5 Minutes to Chaos Steven Kuhr
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- Business
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Join Steven Kuhr for an engaging and informative podcast, 5 Minutes to Chaos. This podcast is designed for Emergency Managers and Crisis Leaders who navigate the dynamic, threat-rich landscape of today's world. Unlike other podcasts, 5 Minutes to Chaos features unscripted, unrehearsed discussions that provide valuable insights into major emergencies and critical incidents. With a focus on real-world experiences, this podcast promotes learning by examining the challenges faced by incident leadership and the solutions they derived. Tune in for a unique perspective on crisis management.
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Episode 54 - Dr. Jeanette Sutton Joins the Chaos to Discuss Evidence Based Warning Message Construct and Other Public Messaging Issues
Introduction
Jeannette Sutton, Ph.D., specializes in disaster and risk with a primary focus on online informal communication, and public alerts and warnings disseminated via short messaging channels. Much of her research investigates the evolving role of information and communication technology, including social media and mobile devices, for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Her current work centers on message design and testing across a range of hazard contexts including atmospheric, meteorological, geological, technological, biological, and human induced threats for communication via Wireless Emergency Alerts and other alerting channels. She is employed at the University at Albany, SUNY, as an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She is also the director of the Emergency and Risk Communication Message Testing Lab. And in her spare time, she critiques Wireless Emergency Alerts on Twitter (@warningrater) and hosts a webpage called “The Warn Room” thewarnroom.com.
Dr. Sutton has held numerous grants from the National Science Foundation, FEMA-IPAWS, DHS, NOAA, USGS, and the Office of Naval Research. Her research has been published in Risk Analysis, the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; the Proceedings of Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management; Information, Communication, and Society; Health Communication; and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Jeannette is an appointed member of the National Construction Safety Team Advisory Board at NIST. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and completed her postdoctoral training at the Natural Hazards Center.
Contact Information
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannettesutton/ -
Episode 53 - Senior Risk Solutions Specialist Peter Dworsky Discusses His Roles in EMS Leadership, Emergency Management, Risk Solutions, and Crisis Management
Introduction
Peter is the Senior Risk Solutions Specialist for The Markel Group. He has been in EMS, emergency management and safety for over 30 years, having worked as a paramedic in NYC, as the Paramedic Director at Jersey City Medical Center and the Director of EMS and Disaster Preparedness for Saint Barnabas Health Care System. Peter was also the Safety Officer for the NJ State EMS Task Force. He remains a member of the Executive Board of the International Association of EMS Chiefs after completing his term as the President. Peter has published numerous textbook chapters and articles related to EMS and Emergency Management and routinely speaks at state and national conferences.
His credentials include a master’s degree in public health, a bachelor’s degree in EMS Management, and he has his CEM from the IAEM and is a Fellow of the American College of Paramedic Executives. Peter is also a Master SCUBA instructor and for fun - a certified Kansas City BBQ judge.
Contact Information
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-dworsky-mph-nrp-cem-facpe-a8b1347/ -
Episode 52 - Host Steven Kuhr Celebrates the One Year Anniversary of "5 Minutes to Chaos" and Discusses Crisis Management Through the Lens of Extreme Urban Heat Emergencies
Show Notes
Five Minutes to Chaos has reached its 52nd episode, marking a significant milestone in the success of the podcast. The podcast has featured a diverse range of guests and panel episodes, covering various crisis events and innovative approaches to crisis management. For this special episode, Steven Kuhr discusses the topic of heat emergencies, which he believes captures the essence of emergency management. Key elements of managing heat emergencies include interagency collaboration, communications, public information, and the establishment of cooling centers.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Milestone
00:56 Conceptualizing the Podcast
03:21 Monologue Episode
04:14 Choosing the Topic: Heat Emergencies
08:08 History of Emergency Management in NYC
09:29 Heat Emergency in Chicago
11:25 Jerry Hauer and the Task Force
12:53 Interagency Collaboration
18:42 Reducing Heat Deaths
19:09 Monitoring and Intelligence
20:04 National Weather Service and Regional Calls
21:46 Emergency Operations Center
24:36 Communications and Public Information
27:27 Unity of Effort and Shared Situational Awareness
29:53 Cooling Centers and Transportation
32:17 Summary and Gratitude
About Steven Kuhr
Steven Kuhr has spent his career in Emergency Management, building a diverse portfolio of leadership positions across multiple sectors. Mr. Kuhr served as Director of Emergency Management, Enterprise Continuity, and Security Operations at Colorado Springs Utilities. While serving in this position, Mr. Kuhr oversaw crisis, risk, and resiliency operations for energy and water utilities, as well as dam operations for Colorado’s second largest city. During this time, Mr. Kuhr also served as a Director with InfraGard-Denver and co-founded the Colorado Critical Infrastructure Alliance.
Earlier, Mr. Kuhr served with the New York City Office of Emergency Management as a founding Deputy Commissioner where he led emergency operations and multi-risk emergency planning. Prior to that he served with the New York City Fire Department as EMS Deputy Chief and Special Operations Commander.
