteorologist, Dan Depodwin. Co-host Sam Bradley and Dan's wife and disaster emergency management expert, Becky DePodwin take turns with the terms.

We shift gears to our clinical topic, effects of various penetrating trauma on body systems. Dr. Joe gives and overview of the topic in various situations. Becky DePodwin, our disaster emergency management expert, asked about penetrating trauma caused by high speed wind events like tornados and hurricanes.

In this episode of the Disaster Podcast, the team brings in professionals from across several hospital systems to look at how they prepare for incoming mass casualty patients. We talk about the kinds of drills the systems run, and also look at the various departments and how they respond in each type of situation.

Julie Roberts from JK Roberts, LLC drops by the podcast this week to address business disaster continuity plans. Julie led communications efforts at both the Federal and State levels including NOAA.

Dan Zehner from the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) drops in the podcast to report on the recent documentary output from the research group. The links below contain a lot of information on how the NHERI research grants have turned into actionable infrastructure and building code improvement suggestions.

Midwife and Paramedic Jessica Arno, the Combat Midwife, returns this week to talk focus on pediatric emergencies in the disaster environment. She and the Disaster Podcast team talk about unique challenges facing responders who encounter sick and injured kids.

This week features a discussion of maternity and pediatric care in disaster situations with Jessica Arno, the Combat Midwife. Jessica is a midwite, paramedic, and battlefield-born educator who's trained over 100,000 combat medics, Special Warfare medics, and EMS professionals in OB/GYN and pediatric emergencies. From Afghan refugee camps to rural fire stations, she equips medics and civilians with the skills to handle birth, bleeding, and babies-when help isn't coming.

Disaster meteorologist, Dan DePodwin, joins the show this week to discuss the severe weather patterns that have led to dangerous flash flooding all across the country so far in July. The team discusses how this weather affects millions of Americans this summer.

Chuck Costanza joins the Disaster Podcast team tonight. He's the Vice President of Client Engagement for Global Guardian. They provide global threat assessments for companies, helping them protect their employees from the effects of things like major disasters.