Summary

In this episode, I spoke with Fire Chief Dr. Eric Saylors. Dr. Saylors has spent 30+ years asking a question most of the profession struggles with: how do you prove the value of a disaster that never happened? In this episode he lays out a practical answer — define risk as threats, consequences, and vulnerabilities, recognize that vulnerability is the only one you actually control, and then get honest about what's sitting on the roulette table. Dr. Saylors shares the moment he reframed his department's budget for a skeptical mayor, why avoided-loss estimates rest on causal chains and case studies rather than statistical proof, and why arguing only for your own budget costs you credibility. He also covers the two-part story that moves elected officials, where AI genuinely helps with mass-casualty math, the Oakland Hills hydrant-adapter failure, and his work at HEN Technologies helping incident commanders get unstuck at "orient" in the OODA loop.

Time Stamps

01:13 Intro and guest background

02:25 Outputs vs. outcomes — how should we define success?

06:15 What should you measure at project initiation?

10:45 How do you make an avoided-loss estimate credible?

13:20 What destroys credibility — and the $20M cut that started it all

14:50 Long-horizon projects vs. short political cycles (Galveston seawall)

19:40 AI, dashboards, and separating impact from activity counts

23:20 Translating technical findings across agencies and silos

26:15 Practical first steps for measuring an existing program

31:25 Realistic drilling and simulated environments

35:30 HEN Technologies and the cognitive load of command

About

Eric Saylors is the author of Quantifying a Negative (2015), Sense Making in Risk Assessments (2022), and The 7-Year Active Shooter Study (2026). He is a Fire Chief with over 30 years of experience and holds a Doctorate in Leadership from the University of Southern California. In addition to serving as Product Lead for HEN Technologies, Eric currently serves as Fire Chief of the El Cerrito–Kensington Fire Department, having previously spent 25 years with the Sacramento City Fire Department. Over the course of his career, he has served in every rank from firefighter/paramedic to Fire Chief, including engineer, captain, battalion chief, and assistant chief. His operational experience includes assignments on ambulances, fire engines, ladder trucks, a Type 1 HazMat team, and a heavy rescue unit.

He has responded to and managed a wide range of incidents, including high-rise fires, large commercial fires, wildland-urban interface incidents, basement fires, and balloon-frame construction fires. Prior to joining executive leadership, he served as Battalion Chief 1 in downtown Sacramento, one of the busiest operational areas in the region. In addition to his doctorate, Dr. Saylors holds two associate degrees, a bachelor’s degree in finance, and a master’s degree in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. He regularly consults with fire departments nationwide on active shooter response, leadership development, succession planning, and post-incident analysis, and has published more than twenty articles on homeland security and fire service topics.

Links

LinkedIn for Dr. Eric Saylors

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-saylors-ed-d-09778188/

Saylors, E. (2015). Quantifying the negative: How homeland security adds value. Homeland Security Affairs. https://www.hsaj.org/articles/9307

Saylors, E. (2023). Sensemaking in Risk Assessments: An Innovation Study. University of Southern California. https://www.academia.edu/122185501/Sensemaking_in_Risk_Assessments_An_Innovation_Study

Youtube (note- there are many more as well, on the Weekly Scrap and others)

Weekly Scrap #206 - Eric Saylors, Responding to the Intentional MCI

https://www.youtube.com/live/RM9GeuFoMpQ?si=FFvur0gLpgz0PCNP

Summary

This episode features Justin Kates, Senior Business Continuity Advisor at Wawa and former government emergency management leader, discusses his Pracademic Summit talk on four pressures facing emergency management: legitimacy, growing expectations, doing more with less, and AI. He describes how generative AI is encroaching on non-routine tasks such as emergency planning, exercise design and after-action capture, risk analysis, and administrative work like grants and documentation. Kates warns about AI risks including bias, inaccurate outputs from information gaps, “AI work slop” that accelerates checkbox deliverables, and “bot battles” in competitive grant writing and review. He outlines governance needs—organizational guardrails, approved tools, avoiding shadow AI, training on limits and hallucinations, and continuity planning for outages—plus concerns about de-skilling and collateral-duty staff using AI to replicate professional functions. Using Daniel Susskind’s framework, he argues humans will remain essential for relationships, preferences, and moral accountability, and suggests project management methods and AI-enabled tools can reduce toil while preserving response reliability.

