Disaster Podcast Titelbild

Disaster Podcast

Disaster Podcast

Von: Jamie Davis Sam Bradley Joe Holley Kyle Nelson
Jetzt kostenlos hören, ohne Abo

For Emergency Responders at All LevelsMedicCast Productions, LLC Hygiene & gesundes Leben Wissenschaft
Folgen
  • Psychological Care 25 Years After the 9/11 Attacks

    Psychological Care 25 Years After the 9/11 Attacks
    Sep 12 2026
    In this episode, we bring back paramedic and professor, Bram Duffee. Bram was previously on the show to discuss the book he co-wrote with Joseph Brigandi, MS, M.Ed., NCC, LPC-S. Psychological Emergency: Communication and Care by First Responders. Unfortunately, Joseph passed away suddenly recently and Bram spends the initial parts of the episode giving tribute to his friend, fellow paramedic, and co-author. Dr. Joe Holley joins the team and along with co-host, Sam Bradley, talks about the 25 years since the 9/11 attacks and response. Joe responded with a Federal USAR team to the Pentagon attack and Sam was at ground zero in New York with a California DMAT team supporting the responders with medical care after working on the pile at the World Trade Centers sites each day. The episode also was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Psychological Casualties in Disasters Bram explained the Iceberg Effect, which highlights that for every physical casualty in a disaster, there are 4-10 psychological casualties that go unaddressed. He noted that while physical casualties are visible and what incident commanders plan for, the psychological toll represents a much larger underlying issue that can overwhelm systems designed only for physical injuries. Sam shared her experience with CISM teams during disasters like Katrina, emphasizing how responders often feel they abandon patients who need long-term psychological support rather than quick medical treatment. First Responder Family Preparedness The group discussed the importance of first responders’ family preparedness during major incidents, with Jamie emphasizing that having a well-prepared home life allows first responders to better focus on patient care. Bram shared his experience with government versus private company responses to disasters, noting that government agencies typically provide better support for personnel and their families. Sam contributed by sharing her role in launching critical incident stress management (CISM) in 1996 with American Medical Response in Northern California, which later expanded nationwide. Psychological Phases of Disaster Response Bram explained four psychological phases of disaster response: impact, inventory, rescue, and recovery, drawing from CISM principles and Dwight Polk’s work on pre-hospital behavioral emergencies. He described how each phase represents different emotional states and challenges, with the recovery phase often being the most important but least recognized phase that requires sustained attention and resources. Bram also outlined how psychological triage can be applied by identifying distinct population groups with different needs, including survivors, witnesses, bereaved individuals, and the wider community, each requiring different approaches based on their specific circumstances. Individualized Disaster Psychological Support Approaches The group discussed the importance of individualized approaches when providing psychological support during disasters, noting that different people require specific treatments based on their unique needs and trauma presentations. Bram emphasized how people in states of fear and shock can be particularly vulnerable to hypnotic trances, highlighting the critical importance of careful communication and word choice by first responders. The discussion also touched on how both victims and their caregivers can exhibit signs of psychological distress during disaster situations. Disaster Management Frameworks Discussion Bram explained three frameworks – Focus, START, and CALMS – that he created using mnemonics to help with disaster management situations. The Focus framework helps with situational assessment by examining population impact, operational zones, critical phases, urgent needs, and strategy. START addresses resource allocation, while CALMS provides an interactive approach for individual support. The discussion then shifted to potentially discussing Dr. Joe’s experience at the Pentagon, though the transcript ended before this topic was fully explored. 9/11 First Responder Reflections The group discussed their experiences responding to the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago. Joe described being deployed within hours of the attack and spending 14 days on-site doing search and rescue work, while Sam shared her experience with the federal team providing medical care to firefighters, noting their psychological distress. The participants discussed how psychological support for first responders has improved significantly over the past 25 years, with more real-time and robust support systems in place. They also reflected on the ...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 3 Min.
  • How CORE Responds to Build Resilience Following Disasters

