Disaster Zone

Trust is a basic ingredient in every relationship. This applies to individuals, marriages,business partners, nations and the relationship of governments to individuals. Trust isthe topic we are going to explore today and how it applies to emergency managementand disasters.Kehinde Bolu Adesina, also known as Kenny, is a PhD researcher in MassCommunication at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College. His work focuses onthe intersection of crisis communication, disaster communication, public trust, andmisinformation. He studies how institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, andfaith-based organizations communicate during high-risk events, and why thosecommunication systems often fail even when the people inside them are working hardand acting in good faith.He is a contributor to a major NSF-funded disaster resilience project at OU, where heconducts research on how organizations share critical knowledge during emergencies,analyze misinformation patterns on social media, and support cross-sectorpreparedness workshops involving emergency managers, nonprofits, faith-basedorganizations, and public health communicators. His research builds toward aframework called the “Crisis Meaning-Making Model,” which examines howcommunities interpret events through emotion, identity, and social context, not justofficial information.Originally from Nigeria, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Communication atBeijing Normal University in China and his master’s degree in Communication at theUniversity of Illinois Springfield. Before beginning his doctoral work, he served as anIllini Science Policy Fellow and Media Production Coordinator at the Illinois Departmentof Agriculture, supporting communication on conservation and climate resilience.Kenny is multilingual, speaking English, Yoruba, French, and Mandarin, and brings adistinctly cross-cultural lens to questions of trust, public risk, and institutional credibility.He has a newsletter, Making Sense of Uncertainty, translating crisis communicationresearch into practical guidance for leaders working in emergency management, publichealth, and organizational communication.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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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

2025 has been a year of turmoil when it comes to emergency management. In thispodcast we will be discussing how the future of emergency management will beshaped from one of the leaders in the profession.Bryan Koon is the President and CEO of IEM International, Inc., a leading professionalservices firm focused on emergency management, disaster recovery, and resilience. AtIEM, he integrates innovative technology and best practices to keep the organization of900+ employees ready to support communities in preparing for, responding to,recovering from, and mitigating against disasters.Before IEM, Koon was the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management(FDEM), where he enhanced Florida’s emergency response capabilities and fosteredpublic-private partnerships, notably during Hurricane Irma and the Pulse Shooting. AsPresident of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) from 2014 to2016, he advocated for nationwide improvements in disaster response and resilience,testifying before Congress on the importance of controlling disaster costs and investingin mitigation.Koon serves on the FLASH Board of Directors, promoting policies to reduce disasterrisks and bolster community resilience. His career is marked by a passion for buildingresilient communities and developing aspiring emergency managers through highereducation partnerships.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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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

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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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

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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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

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.comPlease 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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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

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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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

The profession of emergency management has been in flux since its inception.Currently the Trump Administration is looking how to organize the Federal EmergencyManagement 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 theDepartment 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 directlywithin other elements of DHS.Michael Prasad is the executive director of the Center for Emergency ManagementIntelligence Research (www.cemir.org). CEMIR (www.cemir.org) has its own Substack,which can be subscribe to at https://thecemir.substack.com/ He leads researchprojects and writes professionally on emergency management policies andprocedures, from a pracademic perspective. Prasad holds a Bachelor of BusinessAdministration degree in management information systems from Ohio University, and aMaster of Arts degree in emergency and disaster management from American PublicUniversity.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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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.comPlease 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/impulseDoberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.comCheck 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