Time Stamps

01:16 Meet Justin Kates

02:03 Four Walls Framework

02:59 AI Task Encroachment

05:45 AI Misuse and Risks

12:15 Governance and Guardrails

16:29 Deskilling and Human Limits

23:50 Reliability and Manual Fallbacks

25:26 Project Management With AI

About

Justin Kates currently serves as the Senior Business Continuity Advisor for America’s favorite convenience store, Wawa, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for architecting a new business continuity program for Wawa’s expanding footprint of over 1,100 stores with over 47,000 associates across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. Before Wawa, Justin served 17 years in government, most recently in the City of Somerville, MA as their Director of Emergency Management & Communications. In Somerville, he was responsible for implementing the City’s inaugural comprehensive emergency management program and initiating the integration of their citywide 911 and dispatch operations.

Additionally, Justin served over a decade as Director of Emergency Management for two Mayoral senior leadership teams in the City of Nashua, NH, and as a homeland security consultant for the State of Delaware. He is a Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP) affiliated with the Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International, an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) with American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (The Institutes), and is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) affiliated with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Justin attained a Bachelor of Arts concentrated in Emergency Management and Public Administration from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security. From 2021 to 2024, Justin served in succession as the 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, and President of IAEM USA Council. He also served as a member of the FEMA National Advisory Council in 2023 and 2024.

Links

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kb3juv/

The Walls are Closing In: AI and the Future of Emergency Management

https://youtu.be/p6ePZ2Rg2B4?si=F2JtM4OpYnHzxqp9

The Future of Emergency Management

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38MW74IJkYU

Keeping Humans in the Loop

https://domesticpreparedness.com/articles/keeping-humans-in-the-loop-the-future-of-emergency-management

A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond

https://www.danielsusskind.com/a-world-without-work

Summary

I spoke with Dr. Charles Jennings, founder of John Jay College’s emergency management program, about the new FEMA reform blueprint calling for a roughly 50% workforce reduction, shifting responsibility to states, tribes, territories, and localities, simplifying individual assistance, and using parametric funding triggers. Dr. Jennings argues the moment reflects broader ideological federal bureaucracy reforms, with limited attention to concrete legislative and regulatory changes. He warns staffing cuts would directly reduce FEMA service delivery while public expectations remain high, and notes growing reliance on contractors to help jurisdictions navigate FEMA’s complex rules. He doubts parametric aid can avoid equity and accountability problems and says mitigation is slow due to heavy regulation and uneven local capacity. The conversation broadens to land use, insurance, climate-driven migration, and concludes with practical advice: know local risks, build interagency relationships, and train officials in fundamentals like NIMS.

Time Stamps

01:13 Introduction

02:55 Why FEMA Reform Now

08:30 Workforce Cuts And Local Risk

12:50 Disaster Industrial Complex

18:51 Parametric Aid And Equity

22:54 Why Mitigation Moves Slow

29:30 Climate Migration And Land Use

36:31 Advice For Local Emergency Managers

About

Dr. Charles Jennings, Principal, Public Safety/Homeland Security and Urban Planning at Manitou, Inc., Prof. Emeritus at John Jay College, is a highly accomplished expert in emergency response, fire protection, and urban planning with extensive academic and practical experience. He has consulted actively across the US and Canada. He holds a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University, complemented by an advanced degrees in fire protection management. Dr. Jennings has served in prominent roles, including Director of the Christian Regenhard Center for Emergency Response Studies and Associate Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he developed and led programs in emergency management and public safety. He transitioned to Emeritus status in 2026. His applied experience includes leadership as First Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety in White Plains, NY, where he oversaw police, fire, EMS, and emergency management services, and implemented innovative safety and communication systems.

