Disaster Zone
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. Sponsors of this podcast include: Dynamis, a leading provider of information management software and security solutions. The Blue Cell, a by-design crisis and consequence management consulting firm. Bent Ear Solutions offers comprehensive capabilities and deep industry knowledge necessary to help you solve the most complex issues of your organization. T-Mobile for Government provides innovative connectivity solutions that help government better serve citizens by enabling agencies to work more intelligently, efficiently, and securely. Story topics and suggestions for people to interview are welcomed. You can contact the host via email.
Episodes
April 22, 2025 • 51 mins
Disaster volunteers come in many shapes and sizes. They can be individual citizens but typically are aligned with an organization that is offering aid to their fellow citizens. However, sometimes emergency managers have found that these well-intentioned volunteers seem to cause more headaches than they solve. Donated goods, for example can cause a mountain of work with many of the donations eventually going into a landfill.
In this ...
In this ...
Mark as Played
April 15, 2025 • 59 mins
Technology is a driving force in public safety today. There are multiple challenges that come with considering which technologies should be adopted and fielded within an organization. Before that can happen, we need to collectively overcome self-imposed barriers to technology adoption, which is the subject of this Disaster Zone Podcast.
The podcast guest is Garry Briese who has had a distinguished career in the fire service. Only ...
The podcast guest is Garry Briese who has had a distinguished career in the fire service. Only ...
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April 3, 2025 • 60 mins
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been predominantly in the news for many months. Most recently as both President Trump and the Secretary of Homeland Security have made remarks that FEMA should be abolished. More recently a 20-person council has been established to examine how best the federal response and recovery efforts to disasters should be accomplished. This then is the topic for this podcast.
Craig Fugate the...
Craig Fugate the...
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March 27, 2025 • 45 mins
Personally, I have had to inform employees that their jobs were being eliminated. Sometimes because of a budget cut, sometimes due to their performance. How we handle these events is important to the people directly impacted and also to those who remain behind. This podcast will be addressing both topics and how to better structure a layoff scenario—and do it with empathy.
Jim Cichanski, the founder, and Chief Human Resources Offi...
Jim Cichanski, the founder, and Chief Human Resources Offi...
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March 19, 2025 • 45 mins
We continue to see disasters increase in size, frequency and impact. What are we doing wrong when it comes to disaster resilience, especially as it impacts our ability to adapt to the climate impacts that are experiencing and take a longer view to disaster resilience.
The podcast guest is Jeff Schlegelmilch an Associate Professor for Professional Practice in Climate. He is also the Director of the National Center for Disaster Prep...
The podcast guest is Jeff Schlegelmilch an Associate Professor for Professional Practice in Climate. He is also the Director of the National Center for Disaster Prep...
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March 13, 2025 • 48 mins
As we look to the future of making for a more disaster resilient future, there are new building technologies that are ready for prime time. One of those is the use of 3D technology for the construction of all types of buildings and other structures.
In this podcast we learn from one leader in 3D construction, Ziyou Xu, Founder of RIC Technology. 3D printing using concrete uses less labor and is very flexible in how the materials c...
In this podcast we learn from one leader in 3D construction, Ziyou Xu, Founder of RIC Technology. 3D printing using concrete uses less labor and is very flexible in how the materials c...
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March 11, 2025 • 45 mins
As this is being written the firestorm in California is continuing. It is not only government that responds to disasters and the needs of disaster survivors and victims. The Disaster Accountability Project was created to help coordinate nongovernmental organizational efforts. To date, the site has more than 900 organizations registered worldwide. Following a stringent review process, organizations are presented with information tha...
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March 4, 2025 • 53 mins
In this podcast we explore what makes for effective alerts and warnings with one of the preeminent scholars and researching these topics today.
Jeannette Sutton, Ph.D., specializes in disaster and risk with a primary focus on online informal communication, and public alerts and warnings disseminated via short messaging channels. Much of her research investigates the evolving role of information and communication technology, includi...
Jeannette Sutton, Ph.D., specializes in disaster and risk with a primary focus on online informal communication, and public alerts and warnings disseminated via short messaging channels. Much of her research investigates the evolving role of information and communication technology, includi...
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February 20, 2025 • 60 mins
UPDATED EPISODE! As you may have noticed, we accidently posted Pete's last episode, equally good and worth a listen but you should also check out today's episode talking about the future of FEMA.
The new Trump Administration has started out with a slew of news impacting emergency management. There were two trips to disaster areas. One in the Southeast and North Carolina, where the President stated that the Federal Emergency Manageme...
The new Trump Administration has started out with a slew of news impacting emergency management. There were two trips to disaster areas. One in the Southeast and North Carolina, where the President stated that the Federal Emergency Manageme...
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February 4, 2025 • 56 mins
I don’t know if you have noticed, but things are changing fast. Change is happening at every level of our society, in government, business and culture. Nothing is immune from the extent of change that is occurring.
