In this episode, Zack and Jeff Perkins discuss Jeff's unique journey from aspiring rapper to emergency management professional. They explore the challenges of dispatching, the importance of building relationships in emergency management, and the critical role of technology and interoperability in public safety. Jeff shares insights on his experiences with FirstNet and LTE and how it has transformed communication during emergencies. The conversation highlights the lessons learned from major event...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 8Ep. 13
In this episode of EM Weekly, host Zack engages in a dynamic conversation with ChatGPT about the transformative role of AI in emergency management. They explore how AI can assist emergency managers, especially those new to the field, by providing tools for data analysis, training, and real-time decision-making. The discussion covers practical applications of AI, including training programs, evacuation planning, and effective communication strategies. Additionally, they delve into best practices ...
Oct 03, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 12
In this episode of EM Weekly, Zack makes his return to podcasting and outlines his exciting plans for future episodes. He shares a sneak peek of upcoming guests, including experts from Trauma Soft and the CISA's Office of Bombing Prevention. With National Preparedness Month just around the corner, Zack delves into the critical topic of school safety. He stresses the importance of behavioral threat assessment teams in schools as a preventive measure against mass violence and advocates for the cre...
Aug 29, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 11
In this episode of EM Weekly, Zack dives deep into the world of emergency communications with Aaron Williams and Jason Burt from L3Harris. Discover the cutting-edge evolution of the radio industry, the game-changing adoption of LTE and LMR convergence, and how L3Harris is setting new standards from large agencies to small volunteer departments. Get the inside scoop on innovative safety features for law enforcement, the crucial role of customer feedback in product development, and the groundbreak...
Jul 01, 2024•48 min•Season 8Ep. 10
The conversation between Zack and Mike covers their long-standing friendship, Mike's journey into the army and his role as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. They discuss the challenges and training involved in EOD work, as well as the importance of realistic training and the need to balance risk aversion with preparedness for high-risk events. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, the importance of...
Jun 14, 2024•49 min•Season 8Ep. 9
In today's episode, Zack provides a debrief of his experience at the National Preparedness Symposium at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, highlighting the topics and trends discussed. Zack presented on the use of AI in emergency management and the need for understanding its limitations. Other big discussions included the importance of the national qualification system, the use of IPAWS for emergency notifications, cybersecurity, dealing with homelessness and migration, civil unrest and elect...
May 15, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 8
Today we're joined by James Neufeld of Samdesk, a company that provides real-time monitoring and intelligence augmentation using AI and software. James, the founder and CEO of Samdesk, has a background in broadcast and journalism, which led him to recognize the need for a better way to gather and analyze information during crises. The conversation explores the importance of real-time information in emergency management and the challenges faced by traditional systems. It highlights the need for p...
May 08, 2024•51 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Andrew Donawa, an emergency manager within the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, discusses the unique role of law enforcement in emergency management. He highlights the importance of having dedicated emergency managers in every agency, regardless of the scale of the emergency. Andrew also shares his experiences in building an incident management team and the benefits of incorporating technology, such as L3 Harris radios and mobile command posts, into emergency response efforts. The conversation dis...
Apr 10, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 6
In this episode, Zack discusses the upcoming eclipse and its impact on communities. He emphasizes the importance of preparedness and readiness for large events, regardless of their scale. Zack highlights the anticipated impacts of the eclipse, such as increased traffic and congestion, and the strain on critical infrastructure. He also addresses communication challenges and the need for emergency response planning. Additionally, Zack discusses the importance of healthcare facilities and emergency...
Mar 29, 2024•37 min•Season 8Ep. 5
In this episode, Zack discusses the cell phone outage affecting major carriers and emphasizes the importance of having a PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) communication plan. He explores alternate communication methods such as landlines, Wi-Fi, and smart devices, and contingency methods like satellite phones and radios. Zack also mentions the impact of solar flares on communication systems and highlights the need for communication plans during events like the solar eclipse. He ad...
Feb 22, 2024•21 min•Season 8Ep. 4
Joseph Porcelli, the Global Public Agency, Life Safety & Disaster Response Lead at Nextdoor, discusses the importance of connecting neighbors and building community resilience. He shares his journey from taking action in his own neighborhood to joining Nextdoor and working with emergency managers across the country. Porcelli emphasizes the value of service and the power of asking for and offering help. He highlights the Storm Crew initiative on Nextdoor and the role it plays in reducing the ...
