112 episodes

A FEMA podcast highlighting innovation in the field of emergency management and sharing stories of communities and individuals recovering after disasters.

Before, During & After Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

    • Government
    • 4.6 • 89 Ratings

A FEMA podcast highlighting innovation in the field of emergency management and sharing stories of communities and individuals recovering after disasters.

    Episode 112: Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in Communities Near Chemical Stockpile Sites

    Episode 112: Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in Communities Near Chemical Stockpile Sites

    Since the 1950s, the U.S. Army maintained stockpiles of chemical munitions that were produced as a way to deter the threat of chemical attacks from foreign adversaries. In 1985, under the direction of Congress, the Army began destroying the aging chemical weapons, while ensuring that the communities surrounding the eight stockpile sites across the country remain safe. Three years later, in 1988, an agreement was made between FEMA and the U.S. Army to establish the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, or CSEPP. CSEPP is a readiness program that is designed to enhance the emergency preparedness of the communities surrounding these stockpile sites, not only as it relates to the stockpile munitions, but also to any disaster. Today, stockpiles of chemical munitions remain at only two sites in the United States, and one of those sites is in Pueblo, Colorado. On today's episode, we'll learn more about Pueblo's annual CSEPP exercise - what goes into planning it and what it looks like as over 2000 local, state and federal partners come together to practice their plans in case an emergency were to occur at the Pueblo Chemical Depot.

    • 31 min
    Episode 111: Understanding the Importance of Protecting Your Property with Flood Insurance

    Episode 111: Understanding the Importance of Protecting Your Property with Flood Insurance

    Flooding is America's number one natural disaster affecting 99% of U.S. Counties since 1996. Just one inch of water can cause roughly $25,000 of damage to one's home, and most homeowners don't know their flood risk or what they have currently covered in the event of a flood. Even more concerning, rises in extreme weather have made flooding more and more prominent, and they're not only happening in flood zones. On today's episode, we sit down with David Maurstad from the National Flood Insurance Program to talk about misconceptions and how it's designed to help residents and business owners protect the life they've built with flood insurance.

    • 54 min
    Episode 110: Focus on Equity - Engaging Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Response and Recovery

    Episode 110: Focus on Equity - Engaging Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Response and Recovery

    FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination serves to ensure our commitment to equity and inclusion for persons with disabilities before, during, and after disasters. On this episode, we catch up with Director Sherman Gillums, Jr. to explore his first hundred days in office, discuss the improvements that are being made in our program delivery, raise awareness for how to engage persons with disabilities, and lay out a plan on how to make the disaster response and recovery process more effective.

    • 33 min
    Episode 109: The National Water Center - Addressing the Nation's Flood Risks

    Episode 109: The National Water Center - Addressing the Nation's Flood Risks

    A little over 10 years ago, congressional leaders responded to the growing need for water resources intelligence by having NOAA Build a National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The center is charged with developing and providing this new generation of water prediction services for the entire nation. These services help to inform essential emergency management and water resource decisions from all time scales, including flooding and drought, low flow risks and information for routine and long-range water management and planning. In this episode, we catch up with Whitney Flynn, FEMA's liaison to the National Water Center, to discuss why the partnership is so critical in helping communities deal with flooding events before, during, and after they occur.

    • 33 min
    Episode 108: Unpacking the EOC How to Quick Reference Guide

    Episode 108: Unpacking the EOC How to Quick Reference Guide

    For emergency managers across the country, the Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, can be home base. It's a place for deconflicting challenges, finding solutions and coordinating efforts to a host of emergencies facing their communities. For many, the EOC is also a physical location, but in recent years, jurisdictions are finding ways to make their EOCs virtual as well. To that end, in October 2022, FEMA released the EOC How to Quick Reference Guide, which is a collection of guidance and best practices that can contribute to developing an EOC that can successfully meet the jurisdiction's needs. So, on this episode, we go to FEMA's National Integration Center to learn more about the guide and how it can help communities increase EOC capabilities for evolving environments.

    • 30 min
    Episode 107: Flood After Fire: Understanding the Risks of Increased Flooding After Wildfires Damage the Land

    Episode 107: Flood After Fire: Understanding the Risks of Increased Flooding After Wildfires Damage the Land

    In recent decades, wildfires have ravaged many areas of the country, especially the Western United States. Scientists note that climate change will worsen ongoing drought conditions, which will in turn increase the frequency and intensity of wildland wildfires. When the flames are extinguished, a new threat arises - flooding after fire. After large scale wildfires, the ground is left burned, barren, and unable to absorb water. That means when there's a rain shower or thunderstorm, rainfall that would normally be absorbed will run off and flow downhill, picking up ash and debris to form mudflows and flash flooding. This puts residents living in and around burn scars at greater risk. And because it takes time for the vegetation in burned areas to regrow, the risk of flooding after wildfire lingers for years. On today's episode, we turn it over to our partners in FEMA Region 8, located in Denver, Colorado, as we learn more about the risks of flash flooding and mud flows following a wildfire.

    • 17 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
89 Ratings

89 Ratings

SnerkyJerky ,

FEMA Pub1 Episode

I really enjoyed the FEMA Pub1 episode. Hearing the discussion regarding having a purpose and established values is critical in addition to getting people involved with the mission.

The EM field is continually developing and it’s purpose especially on the local/town level can be very ambiguous. Therefore, knowing what your organization is and it’s mission is important. If the people in your own organization are unclear that imagine what everyone else thinks. FEMA set a good example with this document for other organizations to follow.

Tactical511 ,

Well produced, but clueless content.

I have listened to the podcast for quite sometime and the content doesn’t include current events. For example, as our President has focused efforts to address the corona virus, the podcast focused on search and rescue. It is nice to know the government has all kinds of gee whiz software tools to tract disasters to the finest detail, but that isn’t helpful to the general population in my opinion. Unsubscribed.

AlvinJA17 ,

FEMA Brief History

A quick look at the outstanding work FEMA has done in 40 years.

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