With a diverse background in research, policy, and consulting, Dr. Jennings has contributed to national safety initiatives, fire prevention strategies, and first responder coordination at large-scale events. His work has been supported by numerous grants from agencies such as FEMA, NIST, NSF, and the U.S. Department of Justice, reflecting his influence in advancing public safety, emergency response systems, and urban resilience. Overall, he combines academic rigor with practical leadership to enhance safety protocols, improve emergency preparedness, and foster community resilience. Among his publications is the most recent edition of Managing Fire and Emergency Services, published by the International City/County Management Association.

Links

Contact Email

[email protected]

LinkedIn Page

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-jennings-9b8b735/

Manitou Inc., Consulting Co.

https://www.manitouinc.com/

Thiel, A. K., & Jennings, C. R. (Eds.). Managing Fire and Emergency Services. ICMA Publishing.

https://icma.org/publications/managing-fire-and-emergency-services

Summary

This episode features logistics leader LN Lurie about “burning issues” in emergency management. She makes the case that logistics is often underestimated, but determines whether operations succeed. Using examples from wildland fire, festivals, and hurricanes, she emphasizes the need for a deep contacts “Rolodex”, tested service-and-support playbooks, and clear contracting knowledge to rapidly source essentials like porta potties, showers, water, and food. Lurie contrasts structured wildland systems (preseason contracts, staged resources, ICS sections and span of control) with more improvisational hurricane logistics, and notes both the benefits and risks of relying on technologies like Starlink. She describes large base-camp deployments and discusses warehouse management systems, including common gaps, required reporting, the effectiveness of paper-based tracking on fires, and tailoring WMS to real needs, including reverse logistics.

Time Stamps

01:55 Logistics Is Everything

02:59 Contacts And Pro Tips

06:58 Supply Chains And Disasters

12:53 Inside Fire Base Camp

23:12 Logistics Coordination Roles

25:42 Build A Logistics Playbook

29:45 Warehouse Systems Reality

34:57 Why Choose Logistics

About

LN Lurie is a logistics and operations leader known for turning complex, labor-intensive operations into efficient, scalable systems. With experience managing wildland fire crews, fire camp and festival facilities, large-scale demobilizations, supply distribution, inventory tracking, warehouse layouts, WMS systems, and volunteer logistics, LN brings both field-tested execution and systems-level problem solving. She has led automation and process improvements that saved thousands of labor hours and significant costs, including work supporting COVID-19 field hospital demobilization in Colorado. Currently serving as Logistics Director for ITDRC, LN manages logistics teams, coordinates operational movements, and trains volunteers to deliver reliable support in demanding environments.

Links

LN Lurie’s LI page

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lnlurie/

Personal Website- travel logs, logs resources, and many other interesting musings

https://lnlurie.com/

Summary

Jonathan Spector, Founder & Principal Advisor at Converge Strategic Partners, joins the podcast to unpack how emergency managers — especially solo practitioners and multi-hatters — can adopt AI deliberately and safely. Drawing on his recent All Hazards Consortium (AHC) webinar, Jonathan walks through the minimum governance decisions needed before touching AI, how to verify outputs when the clock is running, how to build a lightweight audit trail, and how to avoid the trap of passive AI dependency. The conversation closes with a sharp look at "trendslop" — AI's tendency to serve up crowd-pleasing answers over the hard, operationally necessary choices that real emergencies demand.

Timestamps

1:37 Go Slow to Go Fast: Minimum governance decisions, the stoplight model, and building your lightweight review circle

8:00 Verify Before Trust: Consequence-driven verification workflows, no-go outputs, and two-person integrity for solo shops

13:31 Follow the Audit Trail: Where logging lives operationally, keeping it lightweight, and the unintended learning loop

16:08 AI Dependency & Human Deskilling: Preserving expert judgment, designing active human-AI workflows, and what to demand from vendors

27:27 Trendslop: Why AI favors consensus over context, and how to force trade-offs instead of buzzword-driven incrementalism

About

Jonathan Spector is Founder & Principal Advisor at Converge Strategic Partners and a leadership and strategy advisor with more than 20 years of experience helping public-sector, emergency management, homeland security, and cross-sector leaders align priorities, strengthen coordination, and move from strategy to execution. He has worked with government and regional leadership teams on planning, stakeholder alignment, governance, and complex coordination challenges, especially in high-stakes environments where trust, clarity, and execution matter. His current work includes helping leaders navigate AI in practical terms, focusing on governance, guardrails, adoption, and the human side of change.

