Disaster Zone

A Parametric Approach to Disaster Recovery

As we look to the future, we need to find new ways of providing financial relief when accidents and disasters damage or destroy private and public property. This podcast looks at the parametric insurance model. Might it be a more efficient and effective way forward to compensate loss?  Examples of Parametric Policies:  NYC MTA: https://www.artemis.bm/news/new-york-mta-seeks-metrocat-re-parametric-storm-surge-cat-bond-renewal/Caribbean reef: https://oceanriskalliance.org/news/from-risk-to-resilience-a-blueprint-for-reef-positive-parametric-insurance/Jamaica hurricane parametric policy: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/11/07/hurricane-melissa-triggers-100-payout-of-150-million-world-bank-catastrophe-bond-for-jamaica  Jasper Cooke is a people-centric leader with fifteen years of experience in emergency management. His career includes significant depth in strategy development and implementation, grant management, and community resilience. At WSP, Jasper has leadership roles on multiple projects and is focused on WSP growing the emergency management and resilience business at all levels of government.   Prior to WSP, Jasper led first the Hazard Mitigation and then the Recovery Sections for the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) from 2021 to 2023. In each role, he led a statewide team of 40-50 staff managing billions in federal grants. Prior to TDEM, Jasper worked at FEMA, most recently leading the Office of the National Advisory Council where he supported four FEMA Administrators with strategy and program implementation.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

A City Manager Talks Government

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

Legal Accountability Following Wildfires

The 2025 Eaton Fire alone destroyed more than 9,000 structures and claimed 19 lives in Los Angeles County. Investigations by federal agencies and independent experts traced the fire's origin to Southern California Edison (SCE) equipment failures.  Ari Friedman, a partner and trial attorney at Wisner Baum LLP is leading the charge to hold energy and insurance companies accountable and responsible for fire damages caused by their utilities. Ari is a dedicated plaintiff’s attorney, specializing in single-event complex litigation, product liability, commercial transportation disasters, wildfire burn downs, personal injury, and wrongful death cases. With over a decade of experience.His passion for justice, meticulous case preparation, and commitment to client care make him a dedicated advocate for those facing corporate wrongdoing and catastrophic injuries.   He is a graduate of the University of Southern California B.A., International relations, Professional and managerial communication. His law degree is from Pepperdine.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

Climate. Weather Extremes. Short Term Winter Forecast

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

Disaster Costs Will Put State Budgets at Risk

The Trump Administration has been making statements since January 2025 that they, meaning both the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security, want to shift disaster costs, beginning with disaster preparedness and then also disaster response and recovery more to states and local jurisdictions. PEW Charitable Trusts recently released a report, What Waning Federal Disaster Aid Would Mean for State Budgets This is the subject of this podcast. How will a reduction in federal funding for disasters impact state budgets.  As states face growing disaster costs, declining revenue, and an uncertain federal funding landscape, the need to build more disaster-resilient budgets is greater than ever. At the same time, as federal policymakers weigh proposals to reduce disaster assistance to states, they will need to account for the availability of state resources relative to the federal aid they have historically received and recognize that even modest changes in state budgets can have significant effects on other key initiatives.  The podcast guest is Colin Foard. He directs Pew’s managing fiscal risks initiative, which helps state policymakers prepare for new and emerging risks to fiscal stability and manage uncertainty by strengthening budgeting practices across several areas. Previously, Foard worked for Pew’s fiscal federalism initiative, contributing to research and technical assistance on natural disaster spending and other aspects of the federal-state fiscal relationship.  Before joining Pew, Foard spent five years on the staff of a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ appropriations and budget committees, handling committee work as well as a broad policy portfolio that included homeland security, transportation, housing, and immigration issues. He also served as a congressional constituent caseworker and field representative in Oakland, California.  Foard holds a bachelor’s degree from Union College in Schenectady, New York, and a master’s in Latin American studies from the University of California, Berkeley.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