Disaster Zone

The Readiness Lab
  • 4.9 (7)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Disaster Zone is hosted by Eric Holdeman, an emergency manager with over 30 years of experience at the federal, state and local levels of government. Disaster Zone is a podcast that focuses on all facets of disasters; the before, during and after of events that are increasingly impacting communities around the world. Podcasts run between 35-45 minutes with a mix of guests covering a range of disasters and issues that flow from them. Story topics and suggestions for people to interview are welcomed. You can contact the host via email.

  1. 12/23/2025

    Climate. Weather Extremes. Short Term Winter Forecast

    Renny Vandewege GM of climate and weather at DTN, has two decades of meteorological experience, educating business leaders on weather-induced disasters. DTN has an Operational Decisioning Platform that turns complex data into decision-grade insights—empowering customers to expand their margins, accelerate growth, and outpace risk. With more than 1,200 employees globally, DTN serves the companies that feed, fuel, and protect the world. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    47 min

  2. 12/09/2025

    Disaster Costs Will Put State Budgets at Risk

    The Trump Administration has been making statements since January 2025 that they, meaning both the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security, want to shift disaster costs, beginning with disaster preparedness and then also disaster response and recovery more to states and local jurisdictions. PEW Charitable Trusts recently released a report, What Waning Federal Disaster Aid Would Mean for State Budgets This is the subject of this podcast. How will a reduction in federal funding for disasters impact state budgets.   As states face growing disaster costs, declining revenue, and an uncertain federal funding landscape, the need to build more disaster-resilient budgets is greater than ever. At the same time, as federal policymakers weigh proposals to reduce disaster assistance to states, they will need to account for the availability of state resources relative to the federal aid they have historically received and recognize that even modest changes in state budgets can have significant effects on other key initiatives.   The podcast guest is Colin Foard. He directs Pew’s managing fiscal risks initiative, which helps state policymakers prepare for new and emerging risks to fiscal stability and manage uncertainty by strengthening budgeting practices across several areas. Previously, Foard worked for Pew’s fiscal federalism initiative, contributing to research and technical assistance on natural disaster spending and other aspects of the federal-state fiscal relationship.   Before joining Pew, Foard spent five years on the staff of a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ appropriations and budget committees, handling committee work as well as a broad policy portfolio that included homeland security, transportation, housing, and immigration issues. He also served as a congressional constituent caseworker and field representative in Oakland, California.   Foard holds a bachelor’s degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and a master’s in Latin American studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    48 min

  3. 11/20/2025

    Seismic Retrofitting of Buildings

    It has been decades since the last significant earthquake in the United States. Yet, there are earthquake risks across the USA. In this podcast we learn about how homeowners and businesses can take proactive steps to improve the seismic survivability of their properties.   The podcast guest is Kyle Tourjé, a second-generation contractor specializing in structural retrofitting, repair, and geohazard mitigation. As Executive Vice President of Alpha Structural, Inc., he oversees all engineering and construction operations.   Having grown up in the trade and with over 15 years of experience, including personally repairing and inspecting over 6,000 structures, Kyle combines hands-on construction and field engineering expertise with leadership in real estate and disaster response. His work bridges the gap between engineering solutions and the realities of property ownership and management, code compliance, and disaster response. He has a background spanning construction, insurance claims, and litigation support, he applies practical solutions to California’s evolving structural, legal, and environmental challenges.   Kyle’s focus is on advancing straightforward, lasting solutions that improve safety and resilience for communities across the region.    For more about Alpha Structural, visit http://www.alphastructural.com Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    52 min

  4. 11/14/2025

    Better Coordination between Government and Nonprofits

    Nonprofits play a critical role in responding to and recovering from disasters. Today we will hear from one of those and then we will also have a discussion about how government and nonprofits can achieve better outcomes by what they do before and how they interact during disasters.   Liz Baker, CEO of Greater Good Charities — a global organization that has spent the last twenty years providing disaster relief to communities in need. Because of its unique funding and agile operational model, Liz's organization, Greater Good Charities, can respond to often overlooked issues that larger aid organizations often don't have bandwidth to address. They're also there within hours of crises they're responding to, mobilizing quickly, listening locally, and responding with their global resources Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    40 min