    How CORE Responds to Build Resilience Following Disasters
    Sep 4 2026
    Jérôme Lebleu, COO of CORE We have Jérôme Lebleu from the non-profit organization CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) on the Disaster Podcast weekly episode today. He’s the President and Chief Operating Officer of the disaster response and relief organization. CORE provides immediate response support after a disaster and works to help communities to be self-reliant in the aftermath of a major event. CORE’s website says their organization is “…powered by a team of relentless optimists.” Founder and Actor Sean Penn says of their mission once boots are on the ground, “We listen, we learn, we act.” Listen to the episode to see how this non-profit puts these core tennets into practice as the team interviews Jérôme. Click HERE to support CORE’s current efforts in the aftermath of the Venezuela earthquake. The episode also was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Interview with Jerome LeBleu Jamie and Sam discussed their upcoming interview with Jerome LeBleu, president and CEO of CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), a global emergency response nonprofit founded in 2010 after the Haiti earthquake. Jerome explained that CORE focuses on being agile and local in their crisis response approach, emphasizing the importance of working with local partners and empowering communities affected by disasters. He shared his background working with the International Organization for Migration in the Dominican Republic, where he worked on addressing human trafficking and protecting Haitian migrants’ rights, and noted how his master’s degree in law and diplomacy has been valuable in his current work dealing with international emergency response. Community Powered Disaster Response Strategy Jerome explained CORE’s approach to disaster response, emphasizing their Community Powered Response strategy which focuses on rapid deployment, listening to local partners, and acting based on community needs rather than telling communities what to do. He described their long-term commitment to supporting recovery in disadvantaged communities, aiming to help them maximize resources and recover better than before. Jerome also highlighted the importance of “relentless optimism” in their organization’s work and their aggressive risk appetite when serving underserved populations, noting that greater risk often leads to greater impact for these communities. Emergency Response Process Overview Jerome explained the organization’s emergency response process, describing how they convene internal go/no-go meetings to assess crisis situations and determine resource allocation. He detailed their approach to deploying response teams, emphasizing the importance of logistics and building a roster of both domestic and international response personnel. Jerome also outlined their comprehensive approach to disaster preparedness, highlighting their work throughout the disaster life cycle and their implementation of CERT programs in the U.S. Disaster Mitigation and Resilient Infrastructure Jerome discussed his organization’s work on disaster mitigation and climate-resilient infrastructure, including programs for cert and physical mitigation works like drainage canals and retaining walls. He explained their approach of working through the entire disaster cycle from response to preparedness and mitigation activities, ensuring long-term resilience in their work. Jerome provided an example of building a berm around a flooded village in Pakistan to prevent future losses during heavy rains. CORE Priority Areas and Challenges Jerome outlined CORE’s three main priority areas: emergency response and preparedness, addressing climate change, and improving health access. He explained that while they face resource constraints requiring strategic prioritization, their focus on efficiency and mission alignment helps maximize impact. Jerome noted that while CORE is managing well, the current challenging nonprofit environment presents significant difficulties as needs continue to rise. Relief Compass Software Platform Jerome explained Relief Compass, a software platform developed by CORE that allows responding organizations to collaborate and coordinate relief activities in one place, with the goal of improving the survivor experience. He shared an example of its use in Venezuela after an earthquake, where it helped local organizations track donations and distributions in real time. Jamie and Sam expressed appreciation for Jerome’s work and encouraged listeners to support CORE by volunteering or donating at coreresponse.org. Wrap up and updates The team went through contact ...
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    36 Min.
  • Seamus Leary and Building Organizational Disaster Resilience

    Seamus Leary and Building Organizational Disaster Resilience
    Aug 28 2026
    Seamus Leary, MPA, CEM

    This week on the Disaster Podcast we chat with returning guest Seamus Leary ,MPA, CEM. He is President of Meridian Strategic Services, Inc. and is an emergency management expert who worked at the state and local levels and later with FEMA at the Federal level. He was previously on the Disaster Podcast talking about leadership in the midst of catastrophe.

    Disaster Podcast Episode – Leading Through Catastrophe with Seamus Leary

    In this episode, Seamus comes on to talk about resilience and preparedness for what happens when our plans aren’t enough to manage an ever-evolving situation. In these fluid situations that exceed the parameters of the initial disaster plan, adaptation is key to looking at and assessing the situation on the ground and making decisions based on the best possible knowledge managers have at the time.

    Meridian Strategic Services on LinkedIn

    Great Blizzard of 1888

    The episode also featured Dr. Joe Holley and was co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis.

    Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary

    Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.

    Podcast Discussion Summary

    Culture of Resilience Initiative

    Seamus Leary from Meridian Strategic Services discussed his company’s new “Culture of Resilience” initiative, presenting ten key lessons learned from real-world disaster experiences.

    The key points include:

    1. plans aren’t enough when disasters outpace them
    2. leadership sets the tone for preparedness
    3. people are the difference when empowered to make decisions
    4. communication creates clarity
    5. partnerships drive strength
    6. real-time decision making is crucial
    7. adaptability is essential
    8. trust is earned through transparency
    9. after-action reports should distinguish between lessons observed and lessons learned
    10. resilience is a choice that requires honest risk assessment and resource-constrained planning

    The discussion highlighted the importance of building strong partnerships between diverse organizations during disasters and the need for emergency managers to continuously learn and adapt their approaches.

    Wrap up and updates

    The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group.

    Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast for weekly insights from leaders in disaster response and research!
    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    35 Min.
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
Noch keine Rezensionen vorhanden