Mr. Kuhr is a trusted Crisis Management Leader. He has advised elected officials, CEOs and “C-Suite” Leaders during complex emergencies, major disasters, and terrorist attacks. Mr. Kuhr is also a respected consultant, having served as Managing Director and Emergency Management Practice Leader at Kroll Inc., and President and Chief Operating Officer at Strategic Emergency Group LLC.
Mr. Kuhr has advised a variety of organizations in several business industries and government sectors to include federal, state, and local government agencies, transportation (rail, aviation, seaport, and surface), financial, energy (electricity/natural gas), water/wastewater, dams, major league baseball, cable news, commercial properties, defense, justice, law enforcement, and an agency serving people with disabilities and special needs.
Mr. Kuhr Hosts “5 Minutes to Chaos – A Podcast”, a weekly podcast available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, where he and guests explore the complexities of crisis management.
Mr. Kuhr holds a Master of Science in Homeland Security Management and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management Administration. He is a Colorado Certified Threat Liaison Officer and held a certification as an Advanced EMT-IV Paramedic.
Contact Information
https://www.linkedin.com/in/skuhr/ -
Episode 51 - Resilience Professional Jason Hoss Shares His Personal Journey and Crisis Management and Organizational Resilience Philosophies
Introduction
With over a decade of experience building organizational resilience, Jason distills complex strategies into clear, actionable plans that support people, culture, and business processes, ensuring regulatory compliance, cost-effectiveness, and confident navigation of any disruption. Jason also loves dogs.
Contact Info
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hoss/ -
Episode 50 - Chief Jorge Rodriguez, El Paso, Tx Emergency Manager, Discusses the Risks, Challenges, and Crisis Management Strategies Employed in Response to the Border-Migrant Crisis
Introduction
Chief Jorge A. Rodriguez is the Emergency Management Coordinator/Director for the El Paso Office of Emergency Management, with over 25 years of public safety, emergency management and homeland security experience. In a dual capacity, he also serves as an Assistant Fire Chief with the El Paso Fire Department with a program portfolio that includes special operations, aircraft rescue and firefighting, homeland security grants and the Office of Emergency Management.
He managed the response and recovery when El Paso was the center of multiple protracted back-to-back disasters: a domestic terrorism attack/mass shooting in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic when El Paso was the global epicenter, and the mass migration humanitarian crises of 2019, 2022 and 2023.
He holds both a Master of Public Administration with a focus on Leadership and a BA in Political Science with a focus on Intelligence and National Security from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is a graduate of Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Executive Education Program and the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Leaders Program. He is currently attending the FEMA Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship Program.
Chief Rodriguez is a member of multiple local, state and federal committees, advisory boards and task forces as well as a speaker at state and national conferences.
Contact Information
LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/yub4nhtp -
Episode 49 - CEO Brittany Castillo Discusses Disaster Debris Removal and Emergency Management Logistics Through the Activities of AshBritt Inc.
Summary
Brittany Castillo, CEO of Ashbritt, discusses the company's role in post-disaster debris management and emergency management logistics. She highlights the importance of local hiring and economic recovery in disaster areas, as well as the humanitarian initiatives undertaken by Ashbritt. Brittany also emphasizes the challenges and complexity of contractor operations in the emergency management industry. She shares the story of Ashbritt's humble beginnings and the involvement of her family in the company. Additionally, Brittany discusses the Stronger Than The Storm nonprofit and its work in supporting children and families in disaster-affected communities.
Brittany discusses the importance of leadership and crisis management in emergency response. She shares examples of crisis management in Kentucky and Northern California, highlighting the need for adaptability and community-focused solutions and emphasizes the role of partnerships and on-the-ground operations in effective emergency management. She discusses the self-sufficiency and lean-in mentality of her organization, as well as the growing importance of public-private partnerships in the industry. Additionally, Brittany highlights the philanthropic efforts of AshBritt and the importance of supporting women in emergency management.
Takeaways
Effective crisis management requires strong leadership and adaptability.
Partnerships and collaboration are crucial in on-the-ground emergency response.
Self-sufficiency and a lean-in mentality are key in emergency management operations.
Public-private partnerships play an increasingly important role in emergency management.
Supporting women in emergency management and philanthropic efforts are essential for a resilient community.
Contact Information
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanypcastillo/
Customer Reviews
Practical Crisis Management Gold Mine
The conversations that Steve has with emergency and crisis managers are extremely practical and down-to-earth. I absolutely love how he keeps the topics grounded in reality and rooted in real-life examples of successes.
Great listen for anyone coming up in the industry…but also fantastic for veterans trying to keep our “brain juices” moving!
5 Minutes to Chaos
I continue to enjoy the diversity of presenter's on 5 Minutes to Chaos. Fundamental EM skills remain applicable to large and small incidents. Resource availability often dictates the need for expanded circles of influence. The Rolodex in whatever form is used remains pivotal.
Best in the Business
If you care about emergency management, crisis management & homeland security, this is the podcast for you. Steve Kuhr is the best in the business and provides a wealth of institutional knowledge.