Feb 08, 2024•38 min•Season 8Ep. 3
In this conversation, Doug Bainton, a citywide interagency coordinator in New York City, discusses the importance of interagency coordination in emergency management. He highlights the value of field experience and understanding the tactical mindset in emergency response. Doug emphasizes the need for building relationships and communication among different agencies and the benefits of working together in incident response. He also encourages emergency managers to connect with other agencies and ...
Jan 24, 2024•40 min•Season 8Ep. 2
In this episode, Zack discusses his excitement for the innovations and advancements in emergency management that he anticipates in 2024. He highlights the role of AI in project management and organization, as well as the potential for AI to expedite emergency response. Zack also discusses the evolution of emergency management practices, emphasizing the need for flexibility and resilience. He explores the gamification of emergency management training and the importance of active involvement and i...
Jan 15, 2024•37 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Get pumped people - Discover ChatGPT's new superpower that lets you create your very own AI assistants! I'm talking customized Generative Pre-trained Transformers built for emergency managers, by emergency managers. In this episode, I showcase the two GPTs I built to become your exercise and messaging sensei. First, I unveil Exercise Architect - Our new tabletop and training workout buddy. I walk through how this GPT helps me put together a school bus ice storm scenario with objectives, injects,...
Dec 06, 2023•43 min•Season 7Ep. 19
In this episode of EM Weekly, we sit down with Andy Bozzo, the visionary founder and CDO of Tablet Command. From his early success in college as an NCAA athlete, to his first career as a teacher, to his current role as a Fire Captain, Andy's unique journey epitomizes a fusion of service, technology, and continuous learning. We delve into the genesis of Tablet Command, a groundbreaking tool that marries modern tech with real-world emergency response needs. Andy shares insights from his over 25 ye...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 18
On this week's episode, we talk to Jacob Saltzman! Jacob recounts his experience working emergency medical services at Burning Man and dealing with the two significant rainstorms that impacted the event this year. He details the unique emergency response structure at the festival, the challenges of providing care in extreme weather, and the resiliency of the Burning Man community. Jacob also shares insights on improvising response plans, managing resources in a temporary environment, and the imp...
Oct 17, 2023•51 min•Season 7Ep. 17
This is a must listen episode! This week's guest is David Riedman, researcher and creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database. We discuss the surprising realities around shootings and violence at schools that often go unreported in the media. How can emergency managers help schools be more proactive with safety planning and preparedness? David shares insights from the data and patterns seen in the 300+ school shootings in the database. We also talk about the role of gun detection technology lik...
Sep 27, 2023•53 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Artificial intelligence is transforming how governments operate, but adopting new tech can be a challenge. In this week's episode, we chat with Micah Guadet, a trailblazer in using AI ethically and responsibly in the public sector. Micah developed the first course on adopting AI in government, sharing how to navigate policy, fear, and change management. He's an evangelist for the potential of AI to improve public safety and operations, while also maintaining public trust. W e discuss Micah's jou...
Sep 18, 2023•47 min•Season 7Ep. 15
In this episode of the EM Weekly podcast, host Zack dives into the essential aspects of school emergency preparedness at the start of the academic year. From comprehensive strategies that administrators, teachers, and staff should implement, to the vital role parents play in ensuring their children's safety, we cover it all. The episode provides a roadmap for schools to create a resilient environment and offers practical advice for parents to contribute to a secure learning experience. Whether y...
Aug 21, 2023•29 min•Season 7Ep. 14
Today's episode is actually the launch episode for our latest podcast, Life Fire Layout! Subscribe and listen in! www.spreaker.com/show/life-fire-layout In the inaugural episode of "Life, Fire, Layout," host Prescott Nadeau sits down with Zack Borst, an emergency manager and host of the popular EM Weekly Podcast. Together, they delve into the purpose and vision for this new series. Nadeau shares his aspirations for the show, which aims to become a platform for public safety professionals to shar...
