IEM Unscripted: DisasterSmiths™

Latest Episodes:

Threads of Hope: The History of Disaster Case Management, Part II Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

The conversation continues with guests Cathy Earl and Liz Gibson as we explore how disaster case management has evolved through the years. As our country healed from 9/11, there was a shift in perspective as to what services were essential to best meet the needs of those impacted, opening up the space to address the emotional and spiritual needs in addition to the physical needs. Our guests guide us through the development of federal programs and how providers strive to best serve communities in times of crisis.

By asking those involved from the beginning, we address: What defines disaster case management? What is it not?

Threads of Hope: The History of Disaster Case Management, Part I Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, over one million residents were evacuated across the country, leaving them in dire need of emergency services. In partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) created Katrina Aid Today, a national case management consortium.

How did disaster case management evolve from humble meetings and handshakes to the complex system we know today? This unprecedented program set a new standard for recovery efforts and established modern disaster case management practices nationwide

The Power of Resilience: Are We Building Back Better or Just Faster? Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

Community systems are the places where people live, work, and interact with their environment and others. Urban or rural, coastal or inland, everyone lives in a system. These systems can promote resilience or increase the risk of negative disaster outcomes for communities simply by their designs, growth patterns, and community investment choices.

How does resilience factor into recovery? Climate resilience and social capital shape disaster recovery for communities nationwide as resilience goes beyond infrastructure.

Preparedness Is Empowerment Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

Over the last decade and a half, the federal government has taken many steps to offer more inclusive efforts on disaster service delivery. This has been largely achieved through the works of advocacy groups. As a result, laws like the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act and the Disaster Recovery Reform Act adapt the Stafford Act to mandate more accessibility in disaster response services and recovery programs.

But what does this mean for local communities? The reality is more empowered citizens are more prepared and their communities more resilient.

What is a DisasterSmith? Feb 07, 2024

Show notes

A Smith is one dedicated to mastering the hardest metals known to man, responsible for brokering the compromise between nature and people. A DisasterSmith molds and shapes how we respond to and recover from disasters, forging tools and programs to help communities recover, rebuild, and increase resilience as disasters evolve. Our hosts, IEM’s own Chris Smith and Diana Rothe-Smith, share how their dedication and experience to the craft have propelled them to DisasterSmith status and how the DisasterSmiths podcast will cultivate conversations with fellow practitioners to drive innovative solutions for a durable, more adaptable world.