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. 3D AGO

    A Parametric Approach to Disaster Recovery

    As we look to the future, we need to find new ways of providing financial relief when accidents and disasters damage or destroy private and public property. This podcast looks at the parametric insurance model. Might it be a more efficient and effective way forward to compensate loss?   Examples of Parametric Policies:   NYC MTA: https://www.artemis.bm/news/new-york-mta-seeks-metrocat-re-parametric-storm-surge-cat-bond-renewal/ Caribbean reef: https://oceanriskalliance.org/news/from-risk-to-resilience-a-blueprint-for-reef-positive-parametric-insurance/ Jamaica hurricane parametric policy: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/11/07/hurricane-melissa-triggers-100-payout-of-150-million-world-bank-catastrophe-bond-for-jamaica   Jasper Cooke is a people-centric leader with fifteen years of experience in emergency management. His career includes significant depth in strategy development and implementation, grant management, and community resilience. At WSP, Jasper has leadership roles on multiple projects and is focused on WSP growing the emergency management and resilience business at all levels of government.   Prior to WSP, Jasper led first the Hazard Mitigation and then the Recovery Sections for the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) from 2021 to 2023. In each role, he led a statewide team of 40-50 staff managing billions in federal grants. Prior to TDEM, Jasper worked at FEMA, most recently leading the Office of the National Advisory Council where he supported four FEMA Administrators with strategy and program implementation. 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

    50 min

  2. JAN 14

    A City Manager Talks Government

    In this podcast we will examine different forms of governance for cities, evaluating the pros and cons of each. We’ll also delve into how civic leaders think about the first responder community, emergency management in general and technology. We will be hearing from someone with vast experience in government having held a wide variety of positions.   Harry Black the podcast guest is a seasoned executive with extensive leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. He has served as city manager, Chief administrative officer, chief financial officer, program manager, and chief procurement officer, consistently driving organizational transformation through best practices and outcome-based strategies.   A pioneer in performance management, Black has developed and implemented data-driven programs that enhance transparency, accountability, and service delivery. His integrated approach incorporates data analytics, lean techniques, smart technologies, and citistat programs to optimize government performance.   In public financial management, Black has led major municipal finance efforts, overseeing more than $5 billion in bond transactions, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and short-term banknotes.   An accomplished author and speaker, Black has published works on economic development, pension and healthcare reform, and performance management. He has delivered presentations on police-community relations, infrastructure development, public procurement, and long-term financial planning.   Black holds a BS in Public Administration from Virginia State University, an MA in Public Administration from the University of Virginia, and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia State 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

    43 min

  3. JAN 7

    Legal Accountability Following Wildfires

    The 2025 Eaton Fire alone destroyed more than 9,000 structures and claimed 19 lives in Los Angeles County. Investigations by federal agencies and independent experts traced the fire's origin to Southern California Edison (SCE) equipment failures.   Ari Friedman, a partner and trial attorney at Wisner Baum LLP is leading the charge to hold energy and insurance companies accountable and responsible for fire damages caused by their utilities. Ari is a dedicated plaintiff’s attorney, specializing in single-event complex litigation, product liability, commercial transportation disasters, wildfire burn downs, personal injury, and wrongful death cases. With over a decade of experience. His passion for justice, meticulous case preparation, and commitment to client care make him a dedicated advocate for those facing corporate wrongdoing and catastrophic injuries.   He is a graduate of the University of Southern California B.A., International relations, Professional and managerial communication. His law degree is from Pepperdine. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    233
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright The Readiness Lab
  • Show Website
    Disaster Zone

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