Aug 02, 2023•32 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Really quick, if you're impacted or interested in helping the response to the recent flooding in Vermont, please visit www.vermont.gov/flood Here at EM Weekly and The Readiness Lab, we're all about the tech that takes us from "meh" to "wow". Enter Traumasoft, the game-changer that's aiming to give EMS agencies a big efficiency boost and a huge high-five to their hard-working providers. On today's episode is RJ Morrison. Starting as an EMT-B and climbing the ranks to Paramedic, RJ's seen it all, ...
Jul 27, 2023•42 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Innovate or Die! Innovation is a term that is tossed around with little meaning and often referring to something that is 100%, not innovative. I think a lot of emergency managers want to be innovative but aren't given the space and time needed to actually create something new or different. So what's holding us back? How do we move our field from what it's doing into what we need to be doing? Why are we so afraid of failing? This week we tackle the conundrum of innovating emergency management! Su...
Jun 16, 2023•39 min•Season 7Ep. 11
So this is counterintuitive but I recommend that you watch this episode instead of listening. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/B6s8cAn4Y3I It's one thing to talk about what AI can do and another to actually have it do that. Today I am trying out a theoretical use for resource tracking and dispatching of resources. I started messing around with this over the last few days and built a prompt that I thought might work. Today I am running an entire exercise scenario, live, in GPT-4 and the resul...
May 09, 2023•32 min•Season 7Ep. 10
In this episode of EM Weekly, host Zack dives into the world of AI or artificial intelligence. Starting with the basics, Zack explains what AI is, where it currently stands, and where it's headed. He also addresses some of the common fears surrounding AI and why he believes they may be overblown. As an emergency manager himself, Zack shares his insights on how AI can be used in the field and how it can enhance our ability to respond to emergencies. He also talks about some of the potential ethic...
May 05, 2023•37 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Quick episode today breaking down the recent mass notification incident in Florida. I'm chatting about what I think may have happened but more importantly, how to avoid situations like this so that you don't become a national headline. Support our podcast! Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadinesslab.com/em-weekly-links EM Weekly shirts and merch: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/merch The Readiness Lab: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/ Doberman Emergency Management: www.dobermanemg.com Connect...
Apr 26, 2023•18 min•Season 7Ep. 8
We're crossing over into the cyber world and joining the Pwned Podcast to talk about the cyber threats emergency management and public safety agencies face. Cybersecurity is more important than ever and we need to get way better at protecting the systems we use. Check out the Pwned Podcast: www.nuharborsecurity.com/subscribe-to-Pwned/ With our reliance on technology for everything from communication to transportation, a cyberattack can have a devastating impact on our ability to respond to emerg...
Apr 19, 2023•44 min•Season 7Ep. 7
This week, I will be discussing the skill sets that I believe are necessary to become a next-generation emergency manager. These skills range from being thrifty with money to learning how to map using drones, to effectively communicating with strangers and building lasting relationships. These are the skills that have not only helped me throughout my career but have also proven to be valuable during unexpected situations. Top 10 Emergency Management Skills 10: Networking: If you can't make frien...
Mar 21, 2023•55 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Welcome to this special crossover episode of EM Weekly and Preparedness Works, where we explore the topic of building a mindset of preparedness. In this episode, I sit down with Nat Sellers, also known as the Preparedness Guy, to discuss our approaches to preparedness and the challenges of convincing others to take it seriously. We delve into the importance of mental preparedness, how to develop a mindset of readiness, and the practical steps you can take to be prepared for disasters. But things...
Mar 06, 2023•55 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Every community has events, from local farmer's markets to music festivals hosting hundreds of thousands of people, there should be an emergency plan and people ready to help in a crisis. One of those people is Doug Bruce. Doug has supported some of the largest events on the planet and that's why we're chatting with him. The fundamentals are the same, good planning, great networking, and being ready for every weird thing that can happen. Support our podcast! Everything EM Weekly: www.thereadines...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 7Ep. 4
When it comes to confronting challenges, it's rare that they get any easier with time. One of the biggest challenges for emergency managers is tackling the massive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) gaps that have festered in emergency management for decades. These failures affect how we plan, respond, and recover from disasters. The lack of DEI in our agencies and organizations also holds back our profession. Brandy, the disaster lawyer, joins us to discuss these challenges and provide some...
Feb 03, 2023•46 min•Season 7Ep. 3
