The Emergency Management Network Podcast

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Government
**The Emergency Management Network Podcast**

This podcast features strategies and advice from today’s leaders and experts in emergency management. Its purpose is to empower and enrich current and future leaders.

emnetwork.substack.com

Latest Episodes:

Manufacturing Quiet Tuesdays Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

Manufacturing Quiet Tuesdays

National Emergency Management Awareness Month, and a Confirmed Administrator at Last

Host: Todd T. DeVoe, CEM Runtime: 11:45 Recorded: August 8, 2026

SHOW NOTES

August is National Emergency Management Awareness Month, and this year it arrives alongside news the field has waited two years to hear. On Friday, August 7, the Senate confirmed Cameron Hamilton as Administrator of FEMA, part of a block of 74 nominations. After two years of acting titles and senior officials performing the duties of, there is a name on the door that stays there.

Todd DeVoe uses the occasion for something other than policy analysis. This one is a thank you. Not the conference kind. The real one.

He works through the profession person by person. The one-person department that also serves as the planning section, the logistics section, and the PIO. The planner who has read the same evacuation annex forty times, looking for the change that will matter, and who will never be told it worked. The duty officer at two in the morning, with the full picture assembled by four. The recovery specialist is still sitting at a kitchen table over a three-year-old declaration. The exercise designer who wrote a scenario meant enough to embarrass people, because an exercise that everybody passes taught nobody anything. The FEMA staff who stayed through the uncertainty. And the twenty-six-year-old, at their first activation, convinced everyone else in the room that they knew something they did not. They do not. Everybody is reading the same situation report.

Then the harder part. This profession’s best work is invisible by design. The evacuation goes smoothly, and there is no story. The warning goes out early and the numbers stay low. Success is indistinguishable from a quiet Tuesday. Todd reaches for Marcus Aurelius on the vine that produces grapes and does not go looking for applause, and lands on what Awareness Month is actually for: not asking for credit, but explaining what the quiet costs and who pays for it, so the October budget conversation goes a little easier.

The last thank you goes to the families. The empty chair at dinner. The eleven-word activation text that reorganizes a week. The skill of falling back asleep after the duty phone rings at three. And the thing most people miss entirely is being the first responder to the responder who came home from a bad one and could not yet talk about it. There is no ICS position for that. Maybe there should be.

CHAPTERS

00:51 The Senate confirms Cameron Hamilton as FEMA Administrator

02:56 Doc, welcome back. Why a permanent name on the door matters

03:07 Awareness Month, year two, and the traction it has built

04:08 Thank you, department by department

06:13 To the ones who are new: stay

06:40 When you do your best work, nothing happens

07:05 Marcus Aurelius and the business of manufacturing quiet Tuesdays

07:58 To the spouses, partners, and kids

09:26 A wildland firefighter son, and both sides of that door

09:42 Not a profession in decline. A profession that took a hit and stayed on its feet

10:52 Your assignment for the rest of August

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

It takes about four minutes. Find one person in this field whose work you have benefited from and tell them. Not on social media. Call them, and name the specific thing they did. Then find one family member, yours or someone else’s, and thank them for the hours that got taken from them.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

IAEM launched National Emergency Management Awareness Month in August 2025.

Auburn, Washington signed its proclamation on August 3.

San Bernardino County is running a campaign called Behind the Ready.

Senate confirmation of Cameron Hamilton, August 7, 2026, in a block of 74 nominations, 51 to 47.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

National Emergency Management Advocacy Month: Why Our Voice Matters Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Episode Description

August is National Emergency Management Advocacy Month, a time to recognize the importance of speaking up for the emergency management profession and the communities we serve.

In this episode, Todd DeVoe and Andrew Boyarsky discuss why advocacy is essential to the future of emergency management. From educating elected officials and building partnerships to securing resources and strengthening community resilience, advocacy isn’t about politics—it’s about ensuring emergency managers have a seat at the table before decisions are made.

Todd and Andrew share practical ways emergency managers at every level can become advocates, explain the difference between advocacy and lobbying, and discuss how small conversations can lead to meaningful change. Whether you’re a student, practitioner, volunteer, or executive, this episode will inspire you to help advance the profession and better prepare the communities you serve.