Links:

Converge Strategic Partners

https://www.convergesp.com/

Jonathan’s LI profile:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jospector/

Leading Through AI for Emergency Management Leaders Executive Reference Guide

https://www.convergesp.com/ai-executive-reference-guide

Research:

Harvard Business Review. (2026, March). Researchers asked LLMs for strategic advice. They got “trendslop” in return.

https://hbr.org/2026/03/researchers-asked-llms-for-strategic-advice-they-got-trendslop-in-return

Lee, E.H., Yin, Y., Jia, N. et al. Relying on AI at work reduces self-efficacy, ownership, and meaning while active collaboration mitigates the effects. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42312-6

Snair, J. (2026, March 28). 10 questions (and 7 buzzwords) to ask any AI vendor before you sign. Preppr.ai On the Edge.

https://preppr.ai/blog/10-questions-(and-7-buzzwords)-to-ask-any-ai-vendor-before-you-sign

Tank, A. (2026, March 3). Why the next phase of ChatGPT will be specialized. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/aytekintank/2026/03/03/why-the-next-phase-of-chatgpt-will-be-specialized/

This episode features Tom Sivak, Chief Emergency Manager at EM1, where we discuss why artificial intelligence is no longer optional for the emergency management community — it's a matter of survival. We explore how underfunded, understaffed EM agencies can leverage AI as a force multiplier across strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Tom shares his vision of turning static emergency plans into living, role-based decision support tools, moving from project-based to program-based AI integration, and protecting decision-making from misinformation and AI hallucinations. The conversation underscores that while AI accelerates information synthesis and planning, humans remain firmly in control. Either we adopt and control the technology or it winds up controlling us.

Time Stamps

2:20 — AI as a Force Multiplier: Why It's Survival, Not Just Innovation, for the One-Person EM Shop

9:21 — Hesitancy & Fear: "AI Will Take Our Jobs" vs. Humans Still Controlling the Levers

11:39 — From AI-Curious to AI-Enabled: Operationalizing AI on Blue-Sky and Gray-Sky Days

15:04 — "Plans Should Come to Us": Turning Static PDFs into Living Decision Support

22:39 — Velocity of Crisis & Information Overload: Protecting Decision-Making from Bad Inputs and Outputs

About

Tom Sivak is the Chief Emergency Manager at EM1, where he’s focused on putting AI to work for real-world preparedness, response, and operational planning. He previously served as FEMA Region 5 Administrator, leading federal emergency management support across the Great Lakes region—including dozens of tribal nations—and has also held senior local roles in Chicago and Cook County emergency management. Sivak is a certified emergency manager (CEM®) with a practitioner-first track record building capability, sharpening coordination, and pushing readiness that actually holds up under pressure.

Links:

https://em1.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-sivak-ms-cem/

This episode features Ashley Morris, EM Coordinator for Gillespie County and Fredericksburg, Texas, about using project management to stop the “whack-a-mole” cycle. She lays out how PM turns emergency management into disciplined, strategic execution across preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

What if your biggest preparedness upgrade isn’t a new plan—it’s running your EM program through effective project management? Morris breaks down how establishing priorities, project timelines, and follow-through create partners who actually show up and perform. From building force multipliers in a shop of one to using EMAP as the benchmark, rebooting CERT, testing a Business EOC, and preparing a tourism-driven community, she’s pushing a simple standard: less busywork, more guided and intended results—guided by mandates and leadership direction.