In this podcast we explore the topic of forecasting the future in order to better prepare ourselves and our organizations. You will find this topic engaging and thought provoking.
The podcast guest is Donna Dupont the Fo...
In this podcast we explore the topic of forecasting the future in order to better prepare ourselves and our organizations. You will find this topic engaging and thought provoking.
The podcast guest is Donna Dupont the Fo...
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January 30, 2025 • 44 mins
The modern media world we live in today is nothing like we have experienced to date. Legacy media is fading and we have an entire new suite of information channels sharing good and often time distorted information. Add to that, we now have “machines” that can generate the information without any human interface. This podcast addresses these challenges and some solutions all organizations, public and private need to avail themselves...
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January 14, 2025 • 69 mins
This is a different type of Disaster Zone Podcast. The host, Eric Holdeman becomes the interviewee and Kim Guevara, is the interviewer. Kim has been researching different aspects of what it means to be an emergency manager. In her words, “a crisis athlete.” This is not about push-ups, but rather what does it take to be successful in becoming prepared for disasters, responding to them and then the disaster recovery.
The podcast Guest...
The podcast Guest...
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November 27, 2024 • 45 mins
Elizabeth Van Nostrand is an associate professor in the Department of Health Services Administration and Policy at the Temple University College of Public Health. Van Nostrand is an expert in legal epidemiology—the study and application of law as an intervention to prevent disease and injury. She is the co-author of three public health emergency law bench books for health departments in the District of Columbia, Louisiana and Penns...
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November 19, 2024 • 47 mins
As individuals we are the sum total of all our experiences. So it is with Michael Lienau. From a childhood interest in film to a career as a documentary filmmaker, he has left his mark. A close encounter with Mt. Saint Helens eruptions set him on a path to study and document volcanoes. On the way he has translated science into videos that inform and educate generations of people. During the podcast several video productions focusin...
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October 29, 2024 • 50 mins
Increasing risks and increasing technology are the topics in this podcast.
How to manage technology and risks that extend from the cyber perspective all the
way to corporate leadership and climate change. This is one of the most engaging
conversations that the Disaster Zone Podcast has had with a true subject matter
expert. Leaders in business and government should listen to this podcast.
The guest is Steve Durbin is the Chief Executive...
How to manage technology and risks that extend from the cyber perspective all the
way to corporate leadership and climate change. This is one of the most engaging
conversations that the Disaster Zone Podcast has had with a true subject matter
expert. Leaders in business and government should listen to this podcast.
The guest is Steve Durbin is the Chief Executive...
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October 17, 2024 • 38 mins
The purchase of a home is likely the biggest investment that individuals and families
will ever make during their lifetimes. In this podcast we discuss navigating the potential
risks of a disaster impacting the property you might purchase and how to avoid making
a home buying disaster.
The podcast guest is Michael Crute who is an operational strategist turned Realtor®
with a wealth of experience serving prestigious clientele within the ...
will ever make during their lifetimes. In this podcast we discuss navigating the potential
risks of a disaster impacting the property you might purchase and how to avoid making
a home buying disaster.
The podcast guest is Michael Crute who is an operational strategist turned Realtor®
with a wealth of experience serving prestigious clientele within the ...
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October 9, 2024 • 58 mins
In this podcast Pete Gaynor, the immediate past Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator and Acting Secretary of Homeland Security shares what he knows about how the national disaster response system functions. The roles and responsibilities of local, state and the federal government. We also dive into some of the malicious lies being told about FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene and Milton.
Today he continues to le...
Today he continues to le...
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October 3, 2024 • 31 mins
The election system of `the United States was designated a critical infrastructure in 2017. The integrity of our election system is essential for citizens to trust the outcome of local, state and national elections. In this podcast we look at one individual county and the security measures used from a physical and cybersecurity perspective, but then also preventing voter fraud from occurring.
The podcast guest is Mary Hall, Auditor,...
The podcast guest is Mary Hall, Auditor,...
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August 28, 2024 • 53 mins
This podcast focuses on the depth and breadth of managing an emergency management program for a major university that has multiple campuses. This is a forthright discussion of the challenges and opportunities of operating in a university setting.
The podcast guest is Denise Whisman who has served as the Senior Director of Emergency Management at Arizona State University since May 2023 where she plays a pivotal role in developing and...
The podcast guest is Denise Whisman who has served as the Senior Director of Emergency Management at Arizona State University since May 2023 where she plays a pivotal role in developing and...
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August 6, 2024 • 59 mins
In this Disaster Zone Podcast we will be talking about the significant challenges New Zealand and Christchurch faced in the aftermath of their 2010-2011 Earthquakes. The podcast guest is Brent Winder is a native New Zealander. He has had multiple roles in leadership ranging from ten years in the New Zealand Navy, to positions with Queens Town Lakes District Council and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA).
He was a f...
He was a f...
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