Show Notes

In This Episode

Emergency management has never been more important, yet many people—including policymakers—still don’t fully understand what emergency managers do. National Emergency Management Advocacy Month provides an opportunity to change that.

Todd and Andrew discuss:

* What National Emergency Management Advocacy Month is and why it exists

* Why advocacy is a professional responsibility

* The difference between advocacy and lobbying

* How emergency managers can educate elected officials and community leaders

* Why relationships built before disasters matter

* The importance of telling the emergency management story

* How advocacy can improve funding, staffing, planning, and preparedness

* The role of professional organizations like IAEM and NEMA

* Practical advocacy ideas for emergency managers at the local, state, tribal, territorial, federal, private-sector, and nonprofit levels

* How every emergency manager can make a difference—even without holding a leadership position

Key Takeaways

* Advocacy is about education, not politics.

* Emergency management deserves a voice wherever public policy is discussed.

* Strong relationships built today strengthen disaster response tomorrow.

* Every emergency manager is an ambassador for the profession.

* Advocacy helps build safer, more resilient communities.

Challenge for Listeners

During National Emergency Management Advocacy Month:

* Schedule a meeting with a local elected official.

* Invite community leaders to tour your Emergency Operations Center.

* Share your emergency management story on social media.

* Mentor someone entering the profession.

* Participate in advocacy efforts through your professional association.

* Take time to explain what emergency management really does to someone outside the field.

Quote of the Episode

“Advocacy isn’t about asking for more. It’s about helping people understand the value emergency management brings before, during, and after disaster.”

Connect With Us

Follow the Emergency Management Network for more conversations with leaders from across the emergency management profession. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode with a colleague who is passionate about building more resilient communities.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

The Most Beautiful Game: Managing the FIFA World Cup 2026 from the JTOC Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

EMN Podcast Episode Description

The Most Beautiful Game: Managing the FIFA World Cup 2026 from the JTOC

What does it take to keep one of the largest sporting events in history running safely behind the scenes?

In this special episode of the Emergency Management Network Podcast, host Todd DeVoe takes listeners inside the Joint Tournament Operations Center (JTOC) during the FIFA World Cup 2026, offering a rare, first-hand look at the emergency management professionals who worked around the clock to support one of the world’s most complex events.

While billions of fans watched the action unfold on the pitch, another team was monitoring weather, coordinating intelligence, tracking team movements, managing rumors, preparing for protests, supporting public safety, and solving problems before the public ever knew they existed. From the Planning Section to logistics, communications, technology, and multi-agency coordination, this episode explores what it really means to operate at the center of a global event.

Todd shares stories from more than a month inside the JTOC, lessons learned from building an interagency team under pressure, and the leadership principles that transformed a room full of professionals into a family. You’ll hear about the challenges no one saw, the victories no one celebrated on television, and why success in emergency management is often measured by what doesn’t happen.

Whether you’re an emergency manager, first responder, public safety professional, or simply curious about what happens behind the curtain of a mega-event, this episode provides an inside look at the planning, coordination, and resilience required to support the most beautiful game.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

* How a Joint Tournament Operations Center functions during a global sporting event.

* The role of emergency management in supporting FIFA World Cup operations.

* Lessons in leadership, planning, and multi-agency coordination.

* How situational awareness, information sharing, and decision-making work in real time.

* Why relationships—not technology—remain the most important resource during complex incidents.

Join us as we pull back the curtain on one of the most ambitious emergency management operations ever undertaken and discover how thousands of hours of preparation made the extraordinary look effortless. The FIFA Tournament Operations Center serves as the central hub connecting host cities, venue operations, security, communications, and tournament leadership to ensure seamless coordination across the competition.

Because in emergency management, the best stories are often the ones the public never hears.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Magnitude 7.8 Philippines quake triggers tsunami advisory for Guam and the CNMI; NIFC holds at PL 2 with ten uncontained large fires and evacuations near Chelan Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Today’s brief leads with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the southern Philippines that prompted a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advisory for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, with no threat to Hawaii or the U.S. West Coast. We cover national wildfire operations at Preparedness Level 2, including active fires threatening structures and infrastructure in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina, and Alaska, plus a multi-day Storm Prediction Center severe weather threat, two Pacific tropical depressions, a paused Kilauea eruption, and approaching FEMA assistance deadlines in Washington and Hawaii. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.

