Episodes

"Be prepared so you can help, because everyone needs everybody in this situation." -Joshua Farrell   Preparation isn't just about survival— it's about having the capacity to help others. Our ability to lend a hand can significantly ease the...

“If you're prepared, you're not freaking out, you're taken care of, and you can help other people.” -Joshua Farrell   Being prepared for disaster is crucial for citizens and communities alike. When emergencies like wildfires or other natural...

“Don't isolate first responders by making them into heroes. The greatest thing that anyone can do is just say, ‘thank you for your service.’” -Susan Farren   “We owe it to our first responders to do whatever we can to help make...

“Being a volunteer is a privilege…  I wasn't documented so I volunteered a lot. And that volunteer work led many doors to be opened up for me.” -Jocksana Corona   Episode Description:  When disaster strikes a community, ordinary...

“You're in that place where disaster hasn't hit you, but you know it’s coming. Start training now.” -Tennis Wick   Episode Description:  In the aftermath of the devastating 2017 wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes in Sonoma...

SERIES: Role of the Non-Profit   “You cannot approach a community without respecting in full who they are and their autonomy. If you can't approach it that way, it's going to come off as ingenuine, and they're going to read it right away, and...

SERIES: Role of the Public Sector Leader    “Sometimes we think physically doing something for someone is what's best for them. But sometimes they just want someone to hear their story… Sit back and listen. People want to be heard.”...

SERIES: Role of the Mental Health Care Leaders   “We have to go beyond education, we need mental health action!” -Adrienne Heinz, Ph.D.   Episode Description:  What’s more terrifying and costly than cancer? Untreated mental health...

"Be very careful what you promise unless you know you can deliver something. There is enough heartbreak in a disaster that people don't need to hear that you're going to solve all their problems, and then you don't." -Charles Brooks   The...

“You have to have some structure so that when that event happens, there's a trusted grassroots network in place.” —Michael Morter   Episode Description:  It is said that disaster recovery is part problem-solving and part...

“If you're a local leader, you're knee-deep in it, moving at the speed that the community wants you to move, in the direction that they're willing to go. That's the basis of a successful recovery.” —Alicia Johnson    “We have to...

“One of the beautiful things disasters have to teach us is how to not just offer support, but receive it.” —Jolie Wills    Episode Description:  Emergent leaders and frontliners are akin to shock absorbers in a car. They absorb a...

“Helping people adjust to that new financial reality is really critical in helping them adjust quickly. Because the longer someone goes where they're spending more than they're making every month, the harder it is for them to recover long-term.”...

“It's a matter of keeping the guardrails up and making sure that people continue to be safe.” —Reina Pomeroy     Episode Description:  When disaster strikes, there’s no time for mixed messages. Misinformation can fuel...

“Disaster relief needs a space where we can provide support for kids because it has so many knock-on effects. The only way a community up and running again is if they have reliable childcare.” —Mikey Latner Episode Description:  Natural...

Welcome aboard to Season 5 of the How to Disaster Podcast!   When we launched this podcast a couple of years ago, we could not have foreseen the escalation of global warming in such a short span. Climate change is no longer a distant reality, and...

“It's through those human relationships that make this whole thing tolerable to do because it's about the people involved." -Pamela Van Halsema   Episode Description:  Wildfires are a natural part of the globe's ecosystem. But in...

To just have fire experts talk about resilience is not going to create a resilient project and so it's a good thing to have folks to be part of the conversation. We do not know the full scope of what's needed to get done. And together, we can figure...

"We know that we're not powerless against wildfires. It's a question of, 'what are the steps? What are the actions that really make a difference?'" -Alister Watt   "Wildfire doesn't acknowledge boundaries— we need to be thinking about...

"You need to be prepared for all sorts of scenarios as to what comes into play." -Louie Delaware   Episode Description:  Homes are meant to be safe havens. They're the places we retreat to in times of need and they help us avoid the brunt of...

"[Helping] is a passion that goes deep. If we could steer that passion towards funding for the nonprofits that needed to do what they know they need to do, we can facilitate product donations at a much, much higher level." -Jim Alvey Episode...

"It's really exciting to think about what could be done when the generator is not the problem." -Will Heegaard Episode Description:    Rebuilding a community after a disaster is a lot like building a house. You have to make sure that...

"It's really based on how people maintain their properties. They're all the homes that look identical but they're actually different." -Stuart Mitchell Episode Description:  Fire is one of the most destructive disasters that can happen to a...

“We can't meet this challenge as individual organizations. We need to band together and create a voice.” -Steve Crout   Episode Description:  Every community is different, and every community's needs are different. But one thing that all...