Time Stamps

00:53 Introduction

01:31 Why Project Management Matters

03:36 Force Multipliers for Solo EM

05:54 Community Outreach Strategy

08:39 Defining the EM Role

12:03 Rebuilding CERT Volunteers

14:27 Tourism and Business Readiness

17:55 Bridging Government and Community

23:37 Engaging Fire EMS Police

25:06 Prioritizing the Project Portfolio

About

Ashley Morris, CEM, is the Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) for Gillespie County, TX and the City of Fredericksburg. She is an emergency management professional dedicated to bridging meteorology and emergency management to strengthen community preparedness and real-time decision-making. With a multidisciplinary background spanning atmospheric science, natural hazards, GIS mapping, social media, and social vulnerability research, she is passionate about translating research into practical strategy that improves how agencies and communities anticipate, communicate, and respond to weather-driven threats. Grounded in the belief that “community is key,” Ashley prioritizes public outreach, trust-building, and two-way crisis communication—leveraging notification systems and social media to ensure information moves effectively from agency to resident and resident to agency. She earned her IAEM Certified Emergency Manager credential in 2022, the Maryland Professional Emergency Management (MDPEMP) credential in 2023, and graduated from the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA) in August 2023; she was also recognized on the 2021 IAEM Region III “40 Professionals Under 40” list. Active on the Maryland IMT and NCR IMT (Type III), she has led weather-focused initiatives including Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador efforts, StormReady, SKYWARN, and Virtual Operations Support Teams (VOST). Ashley is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Emergency Management Administration at Oklahoma State University and holds an M.S. in Geography (Natural Hazards) from Texas Tech University, where her research examined social vulnerability and storm resource availability for tornado hazards in Lubbock, Texas.

What if the secret to better emergency collaboration isn't another FEMA course—but improv theater techniques?

In this episode, Andrew Phelps, COO of AC Disaster Consulting, reveals why emergency management's biggest myth is that "collaboration just happens." Drawing from his unique background as a trained actor and emergency management leader, Andrew shares how principles from improvisational theater can transform how we work together during disasters.

From the "Yes, And" principle to making your partners look brilliant, discover practical frameworks for breaking down barriers, building trust, and creating more effective emergency teams—on both blue sky and dark sky days.

Time Stamps

0:50 - Guest Introduction

1:28 - Challenges in Emergency Management

4:46 - Andrew's Background in Theater

6:09 - Five Principles of Improv

11:37 - Overcoming Collaboration Barriers

13:31 - Cultural Shifts Needed

17:24 - Emergency Management Is Everybody's Job

20:10 - Supporting Collaborative Instincts

25:21 - Balancing Stakeholder Needs

28:16 - Managing Scope Creep

34:30 - Closing Thoughts

About

Andrew Phelps is the Chief Operating Officer with AC Disaster Consulting. Immediately prior to joining ACDC, Andrew served as the Director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management where he oversaw the state’s comprehensive planning, training, exercise, and community engagement programs to reduce risk across the state and manage the consequences from emergencies and disasters. Andrew also served as the governor’s Homeland Security Advisor and the Governor’s Authorized Representative for nine federal disaster declarations. In 2022, Andrew led the creation of the state’s first cabinet-level Department of Emergency Management replacing the previous office of emergency management that had been a division of the Military Department. He has served as a firefighter, public information officer, planner, search and rescue technician, emergency operations center manager, emergency medical technician, and other roles throughout his career.

Andrew is an honors graduate from John Jay College in New York City. He received his Master of Arts from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, California. His thesis, Play Well With Others: Improvisational Theater and Collaboration in the Homeland Security Environment was published in 2013. Andrew is also a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University and the FEMA Vanguard crisis leadership program. He is currently serving a three-year term on FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC) where he leads the Climate Subcommittee.

Sources:

Phelps, A. J. (2013). Play well with others: Improvisational theater and collaboration in the homeland security environment. (Master's thesis/Paper). Naval Postgraduate School.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA589546.pdf

Andrew Phelps on LI

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-phelps-80264311/

This episode features Patrick Beckley, Director of Emergency Management for the Long Island Rail Road and former Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services commissioner and New York State Division of Homeland Security regional director, discussing disaster mental health as a core element of emergency management.