Key Takeaways

· Tsunami advisory (Guam and CNMI): A magnitude 7.8 Philippines earthquake prompted a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advisory for hazardous currents and sea level fluctuations; effects expected from about 12:45 p.m. ChST Monday, no full-scale evacuation called.

· No threat to Hawaii or the West Coast: The Warning Center assessed no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the U.S. mainland Pacific coast.

· Wildfire posture: NIFC remains at Preparedness Level 2 with ten uncontained large fires; the Chestnut Fire near Chelan, Washington has evacuations in effect, and the Michaud Creek Fire near Pocatello, Idaho shows extreme behavior threatening structures and energy infrastructure.

· Seven Cabins Fire (New Mexico): Largest active incident at 31,870 acres, now 90 percent contained, with closures still in effect.

· Severe weather: A multi-day SPC threat spans the Northern High Plains, Central Plains, Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, with damaging wind, large hail, and isolated tornadoes possible.

· FEMA deadlines: Washington December-storm applicants have until June 10; Maui and Honolulu Kona Low applicants have until June 14.

· Kilauea: Summit eruption paused at ADVISORY; next fountaining episode forecast June 12 to 15.

Sponsors

The NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/

Sources

NIFC / Wildfire

• NIFC Incident Management Situation Report — National daily wildfire situation report and preparedness level

• NIFC National Fire News — National wildland fire activity summary

CISA

• CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog (June 3, 2026) — CVE-2026-45247 Mirasvit deserialization flaw added to KEV

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — Authoritative KEV catalog and remediation deadlines

USGS — Volcano

• USGS Kilauea Volcano Updates — Hawaiian Volcano Observatory status and alert level for Kilauea

Severe Weather

• NWS National Forecast — National Weather Service hazards and severe-weather summary

• SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook — Storm Prediction Center severe-weather outlook for the central U.S.

Tropical / NHC

• National Hurricane Center — Atlantic and Eastern Pacific tropical weather outlooks

FEMA

• FEMA — Hawaii Kona Low deadline extended to June 14 — Individual Assistance deadline for Maui and Honolulu counties

• FEMA — One month remains to apply in Washington — June 10 deadline for December storms and flooding

USGS — Earthquakes

• USGS Significant Earthquakes — 2026 — No significant U.S. seismic events in the last 24 hours

California

• ABC7 — Garden Grove chemical tank updates — OCFA lifts all evacuation orders June 4; residents return

• City of Garden Grove — Hazardous Materials Incident — Official municipal incident information page

New Mexico

• NM Fire Info — Lincoln County rescinds Seven Cabins evacuations (June 4) — Evacuation orders rescinded; acreage and containment update

• Lincoln National Forest — Fire — Forest Service fire and closure information

South Carolina

• City of Aiken — Water Main Break Advisory (June 4) — York Street NE main break affecting ~60 connections

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Kilauea Episode 48 ends after nine hours; Seven Cabins Fire grows to 29,531 acres in New Mexico Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

The Atlantic hurricane season officially opened June 1 as FEMA reaffirmed readiness and the National Hurricane Center continued to watch a high-probability disturbance in the Eastern Pacific. In New Mexico, the Seven Cabins Fire pushed past 29,000 acres with evacuations in Lincoln County and a Type 1 team transition. Hawaii’s Kīlauea ended Episode 48 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption after nine hours of fountaining, leaving the alert level at advisory. President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Delaware tied to February’s severe winter storm, and the Storm Prediction Center flagged severe thunderstorm risk across the Ozarks, Mid-South, and Central Plains. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.

Key Takeaways

• Atlantic hurricane season opens June 1: FEMA states it is prepared, with NHC expecting no Atlantic formation in seven days. Operational focus turns to readiness messaging and posture verification.

• Eastern Pacific watch: A disturbance southwest of Baja California carries a 70 percent 48-hour and 90 percent 7-day formation chance; a second system is expected off Central America later this week.

• NIFC June 1 IMSR: 14 large fires under suppression, two new large fires, 2,825 personnel committed, roughly 2.4 million acres burned year to date.

