Disaster Zone
News & Politics Podcasts
Disaster Zone is hosted by Eric Holdeman, an emergency manager with over 30 years of experience at the federal, state and local levels of government. Disaster Zone is a podcast that focuses on all facets of disasters; the before, during and after of events that are increasingly impacting communities around the world. Podcasts run between 35-45 minutes with a mix of guests covering a range of disasters and issues that flow from them.
Sponsors of this podcast include:DynamisThe Blue CellBent Ear SolutionsT-Mobile for GovernmentStory topics and suggestions for people to interview are welcomed. You can contact the host via email.
Podcast listeners might also be interested in the Disaster Zone Blog which is the number one blog on the topic of emergency management here in the United States.
Disaster Zone is hosted by Eric Holdeman, an emergency manager with over 30 years of experience at the federal, state and local levels of government. Disaster Zone is a podcast that focuses on all facets of disasters; the before, during and after of events that are increasingly impacting communities around the world. Podcasts run between 35-45 minutes with a mix of guests covering a range of disasters and issues that flow from them.
Sponsors of this podcast include:DynamisThe Blue CellBent Ear SolutionsT-Mobile for GovernmentStory topics and suggestions for people to interview are welcomed. You can contact the host via email.
Podcast listeners might also be interested in the Disaster Zone Blog which is the number one blog on the topic of emergency management here in the United States.
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
Disaster Zone is hosted by Eric Holdeman, an emergency manager with over 30 years of experience at the federal, state and local levels of government. Disaster Zone is a podcast that focuses on all facets of disasters; the before, during and after of events that are increasingly impacting communities around the world. Podcasts run between 35-45 minutes with a mix of guests covering a range of disasters and issues that flow from them. Sponsors of this podcast include:DynamisThe Blue CellBent Ear SolutionsT-Mobile for GovernmentStory topics and suggestions for people to interview are welcomed. You can contact the host via email. Podcast listeners might also be interested in the Disaster Zone Blog which is the number one blog on the topic of emergency management here in the United States.
Language:
English
Episodes
The Upcoming Cold War with Russia
5/24/2022
Morgan Wright is the Chief Security Advisor at SentinelOne and an internationally recognized expert on cybersecurity strategy, cyber terrorism, and advanced technology. His landmark testimony before Congress on Healthcare.gov changed how the government collected personally identifiable information. He has made hundreds of appearances on national news, radio, and print. In this podcast Morgan highlights how Russia is playing the long game when it comes to cybersecurity. He also contrasts...
Duration:00:49:56
An Interview with FEMA Region X Administrator
5/17/2022
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 10 has a new Regional Administrator, Willie Nunn. Nunn had previously been a Federal Coordination Officer (FCO) for a number of years. In this podcast we explore how his past experiences, personal and professional have shaped his approach to his new position. We also delve into what makes FEMA Region 10 unique in its own way, from the people, hazards and approaches to emergency management. Logistics for instance, will be a huge challenge...
Duration:00:46:13
Keith Krach on Technology and Economic Diplomacy
5/10/2022
Keith Krach is the former chairman and CEO of DocuSign. He has been recognized for his work in B2B Commerce and Digital Transaction Management. He has held leadership positions with Angie’s List and General Motors. Formerly he was Chairman of the board of Trustees for Purdue University. Lastly, he served as the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment in the last presidential administration. In this podcast we have a wide ranging discussion about a variety of...
Duration:00:52:15
Next Generation Emergency Managers
5/3/2022
Who’s responsibility is it to develop the next generation of emergency managers? I think that all of us must be contributing to that effort. In this podcast, Pete Gaynor, the immediate past Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator shares his ideas on Next Generation Emergency Managers The link will take you to his recent opinion piece in Emergency Management Magazine
Gaynor calls for more of a structured system of “education” and not training throughout the working life of...
Duration:01:01:15
Cybersecurity and Privacy
4/26/2022
In our 21st Century workplace and personal lives, technology has dominated, and thus cybersecurity has become an ever more important consideration. For each and every organization, be it public or private, along with cybersecurity comes the need to protect the privacy of people and organizations. In this podcast Ginger Armbruster, Chief Privacy Officer for the City of Seattle shares some best practices concerning integrating privacy protections into work that organizations are doing on...
Duration:00:50:30
Will 911 Survive Modernization?
4/19/2022
When emergencies and disasters strike, we all depend on 911 Centers to be functional. Disasters range from earthquakes, cyberattacks and wildfires to local power outages, an ice storm or a white powder delivered to your door. Today 911 Centers are tech heavy places and getting even more technical as they try to keep up with consumer technology trends. In this podcast we explore the technical side of 911 Centers and how they are meeting the challenges brought on by the 21st Century. Bill...
Duration:00:50:59
Supply Chain Cyber Security
4/12/2022
Supply chains have been in the news for the last two years. Their vulnerability has been highlighted in many different ways during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this podcast we learn about cybersecurity and dependencies that exist between elements of our various supply chains. Our guest, Missy Gillette, a Senior Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton has the expertise and experience to share best practices with the Disaster Zone audience. The time to take action is now, before you and your...
Duration:00:54:49
Best Practices in Implementing Unified Command
4/5/2022
The Incident Command System (ICS) can be complex in itself to any novice learning about it for the first time. What can make it even more challenging is when disciplines and jurisdictions begin trying to operate as a Unified Command. The concept of unified command is not well understood and what appears clear cut decision making can be countered by others as being inappropriate. Unified Command and how ICS interfaces with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is also discussed in this...
