The FEMA Podcast

Ken Graham is the Director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center located in Miami, FL. He joins the Podcast while in Montgomery, AL at one of the annual Hurricane Awareness Tour stops and discusses some of the things the Hurricane Center learned from the 2017 hurricane season and how the center is working to provide better information to save lives and property.

Did you know more than 60% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, making it extremely difficult to recover from an emergency—whether it is a natural disaster or a broken water heater? When people hear about disaster preparedness, regardless of the hazard, we often do not focus much on the financial aspect and financial preparedness. Having a financial preparedness plan is an important part of your overall emergency plan. Being financially prepared can make a huge difference following disasters. On this episode, Alan Becker, the host of the radio program, Retire Right Radio joins the FEMA Podcast to discuss the importance of putting yourself in the best position to bounce back financially from a disaster. 

Immersed is a Virtual Reality experience developed by FEMA and its partners that puts the users at the very center of a flood crisis and uses that experience to understand the costs and impacts of flooding, but also to see the benefits of actions that communities can take to prevent that flooding mitigation. In this episode, we explore this exciting tool and how it will help local officials and eventually the public make better decisions about their risks.

Immersed is a Virtual Reality experience developed by FEMA and its partners that puts the users at the very center of a flood crisis and uses that experience to understand the costs and impacts of flooding, but also to see the benefits of actions that communities can take to prevent that flooding mitigation. In this episode, we explore this exciting tool and how it will help local officials and eventually the public make better decisions about their risks.

A conversation with Administrator Brock Long on his vision for the future of FEMA as well as the recently released FEMA Strategic Plan. The Administrator discusses how the Strategic plan charts a path forward for FEMA as well as the emergency management system in the United States. Administrator Long was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and began his service as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in June 2017.  Mr. Long has more than 16 years of experience assisting and supporting local, state, and Federal Governments with building robust emergency management and public health preparedness programs. 

For many Minnesotans, the spring of 1997 is a stark memory of catastrophic, costly flooding along the Red River. Water as deep as 54 feet spilled three miles inland to flood entire towns. One of the hardest hit communities was East Grand Forks, Minn., where 99 percent of homes were affected by the disaster, and the entire city’s population had to be evacuated due to the rapidly rising waters. Such a large recovery was hard fought and long-term, requiring the coordination of many to get it done. Local, state and federal agencies, along with voluntary agencies, community organizations, local businesses and residents were all a critical part of the rebuilding process.

For many Minnesotans, the spring of 1997 is a stark memory of catastrophic, costly flooding along the Red River. Water as deep as 54 feet spilled three miles inland to flood entire towns. One of the hardest hit communities was East Grand Forks, Minn., where 99 percent of homes were affected by the disaster, and the entire city’s population had to be evacuated due to the rapidly rising waters. Such a large recovery was hard fought and long-term, requiring the coordination of many to get it done. Local, state and federal agencies, along with voluntary agencies, community organizations, local businesses and residents were all a critical part of the rebuilding process.

Iowa and Nebraska emergency management discussing preparedness measures ahead of severe weather with FEMA Region VII

Iowa and Nebraska emergency management discussing preparedness measures ahead of severe weather with FEMA Region VII

Cheickh Koma of FEMA and Jeff Briggs, the Earthquake Manager for the State of Missouri discuss Earthquake and New Madrid history and preparedness.

Cheickh Koma of FEMA and Jeff Briggs, the Earthquake Manager for the State of Missouri discuss Earthquake and New Madrid history and preparedness.