  5. 11/06/2025

    Turmoil in the Media

    We are at a point in time where the media universe is in complete turmoil. Legacy media like radio and television is fading, while social media in all its forms is ascendant. News and commentary are being mixed together so people can’t discern which is which, while major media conglomerates are merging and reforming. The purpose of this podcast is to understand all the changes that are in process.   Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications, is available for interview and commentary. A 44-year public relations veteran, Eric is a communications expert known for the industry-standard bestselling book Public Relations for Dummies, and is the bestselling author of seven other titles. He is a regular TV pundit, and has expert commentary featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The HuffPost, CNBC, and PR Week, among others. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    48 min

  6. 10/22/2025

    An Innovative Risk Management and Insurance Strategy

    In recent years the U.S. has seen an increase in hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding – causing record levels of destruction and damage. Despite these concerning trends, traditional insurance can fall short, leaving Americans and our small businesses vulnerable. But it doesn’t need to be this way – there is a tool out there to empower our small businesses to self-insure, ensuring they are protected the next time a disaster hits. The tool? 831(b) Plans, also known as micro captive insurance plans. The podcast guest is Van Carlson, a risk management specialist with more than 25 years’ experience in the industry, is available to speak to share first-hand experiences of businesses that have been saved due to these critical risk management tools, and how other businesses can protect themselves before the next disaster strikes. He has had extensive history supporting businesses impacted, both directly and indirectly, by unforeseen weather disasters and has saved countless businesses from closure as a result Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    45 min

  7. 10/15/2025

    Emergency Management's Role in Civil Defense with Michael Prasad

    The profession of emergency management has been in flux since its inception. Currently the Trump Administration is looking how to organize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fit with the President’s political and policy agendas. Everything is perhaps up for grabs. In this podcast we look at one proposal to have the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) take over all aspects of what we might call “civil defense” to have those functions taken out of FEMA and aligned more directly within other elements of DHS. Michael Prasad is the executive director of the Center for Emergency Management Intelligence Research (www.cemir.org). CEMIR (www.cemir.org) has its own Substack, which can be subscribe to at https://thecemir.substack.com/ He leads research projects and writes professionally on emergency management policies and procedures, from a pracademic perspective. Prasad holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in management information systems from Ohio University, and a Master of Arts degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    52 min

  8. 08/21/2025

    Using Aerial Tech for Estimating Damages

    The first challenge that faces emergency managers, all types of government jurisdictions and the private sector is figuring out where disasters have caused damages and what the extent of those damages are. This podcast investigates technologies that are in place today to provide precise information on damages. I also like that fact that this technology has many commercial applications that can be used before a disaster. You need those to help have a capability for times when disasters do strike. All insurance companies need this type of tech assistance in post disaster scenarios. The podcast guest is Piers Dormeyer, Eagleview CEO, who has a passion for technology and the power to transform industries and deliver value. He has founded successful businesses, led high-performing teams, and implemented scalable processes with a mission to transform how people work while forging powerful partnerships and consistently driving exceptional business outcomes. Piers has discovered the key to driving growth, alignment, and organizational health, and it goes beyond mastering conference calls. He believes in connecting purpose to performance and valuing the people who play a significant role in our lives. Piers brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, complemented by his academic achievements. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Engineering at the University of Florida and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the renowned MIT Sloan School of Management. He resides in Florida with his family who is a constant source of inspiration, reminding him of the importance of balance, compassion, and personal fulfillment in his personal and professional life. Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com Please visit our sponsors! L3Harris Technologies' BeOn PPT App. Learn more about this amazing product here: www.l3harris.com  Visit The Readiness Lab and learn about our Next Level Emergency Management training! https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by professionals for professionals: www.dobermanemg.com/impulse Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com Check out how you can use digital twins in your training, exercising, and planning using RSET https://rset.com/  For sponsorship requests, check out our Sponsorship Portfolio here or email us at contact@thereadinesslab.com

    49 min
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4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Disaster Zone is hosted by Eric Holdeman, an emergency manager with over 30 years of experience at the federal, state and local levels of government. Disaster Zone is a podcast that focuses on all facets of disasters; the before, during and after of events that are increasingly impacting communities around the world. Podcasts run between 35-45 minutes with a mix of guests covering a range of disasters and issues that flow from them. Story topics and suggestions for people to interview are welcomed. You can contact the host via email.

Information

  • Creator
    The Readiness Lab
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    230
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Readiness Lab
  • Show Website
    Disaster Zone

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