• Seven Cabins Fire, New Mexico: 29,531 acres in Lincoln County, evacuations north of the Capitan Mountains, command transferred to Southwest Area IMT 2 on June 1.

• Kīlauea Episode 48 ends: Lava fountaining stopped at 1:37 p.m. HST June 1 after nine hours; alert ADVISORY, aviation YELLOW; eruption paused.

• Delaware Major Disaster Declaration: Public Assistance available statewide for the February 22 to 23 severe winter storm in Kent and Sussex counties.

• Severe weather today: Slight Risk across Ozarks/Mid-South and Central Plains; severe wind gust potential in eastern Montana and western North Dakota.

• FEMA deadlines: King County, Washington Individual Assistance applications close June 10; Hawaii Kona Low applications close June 14.

• Alaska volcano status: Great Sitkin remains WATCH/ORANGE with slow summit lava effusion; Mount Spurr remains NORMAL/GREEN.

• New Jersey, Delaney Hall: State plans protected protest zones in Newark; federal staffing posture at Newark Liberty under public dispute.

Sources

FEMA

• FEMA: Major Disaster Declaration for Delaware (June 1, 2026)

• FEMA: As Hurricane Season Begins, FEMA Stands Ready (June 1, 2026)

• FEMA: New Dates and Locations Added for FEMA and SBA In-Person Support (May 28, 2026)

NIFC and InciWeb

• NIFC: Incident Management Situation Report, June 1, 2026

• NIFC: IMSR archive

• InciWeb: Incident Information System

NOAA NWS and SPC

• NHC: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook

• SPC: Day 1 Convective Outlook

• Climate Prediction Center: Probabilistic Hazards Outlook

USGS

• USGS HVO: Kīlauea Volcano Updates

• USGS HVO: Newest Kīlauea volcano notice (June 1, 2026)

• USGS AVO: Great Sitkin volcano page

• USGS AVO: Mount Spurr volcano page

• USGS: Latest Earthquakes map

Alaska

• USGS AVO: Great Sitkin status (ongoing WATCH/ORANGE)

California

• CAL FIRE: Incidents

• CPUC: Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)

Delaware

• FEMA: Major Disaster Declaration for Delaware (June 1, 2026)

Hawaii

• USGS HVO: Newest Kīlauea volcano notice (June 1, 2026)

• Spectrum News: Kīlauea kicks off 48th episode (June 1, 2026)

Montana

• InciWeb: Mthlf Jericho Creek incident

• SPC: Day 1 Convective Outlook (eastern MT severe wind risk)

New Jersey

• Just Security: Early Edition, June 1, 2026 (Delaney Hall, Newark customs staffing)

New Mexico

• KRQE: Officials provide update on Seven Cabins Fire (May 31 to June 1, 2026)

• NIFC IMSR: June 1, 2026 (Seven Cabins listed under Southwest Area)

Washington

• FEMA: Disaster Recovery Center Locator

• FEMA: 2026 Disasters news index

Travel advisories and public health

• U.S. Department of State: Travel Advisories

• CDC: Health Alert Network

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Chemical Reality Check: Garden Grove’s 50,000-Person Evacuation Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Episode Description

What happens when a single industrial chemical tank threatens an entire community?

In this episode of the Emergency Management Network Podcast, Todd DeVoe and Andrew Boyarsky examine the Garden Grove hazardous materials incident that led to the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents and businesses. What began as a concern over an overheating tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA) quickly escalated into one of Southern California’s most significant precautionary evacuations in recent memory.

Todd and Andrew break down the incident from an emergency management perspective, discussing the decision-making process behind large-scale evacuations, the challenges of public messaging during uncertain situations, and the realities of managing low-probability, high-consequence events. They also explore what this event reveals about industrial hazards in urban environments and how emergency managers can better prepare their communities for complex technological disasters.

This conversation is not about assigning blame. It is about understanding risk, learning from real-world events, and strengthening preparedness before the next incident occurs.

In This Episode

Understanding the Incident

* What happened in Garden Grove?

* The role of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and why it created concern.

* How emergency officials assessed the threat.

* Why was a precautionary evacuation ordered?

The Emergency Management Perspective

* Decision-making under uncertainty.

* Balancing public safety against disruption.

