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Episode 75: 2020 National Preparedness Month - Flood Insurance Sep 09, 2020

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September is National Preparedness Month. While 2020 may feel different for many Americans, one thing remains the same – disasters can and will happen. In this episode, we sit down with Paul Huang from the National Flood Insurance Program to discuss how purchasing flood insurance is one easy way homeowners and renters can prepare for future disasters.

Episode 74: Agency Update - Hurricane Laura Aug 31, 2020

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Hurricane Laura made landfall last week in Louisiana and areas of Eastern Texas as a powerful category 4 storm. Causing widespread damage and destructions throughout the area. We check in with David Bibo, Associated Administrator for Response and Recovery about what disaster survivors can expect from FEMA as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic and how the agency has been planning for storms just like Hurricane Laura since March.

Episode 72: Partnership Month 2020 Aug 12, 2020

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For the past 5 years, in July, volunteers from around the country travel to FEMA Headquarters in Washington D.C. to celebrate Partnership Day. This year, like many celebrations and gatherings around the country, Partnership Day is a virtual – and longer – a month-long celebration. On this episode we speak with Greg Forrester, President and CEO at National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Geoff Plague from Feeding America, and Chris Smith from FEMA Individual Assistance Program about how collaborative work in disaster response and recovery is making a difference in the lives of disaster survivors ever day.

Episode 71: FEMA.gov Gets A Redesign Jul 29, 2020

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FEMA’s website (FEMA.gov) went through a major redesign. This is a critical step towards making our programs more accessible. On this week's podcast, we join FEMA's Office of External Affairs to talk about how the redesign will support FEMA's partners and disaster survivors.

Episode 70: FEMA and the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Jul 22, 2020

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July 26, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)- The civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by federally funded entities. To mark the 30th anniversary of the legislation, we sat down with the director of FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration, Linda Mastandrea, to hear about how emergency management has worked to serve people with disabilities over the last 30 years and how we're looking ahead in the COVID environment to ensure we're best serving all disaster survivors.

Episode 69: 40th Anniversary of Mt. St. Helens Eruption May 18, 2020

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It was 40 years ago today that Mount St. Helens in Washington State erupted. Ash and steam poured out and avalanches of snow and ice thundered down the mountain's sides for two months, and then on May 18, 1980 the volcano blew its top. Fifty-seven people were killed, many others injured, and many buildings were destroyed. The huge blast of rock, ash and hot gases devastated an area about 230 square miles. Similar to our experiences of quarantining at home during the coronavirus pandemic, residents in many states also were confined to their homes. If they ventured outside, they would wear masks to protect themselves from the ash. This went on for several weeks. In this episode, FEMA speaks with current and former FEMA staff who experienced the eruption and subsequent ash that blew east into Spokane and Montana where our speakers lived. Chris Jonientz-Trisler, Volcanologist and retired-FEMA Division Director; Jay LaPlante, Region 10 Tribal Liaison; and Elaine Ike, former FEMA Community Relations Specialist, share their unique experiences.

Episode 68: FEMA Corps-The AmeriCorps Teams Supporting Disaster Recovery Mar 11, 2020

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On today’s episode, we celebrate AmeriCorps Week by highlighting one of our very own FEMA Corps teams. We sit down to discuss what the FEMA Corps program is all about and we talk about their important role in helping communities recovering from disasters.

Episode 67: Insights From A Mitigation Veteran Mar 04, 2020

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On this episode we talk with Mark Carey, who recently retired after 20 years of service with FEMA. Since 2007 he served as the FEMA Region 10 Mitigation Division Director where he was responsible for the region’s hazard mitigation financial grant program, National Flood Insurance Program, Endangered Species Act compliance, Risk Analysis and Risk Reduction programs. Mark talks with us about the principles of hazard mitigation and how support for mitigation has evolved over time. He also shares his own experience and insight as a disaster survivor.

Episode 66: FEMA's Urban Search And Rescue Teams Feb 26, 2020

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On this episode we have the unique opportunity to talk with Evan Schumann, who is a program manager for Ohio Task Force One, one of the 28 teams in the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue system, about how these teams support disaster response operations in their home communities as well as around the nation.

Episode 65: Upgrading The Nation's Public Alert And Warning System Feb 12, 2020

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On this episode we talk with Antwane Johnson, director of FEMA's integrated public alert and warning program about this incredible capability and how these upgrades serve an important role in our nation's public safety and national security communications infrastructure.

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