Beckley shares his own journey toward better mental health. He talks about his heightened awareness of accumulated trauma among responders and underscores the importance of professional guidance and taking ownership of what is within one’s control. He explains why emergency managers often resist addressing mental health—due to “old school” expectations and a historic focus on victims—and argues that leaders must model vulnerability to build trust and improve retention.

He identifies organizational warning signs such as rising cynicism, withdrawal, friction, and avoidance, and stresses that mental health should be integrated into operations and emergency plans—not treated as a post-incident add-on. Beckley highlights practical steps including preparedness training that reduces anxiety, personal “mental health go-kits,” structured rotations and decompression during major incidents like Hurricane Sandy, peer-support models, and accessible mental health services. His message: responders are not an infinite resource, and mental health must be addressed proactively and authentically.

Time Stamps:

00:50 Meet Patrick Beckley: Emergency Management Leader & Why Mental Health Matters

01:42 The Hidden Psychological Toll of Emergency Management (and Retention Risk)

02:38 Personal Stories: Secondary Trauma, Panic Attacks, and Getting Help

06:05 Breaking the Stigma: Leading With Vulnerability in Emergency Services

16:30 Why Mental Health Can’t Be a Post-Disaster Footnote

17:22 Building a “Mental Health Go-Kit” for Disasters

19:35 Psychological First Aid in Operations + Peer Support & Canine Programs

23:54 Staffing, Rotations, and Decompression During Prolonged Incidents (Lessons from Sandy)

26:10 The Uncomfortable Truth: Panic Attacks, Coping, and Checking on People Who Go Dark

29:19 Resiliency Pack Examples + Final Takeaways: Don’t Ignore It

34:00 Wrap-Up and Thanks

Documents/Files shared by our guest:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-u_X3U6qG-4cdHS5mY_hA6hiT4CsL1Oz?usp=drive_link

For those who may be seeking help, the Code Green Campaign® is a first responder oriented mental health advocacy and education organization: https://www.codegreencampaign.org/about-us/

Research:

Patel SS, Guevara K, Hollar TL, DeVito RA, Erickson TB. Surveying mental health stressors of emergency management professionals: Factors in recruiting and retaining emergency managers in an era of disasters and pandemics. J Emerg Manag. 2023 Sep-Oct;21(5):375-384. doi: 10.5055/jem.0820. PMID: 37932942.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37932942/

Deans C, Carter S. Evidenced Interventions Supporting the Psychological Wellbeing of Disaster Workers: A Rapid Literature Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Sep 19;22(9):1454. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22091454. PMID: 41007597; PMCID: PMC12470247.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12470247/#:~:text=Consequently%2C%20disaster%20response%20workers%20have,range%20of%20other%20psychosocial%20risks.

Not on EMs but Emergency Mgt. Depts:

White SC, Harris CH, Gopaul R, Smyth JM (2025) Stigma and barriers to seeking mental health care among emergency department providers – A mixed methods study. PLOS Mental Health 2(11): e0000489.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000489

Effective Stakeholder Management & Leadership in Emergency Management Projects

This podcast episode features Adam Suktkus, an instructor at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University and adjunct lecturer at the College of Emergency Preparedness Homeland Security, & Cybersecurity at the State University of New York at Albany. Adam discusses his extensive experience in emergency management, including his roles at CalOES and as a trainer with FEMA. The conversation covers key strategies for managing communication with stakeholders in high-pressure situations, handling schedule and budget constraints, effective leadership without direct authority, and dealing with power dynamics. Adam also shares insights on the importance of flexibility and resilience in a field characterized by complexity and uncertainty.