Duration:00:44:19
Realtime Situational Awareness
3/29/2022
With every advance on the technological front, we are getting closer and closer to having real-time situational awareness when disasters strike. This is happening via a variety of means. One of which is the seismic monitoring of buildings for what seismic (G forces) they have been exposed to. Knowing that, along with the age of the building, the construction methods and soils that they sit on, you can project the amount of damages that might have occurred to the structure. This topic and...
Duration:00:44:11
Tsunami Threat in the Pacific NW
3/22/2022
One significant natural hazard risk that the West Coast of the United States has comes from tsunamis. The guest for this podcast is Elyssa Tappero, Outer Coast Tsunami Program Coordinator for the Washington State Emergency Management Division. In this program we review what the difference sources of tsunami waves are, and what their potential impact can be here in the Pacific Northwest. We also delve into what individuals and organizations can to be warned of an oncoming tsunami and what...
Duration:00:48:47
Disaster Debris Management
3/15/2022
Every disaster imaginable produces some form of disaster debris. Disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and a tsunami can be mega producers of debris. Even the typical flood has people ripping out carpets and other household items from their homes and piling them on the curb. It becomes government’s job to haul them away. Chris Walker with MERITS provides very practical suggestions for people and agencies to use in dealing with disaster debris. Merit’s solution’s also include verified...
Duration:00:39:51
Executive Leadership in the 21st Century
3/8/2022
What does leadership look like in the 21st Century? To find out, I went to Steve Metruck, the Executive Director for the Port of Seattle. The port has both maritime and airport operations with billions of dollars in capital investments being made. Steve had a very successful United States Coast Guard career, retiring as a two star admiral. In a series of responses to a number of questions he reflects on what makes for a good leader. What does a high performing organization look like, how to...
Duration:00:53:55
Disaster Recovery for Public Agencies
3/1/2022
The disaster recovery process for Presidentially declared disasters here in the United States is hugely complex. It is no easy task to enter into and to accomplish. Jerry Quinn is an expert in assisting public agencies work their way through the disaster recovery maze. In this podcast we look at the process in general, where the pitfalls are, and then suggestions for getting the most recovery funding from the federal government. While being able to retain those funds when the eventual audit...
Duration:00:42:38
Emergency Management Best Practices
2/22/2022
This podcast is a bit of reminiscing with Diane Newman. She was at different times my Operations Program Manager and my Deputy Director at the King County Office of Emergency Manager. At one point, I actually worked for her! In this podcast we discuss various aspects of our personal journeys in emergency management and along the way share what worked and what didn’t work when it came to trying to forge a cohesive local emergency management program. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, but we...
Duration:00:47:04
A National Blood Supply Crisis
2/15/2022
The United States’ blood supply has reach a dangerously low level of inventory. It has come via the impact of COVID and recent winter weather that has impacted much of the nation. In this short podcast we hear from Craig Cooper, an American Red Cross Spokesperson who explains the crisis and also how people can identify locations where they can go and give blood. It is a very safe and painless procedure. Blood cannot be stored for any length of time, thus it is another example of our “just in...
Duration:00:17:09
The Role of Chaplains in Emergencies and Disasters
2/8/2022
Many first responder agencies have chaplains who work with them. They go to the scenes of emergencies and disasters. They minister to people both residents and the actual firefighters and law enforcement officers. In this podcast I interview Mike Ryan, who is the Bellevue Washington State Fire Department Chaplain. Mike has many years of experience and service. Together we discuss how people end up being chaplains, what type of person is effective and then which personalities don’t cut the...
Duration:00:43:07
The Soup Ladies Helping in Disasters
2/1/2022
Volunteer organizations who support disasters come in many different types and sizes. One such organization is The Soup Ladies who feed first responders when they are deployed on missions. These can be search and rescue missions, evidence processing of crime scenes or any other disaster response where first responders are present. The guest for this podcast is Ginger Passarelli, the Executive Director for The Soup Ladies. In the podcast we discover how this volunteer passion evolved and what...
Duration:00:41:00
Seismic Neglect for Schools
1/25/2022
When we send our children and grandchildren off to school we expect that they are going to a safe place. In Washington State that might not be true. In this podcast the guest is Jim Buck, a former Washington State legislator. He has a passion for emergency management and when he discovered the status school seismic safety in his state he set off to change that. Besides listening to this podcast you can go to the website Seismic Safety for Kids to learn more. If you live in Washington State,...
Duration:00:41:39
Bainbridge Island Flotilla
1/18/2022
There are all different types of volunteer teams. 4X4 search and rescue; horse search and rescue; drone teams; cadaver dogs; search dogs; mountain rescue teams—and then there is a Volunteer Boater Disaster Team. In this podcast we explore how one city, Bainbridge Island, Washington State has established and organized a volunteer flotilla of boat owners to help in times of disasters. Tami Allen, Harbormaster for the Bainbridge Police Department is interviewed about how this team of volunteer...
Duration:00:40:53
Oregon State Resilience Officer
1/11/2022
13 states have either a State Resilience Officer or a Chief Resilience Officer. In this podcast we have an interview with Mike Harryman, State Resilience Officer for the State of Oregon. Besides the pandemic, Oregon has had several other major disasters, including the largest wildfire in its history and a historic heatwave that killed scores of people. All of the above caused the state to do a series of after-action reports that led to a restructuring of the emergency management function in...
Duration:00:46:18