* The importance of situational awareness and intelligence gathering.

* Working with fire, law enforcement, public health, and industry partners.

Evacuating 50,000 People

* Challenges of moving large populations quickly.

* Traffic management and public compliance.

* Protecting vulnerable populations and special needs residents.

* Shelter and mass care considerations.

Public Information and Risk Communication

* Communicating complex hazards to the public.

* Managing rumors and misinformation.

* Building trust during rapidly evolving incidents.

* The role of social media and traditional media.

Lessons for Emergency Managers

* Planning for industrial and hazardous materials incidents.

* Reviewing evacuation zones and protective action strategies.

* Strengthening public-private partnerships.

* Incorporating technological hazards into emergency operations plans.

* Training for events that are unlikely but potentially catastrophic.

Looking Ahead

* What communities can learn from Garden Grove.

* Emerging risks associated with industrial facilities in urban areas.

* Building resilience through planning, exercises, and partnerships.

* Why preparedness remains a community-wide responsibility.

Key Takeaways

* Rare events still require planning.

* Protective actions must be based on available information, not perfect information.

* Effective risk communication can be as important as operational response.

* Strong relationships between emergency managers, fire agencies, law enforcement, and private industry are essential.

* The Garden Grove incident serves as a reminder that technological disasters can have community-wide consequences.

About the Hosts

Todd DeVoe, CEM, is the Editor-in-Chief of The Emergency Management Network, Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Inglewood, educator, author, and IAEM-USA leader.

Andrew Boyarsky is a veteran emergency management professional and co-host of the EMN Podcast, bringing practical insight and operational experience to discussions on disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.

Tags

Emergency Management, Emergency Management Network, EMN, Todd DeVoe, Andrew Boyarsky, Disaster Response, Crisis Leadership, FEMA, IAEM, Public Safety, Emergency Planning, Incident Command, EOC, Community Resilience, Disaster Recovery, Crisis Communication, Leadership, Systems Thinking, Homeland Security, Disaster Policy, Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Operations, Crisis Management, Disaster Leadership, Emergency Manager, Organizational Leadership

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

FEMA Review Council: Reform, Reality, and the Future of Emergency Management May 11, 2026

Show notes

Episode Description

This week on the Emergency Management Network Podcast, we take a deep dive into the FEMA Review Council and what its work could mean for the future of emergency management in the United States. As conversations continue around disaster response, federal coordination, resilience policy, and the role of FEMA in an increasingly complex risk environment, the review process has become a focal point for emergency managers across the country.

In this episode, we explore the political realities, operational concerns, and strategic questions surrounding the council’s recommendations and broader national discussions about FEMA reform. From federalism and funding to capability gaps, workforce challenges, climate adaptation, and the growing expectations placed on local emergency managers, this conversation examines what is at stake for the profession and the communities we serve.

This is not just a conversation about FEMA. It is a conversation about the future identity, mission, and structure of emergency management in America.

Episode Summary

The Emergency Management Network Podcast examines the FEMA Review Council and the ongoing national conversation surrounding the future of FEMA and emergency management. The discussion focuses on the operational, political, and policy implications of potential reforms and how those changes may impact local emergency managers, state agencies, tribal governments, nonprofit partners, and the private sector.

The episode explores whether FEMA is being asked to do too much, whether the current federal system supports or hinders disaster resilience, and how emergency managers can engage constructively in shaping the future of the profession amid growing disasters, increasing public expectations, and mounting fiscal pressure.

The conversation also addresses the importance of professional identity, whole community coordination, and the challenge of balancing national consistency with local flexibility.

Key Topics Discussed

• What the FEMA Review Council is and why it matters now

• The growing debate over the federal role in disasters and resilience

• How federalism shapes emergency management in the United States

• The increasing expectations placed on FEMA after major disasters

• Whether FEMA has become overextended operationally and politically

• Workforce challenges and the professionalization of emergency management

• Disaster funding, mitigation investments, and long-term recovery concerns

• The role of local emergency managers in future national preparedness efforts

• Climate adaptation, catastrophic risk, and complex incident management

• Why emergency management must maintain both operational credibility and policy influence

• The importance of engaging elected officials and the public in conversations about preparedness and resilience

Discussion Questions

• What should FEMA’s core mission be in the next decade?

