"Before, During & After" is a podcast for emergency managers. Join us for insights into where emergency management is headed, conversation about preparing for the threats of tomorrow and how everyone has a role in keeping communities safe from disaster.
Join podcast host Mark Peterson as we cover FEMA’s work in implementing its strategic plan, as well as recent disaster recovery efforts and resources available to better prepare for future risks.
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Episode 124: A USFA-Led Conversation with the Creators of "Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire," A New Documentary Focused on Cultural Fire
On this episode, U.S. fire administrator, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, sat down with one of the film’s participants of the new documentary “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire”, Margo Robbins, to get a better understanding of cultural fire and how the practice of cultural burning will lead to a healthier ecosystem, long-term fire protection for residents, and provide a platform that will support traditional hunting and gathering activities.
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Our friends at the U.S. Fire Administration recently had the opportunity to screen the new documentary “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire” with the film creators. Before the screening, the U.S. fire administrator, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, sat down with one of the film’s participants, Margo Robbins, to get a better understanding of cultural fire and how the practice of cultural burning will lead to a healthier ecosystem, long-term fire protection for residents, and provide a platform that will support traditional hunting and gathering activities. The conversation was shared on the USFA podcast and now, we’re sharing the conversation with you.
In 2018, the Woolsey Fire consumed huge swaths of Los Angeles and Ventura County in California. The fire burned nearly a hundred thousand acres and destroyed thousands of structures. This was one of several fires in California at the same time. FEMA responds to disasters of all kinds - hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and others. But wildfires pose a variety of unique challenges. The speed and sheer destruction are nothing short of terrifying. Often, nothing is left in their wake. Survivor stories are often harrowing and heartbreaking, but even within the destruction, there are opportunities for hope and resilience. On this episode, we talk with journalist Adriana Cargill, founder of Wave Maker Media, about her podcast "Sandcastles" - a new podcast that dives into the gripping story of the Point Doom Bombers during the Woolsey Fires in California. The story is heartbreaking, thrilling, and inspirational. Over five episodes, Adriana beautifully tells the story of a community coming together amidst the devastation of the wildfires.
This summer, we launched a four-part series in support of FEMA's #SummerReady campaign, where we're exploring the effects of extreme heat and how collaboration among local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal partners can lead to more educated communities. In this fourth and final episode of the #SummerReady campaign, we'll dive a little deeper into how FEMA grants are being used to address extreme temperatures and mitigate risks posed by natural hazards.
This summer has been hot. We're seeing some of the hottest days on record, and the extreme heat is without borders impacting not just the United States, but countries across the globe. So welcome back to episode number three of our four-part series in support of FEMA's Summer Ready campaign, where we're exploring the effects of extreme heat and how collaboration among local, state, tribal, and federal partners can lead to more educated communities. Heat and extreme heat continues to impact communities across the globe. We've seen more frequent events and cascading disasters over the past few years. Staying ahead of them requires we review our response plans regularly and adjust as needed, but also think in both short and long terms to ensure a whole community approach to keeping people safe. With that in mind, and as individuals are experiencing more frequent and extreme heat waves, which we've seen throughout this summer. On this episode, we will discuss one state's innovative effort to keep residents safe from extreme temperatures. California recently launched one of the nation's first statewide multi-ethnic awareness and education campaigns designed to keep Californians safe during extreme heat. So in this episode, we'll learn all about what it means to be heat ready in California.
Our nation's, roads, waterways, hospitals, and utilities support the millions of activities that people conduct each day to transact business, travel, communicate with friends and family, maintain health and safety and more. They also include the venues where people gather to learn, worship, shop or find entertainment. In other words, the heart of our communities. These are all examples of our nation's critical infrastructure system. One of FEMA's sister agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is focused on protecting these systems. Its office for bombing prevention leads efforts to protect life and critical infrastructure from specific threats. They also work to prevent, protect against, respond to and mitigate, improvise explosive device incidents, or IEDs. FEMA works hand in hand with CISA to support our consequence management missions for all events. On this episode, we explore how the Office of Bombing Prevention is supporting our communities and emergency managers as they work to understand this threat landscape.
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FEMA's "Before, During, After" podcast is available on Apple iTunes and Google Play to stream or download. Approximately 20 to 30 minutes in length, new episodes are posted bi-weekly and include transcripts.
Questions or comments? Send an email to FEMA-podcast@fema.dhs.gov.
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U.S. Fire Administration Podcasts
Join the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and our nation's fire and emergency medical services (EMS) experts as we learn to reduce fire and life safety risks to our communities and emergency responders.
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