The FEMA Podcast

FEMA created the Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) in 2012 to bring together young leaders who are interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a difference in their communities, by completing disaster preparedness projects nationally and locally. We discuss with individuals who are helping youth become part of this initiative throughout a program called My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI).

A discussion with some experts in mitigation and review an actual example of how mitigation is preventing risk to lives and property in the City of Beatrice, Nebraska during flooding events.

A discussion with some experts in mitigation and review an actual example of how mitigation is preventing risk to lives and property in the City of Beatrice, Nebraska during flooding events.

FEMA created the Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) in 2012 to bring together young leaders who are interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a difference in their communities, by completing disaster preparedness projects nationally and locally. We discuss with individuals who are helping youth become part of this initiative throughout a program called My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI).

On October 3rd, 2018 at approximately 2:20 PM eastern time. FEMA will conduct a national test of the integrated public alert and warning system. This national system which includes the emergency alert system and the wireless emergency alerts will provide authenticated emergency information from emergency officials to the public through radio, television, cellular phones and some internet applications. We sat down with Antwan Johnson, the director of the integrated public alert and warning program at FEMA headquarters to help explain what people can expect from the test and why it's an important step in developing a more prepared nation.

On October 3rd, 2018 at approximately 2:20 PM eastern time, FEMA will conduct a national test of the integrated public alert and warning system. This national system which includes the emergency alert system and the wireless emergency alerts will provide authenticated emergency information from emergency officials to the public through radio, television, cellular phones and some internet applications. We sat down with Antwan Johnson, the director of the integrated public alert and warning program at FEMA headquarters, to help explain what people can expect from the test and why it's an important step in developing a more prepared nation.

A year ago, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and since that time, FEMA, and numerous federal partners and the government of Puerto Rico have undertaken one of the largest post disaster reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in U.S. history. Major portions of the island’s infrastructure are being rebuilt as federal agencies support the government of Puerto Rico's plan to restore the island's lifeline systems, and enable Puerto Rico to withstand the storms to come. Never before has FEMA coordinated federal resources to rebuild an entire Commonwealth with a population of 3.3 million people, 78 municipalities, electrical, water and telecommunication systems, seaports, airports, schools, healthcare systems, roads and bridges. Overall, in 2017, hurricanes, Irma, Maria, and other disasters affected nearly 47 million people throughout the United States. While recovery continues, FEMA and its interagency partners remain focused and dedicated to continued stabilization and resilience of impacted communities. Mike Byrne, one of FEMA’s most qualified federal coordinating officers deployed soon after Maria's landfall in Puerto Rico to help lead the coordination of the federal government support. On this episode we spoke with Mike Byrne about his experience over the last year and how he sees the status of recovery in Puerto Rico one year after Hurricane Maria made landfall.

On this episode, we spoke to Matt Lyttle from FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division about some key areas of preparedness.

On this episode, we spoke to Matt Lyttle from FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Division about some key areas of preparedness.

In the aftermath of a catastrophic event, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) turns to its Surge Capacity Force, a cadre of federal employees who help affected communities by supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) urgent response and recovery efforts. The Surge Capacity Force is made up of federal employees from every department or agency in the federal government.  

In the aftermath of a catastrophic event, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) turns to its Surge Capacity Force, a cadre of federal employees who help affected communities by supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) urgent response and recovery efforts. The Surge Capacity Force is made up of federal employees from every department or agency in the federal government.

This is an interview by Ryan Ike, FEMA Region 10 External Affairs Branch Chief, with Carl Cook and Chuck Steele, both founding employees and program leaders with the National Flood Insurance Program. In this interview they discuss what it was like in the early days of the program and how they worked to grow the program and get communities involved.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) turned 50 years old this month and has seen its fair share of growth and noteworthy achievements to become what it is today. In this episode of the FEMA Podcast, we discuss the program with Carl Cook and Chuck Steele, both founding employees and program leaders of the NFIP. In this interview they discuss what it was like in the early days of the program and how they worked to grow the program and involve communities.

This preview kicks off a week long commemoration of two flooding events remembered as some of the most devastating our nation has ever endured. While the magnitude and severity of the Great Midwest Flood of 1993 and the 2008 Midwest floods broke a long list of historic records during the months of deluge they wrought to America’s Heartland, it was the resiliency and hard-fought recovery of the communities that were impacted that remain the lasting memory of these events.

After 15 feet of floodwater inundated Valmeyer, Illinois in 1993, the town knew they wanted to revive the community, but in a smart, resilient way. On this episode, we talk to former Valmeyer mayor, Dennis Knobloch, and long-time local, Lucy Engbring, to learn how a community of determined residents and city leaders successfully moved their entire town two miles away, and 400 feet in the air.