00:00 Introduction to Adam Sutkus

00:57 Effective Stakeholder Management in Emergency Projects

06:37 Strategies for Handling Power Dynamics

11:33 Navigating Project Challenges and Scope Creep

16:08 Leadership in Emergency Management

22:43 Preparing Future Emergency Managers

26:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About

Adam Sutkus is NDEMU (EMI)/FEMA Instructor, and is also an Adjunct Lecturer, State University of NY at Albany, College of Emergency Preparedness Homeland Security, & Cybersecurity. He worked with both California State Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and and the California State University system and five years with the federal government at U.S. EPA. In 2020 he retired from the State of California Specialized Training Unit (CSTU) as an Instructor/Trainer.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-sutkus-91032b6/

Sutkus, Adam, University at Albany, State University of New York. CALIFORNIA'S AREA CONTINGENCY PLANS: A SUCCESSFUL STATE/FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP, February 1995; International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings 1995(1):924-925

DOI:10.7901/2169-3358-1995-1-924

Business Continuity Insights with Erika Andresen: Lessons from Hurricane Helene

In this episode, Erika Andresen, a recognized business continuity expert, discusses the critical importance of preparedness for businesses, sharing insights from her latest books and experiences, including the response to Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. Key topics include the role of risk management, the limitations of relying solely on insurance, and practical steps for businesses to implement effective continuity planning. Erika also touches upon the psychological impacts of disasters, the importance of mental health in emergency management, and offers valuable advice for small and medium-sized enterprises to bolster their resilience.

Timestamps

01:00 Introduction to Erika Andresen

02:03 Hurricane Helene's Impact on Asheville

06:01 Recovery Efforts in Asheville

08:56 Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene

15:37 The Importance of Business Continuity

31:21 Erika's Final Thoughts

About

Erika Andresen, JD, CBCP, MPA, is a recognized expert and consultant in Business Continuity. She has nearly two decades of experience as a lawyer in both the corporate finance world and the military. Erika became a subject matter expert in national security and disaster preparedness and response while advising different commands including during high-risk situations while deployed in Afghanistan. Erika left active duty in 2020 and started EaaS Consulting, LLC, with the goal of keeping businesses in business. Erika is also a professor of emergency management for the MPA program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Erika is a widely quoted expert and has been featured in a variety of publications, including Forbes, ProPublica, and SUCCESS Magazine. She is a sought-after presenter and keynote speaker at conferences, addressed private events for Fortune 500 companies, and is an invited lecturer for both MIT's "Advanced Business Resiliency" and "Crisis Management and Business Resilience" courses. Her experience surviving Hurricane Helene in Asheville, NC, inspired her second book, When The Sh*t Hits The Fan: Business Survival Guide to Thrive, Grow and Keep Your Cash Flow After Disasters. Her first book, How to Not Kill Your Business: Grow Your Business in Any Environment, Navigate Volatility, and Successfully Recover When Things Go Wrong, has sold every month since it was released in September 2022.

Erika is a fan of combining her Emergency Management background with Business Continuity to maximize impact for community resilience. She is also a 2x Amazon Best Seller, international podcast guest, recovering lawyer, and generally a hoot (so she’s told).

Links

Erika as a Service (EasS) Website

https://www.eaasc.com/meet-erika

Get Your FREE BC Worksheet

https://www.eaasc.com/free-worksheet

Books

When The Sh*t Hits The Fan: Business Survival Guide to Thrive, Grow, and Keep Your Cash Flow After Disasters

https://www.amazon.com/When-Sh-Hits-Fan-Disasters/dp/B0DZ2N43CS/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JIIl0vHPnAUqzAgEQBqiSaC-4ohf9eCmiP8FTvXzFM3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.PZwlDp_cFIJXaszJXrmySSqttfVkRNsca8cpRD6gV7Q&dib_tag=se&qid=1768432109&refinements=p_27%3AErika+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-3&text=Erika+Andresen

How to Not Kill Your Business: Grow Your Business in Any Environment, Navigate Volatility, and Successfully Recover When Things Go Wrong

https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Kill-Your-Business/dp/199018538X/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JIIl0vHPnAUqzAgEQBqiSaC-4ohf9eCmiP8FTvXzFM3GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.PZwlDp_cFIJXaszJXrmySSqttfVkRNsca8cpRD6gV7Q&dib_tag=se&qid=1768432109&refinements=p_27%3AErika+Andresen&s=books&sr=1-4&text=Erika+Andresen