• How can local emergency managers better shape national policy discussions?

• Are we building a resilient system or simply managing recurring crises?

• What capabilities should remain local, state, or federal responsibilities?

• How should emergency management adapt to increasingly complex and overlapping disasters?

Closing Thoughts

Emergency management sits at the intersection of policy, operations, leadership, and community trust. The FEMA Review Council represents more than an organizational review. It reflects a larger national conversation about preparedness, resilience, governance, and the future direction of the profession itself.

As emergency managers, this is a moment not only to react to change, but to help define it.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

The New Architecture of Resilience May 04, 2026

Show notes

Episode SummaryWhat if the future of emergency management is already here, just not where we’ve traditionally looked?

In this episode, Todd DeVoe sits down with Marcus T. Coleman Jr., Vice President for Community Resilience Strategy at United Way Worldwide, for a candid, practitioner-level conversation about the evolving landscape of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Drawing on more than a decade inside FEMA and DHS, and experience supporting over 50 presidentially declared disasters, Marcus offers a clear-eyed view of what is changing and what emergency managers need to rethink.

This is not a polished success story. It is an honest discussion about the gaps between government systems and community reality, the increasing influence of philanthropy, and the hard truth that resilience is being built from the ground up, often outside of traditional emergency management structures.

Key Themes and Conversation

The Shift to Community-Led PreparednessMarcus breaks down the movement away from top-down models toward locally driven resilience. Programs like United We Prepare are not just outreach efforts, they represent a fundamental shift in who owns preparedness. Communities are no longer passive recipients of government planning, they are becoming co-creators. The conversation challenges emergency managers to rethink authority, control, and engagement in preparedness efforts.

Mental Health as a Core Recovery FunctionUsing real-world examples like the Greater Valdosta United Way response to Hurricane Helene, Marcus highlights a persistent blind spot in disaster recovery. Mental health is not a secondary issue, it is central to long-term recovery. The discussion explores how trauma, anxiety, and prolonged stress shape community outcomes and why emergency management systems continue to under-resource this space.

Real-Time Data and the Power of 211The conversation turns to data, not the static kind found in after-action reports, but live, dynamic data that tells the story of unmet needs in real time. Marcus explains how 211 systems are becoming critical intelligence tools, capturing gaps that traditional assessments miss. With 19 million referrals in 2025 alone, including dramatic increases in housing and food assistance requests, this data offers a new lens for situational awareness before, during, and after disasters.

Public-Private Interdependence in CrisisEmergency management has always relied on partnerships, but the stakes are higher now. Marcus discusses the growing interdependence between government, nonprofits, and private sector partners like Uber and Lyft. These relationships can accelerate response and recovery, but only if they are intentionally designed. When they are not, they introduce friction, inequity, and delay.

The Quiet Influence of PhilanthropyOne of the most candid parts of the conversation explores how philanthropy is shaping recovery timelines and priorities. Funding streams, donor interests, and nonprofit capacity are influencing outcomes in ways that are rarely discussed in formal emergency management circles. This raises important questions about equity, accountability, and who ultimately drives recovery decisions.

Why This Matters for Emergency ManagersThis episode challenges the profession to confront an uncomfortable reality. The systems we rely on are no longer sufficient on their own. Community organizations, data networks like 211, and private sector partnerships are not supporting actors, they are central to the mission.

If emergency managers are not actively integrating these elements into planning and operations, they are not just missing opportunities, they are creating gaps.

About the GuestMarcus T. Coleman Jr. serves as Vice President for Community Resilience Strategy at United Way Worldwide. He previously spent over a decade at FEMA and DHS, where he built national partnerships across nonprofit, faith-based, philanthropic, and private sector organizations. Marcus has supported response and recovery for more than 50 presidentially declared disasters under three FEMA Administrators and has advised thousands of organizations on preparedness, response, and recovery.

Closing ThoughtResilience is no longer something we deliver to communities. It is something communities build, often with or without us. The question for emergency managers is simple, will we lead in that space, or will we struggle to catch up?

Tagscommunity resilience, nonprofit partnerships, disaster recovery, emergency management leadership, 211 data

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Emergency Management Network Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected