On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Acting Commissioner D’Amora discusses his experience in a career in public service, the challenges in responding to heat and snow emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of technology in emergency management response. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk75
One of the best ways to be prepared for an emergency is having a plan, but it is imperative to practice your plan to ensure you are prepared for anything that comes your way. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Paula Carlson, director of exercises at NYC Emergency Management, discusses the importance of exercising emergency plans and how she and her team conduct drills and exercises to evaluate the City’s emergency plans. Carlson also shares how exercises have helped change the City’s perspect...
Before an emergency strikes, it is important to that all organizations have a plan, including businesses. New York City has over 200,000 organizations representing four million people. Any major disaster will a have huge impact on the economy. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management’s Strategic Partnerships Specialist Erika Amaya discusses how organizations can be ready for emergencies and what NYC Emergency Management and its partners are doing to support these efforts. A...
As the nation continues to face a range of concurrent disasters, from severe weather to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to take the time to make and review our emergency plans. This includes preparing our pets and service animals for disasters. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management’s Andrew Perlman discusses ways we all can make sure our pets and service animals are ready for emergencies. Perlman also highlights the work of the City’s Animal Planning...
Join us for a very special episode of "Prep Talk," featuring staff members recounting their experiences of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk71
On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” NYC Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner Henry Jackson and Director of Government Relations Yokarina Duarte discuss their multiple deployments to Puerto Rico and reflect on some of the challenges still facing the island following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the 2020 earthquakes. The guests also talk about New York City’s unique partnership with San Juan, and the need for continued city-to-city collaboration. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk70
To commemorate this year’s “Ready School of the Year,” NYC Emergency Management released a new episode of its emergency management podcast, “Prep Talk.” During the episode, NYC Emergency Management Assistant Commissioner Anita Sher and Sal Puglisi of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management discuss the importance of students developing emergency management skills earlier in their education. Puglisi discusses the overall mission of UASEM, including how the school combines in-class and h...
To mark the beginning of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the New York City Emergency Management Department today unveiled the City’s revised hurricane evacuation zones. New York City Emergency Management also relaunched the Know Your Zone hurricane awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to find out whether they live in one of the City’s six hurricane evacuation zones, and take steps to be prepared for coastal storms and hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through ...
The New York City Emergency Management Department welcomes back John Scrivani to his new role as commissioner for the agency. Commissioner Scrivani brings a wealth of knowledge to the department, which includes leadership roles with New York City government, the New York City Police Department and the Virginia Department of Transportation. A member of public safety community for more than two decades, he is responsible for oversight of the City's efforts to plan and prepare for emergencies, educ...
Ahead of her departure from NYC Emergency Management, NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell sat down with “Prep Talk” to discuss her tenure at the agency, including the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-evolving threat landscape that the country faces, the importance of equity across all emergency management operations, and the future of the emergency management field. Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk66
On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Laura Rog, NYC Service’s acting chief service officer, and Moriah Washington, New York City Emergency Management’s director of community engagement, share the impact that volunteers have on assisting agencies and organizations fulfill their mission during National Volunteer Month and throughout the year. Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk65
To close out Women’s History Month in March and looking ahead to National Volunteering Month in April, NYC Emergency Management’s latest “Prep Talk” podcast episode highlights the careers of three female emergency managers and Peace Corps alumnae who share how their experiences, including both successes and challenges, have shaped them into the professionals they are today. NYC Emergency Management’s Rachel Sulaymanov, executive director of government relations; Shraddha Ramani, director of publ...
Join us as we give a fond farewell to co-host Omar Bourne! Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk63
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions African Americans have made in U.S. history. In a year where COVID-19 has disproportionately ravaged minority communities, it has become transparent that inequities continue to plague neighborhoods where black and brown people reside. This harrowing reality has fast-tracked the need for the equitable distribution of resources to those hardest hit by the pandemic. On the latest episode of ‘Prep Talk,’ Dr. Tori...
Donating blood can help save a life. That is the message New York Blood Center’s Andrea Cefarelli wants listeners to know on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” While January is recognized as National Blood Donor Month, Cefarelli encourages listeners to donate year-round. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a chronic deficit in blood donations needed for patients in the hospitals served by the New York Blood Center. Now more than ever, it is important to donate blood to ensure an adequate supply to...
As the world turns the page to a year filled with new beginnings, an age-old concept should continue to ruminate at the forefront of every emergency manager’s mind: the need for more diversity in the field. That is the message Curtis Brown, state coordinator for Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), shares on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” In a candid discussion, Brown underscores the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in emergency management, noting that these co...
The winter season is officially here, and with it, the threat of snowfall and colder weather. Winter also heightens the risk of fire-related incidents, as individuals are finding ways to stay warm, while others may be decorating for the holidays. ‘Tis the season for fire safety. That is the message you will hear from New York City Fire Department’s (FDNY) Capt. Michael Kozo on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” As an FDNY veteran with more than 15 years of experience, Kozo shares important fire ...
With the official start of the winter season just weeks away, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is gearing up to battle the elements. Between challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and Mother Nature, the men and women of DSNY ― known as the heroes behind the plows ― are prepared for the unexpected. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Acting DSNY Commissioner Edward Grayson outlines important strategies the City will implement to combat the season’s snowfall. During the e...
If you connect it, protect it. That is one of the messages you will hear during this year’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Toney Lewis, director for information technology at NYC Emergency Management, shares important information to help listeners reduce cybersecurity risks and protect themselves online. Lewis provides tips that can help you create strong passwords, protect your personal devices, identify the most common cyberattacks, and ensure you...
You will gain more than you give. That’s the message guests on the latest episode of “Prep Talk” want you to know about NYC Emergency Management’s John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service. Founded in 2012 in honor of the late John D. Solomon, an accomplished journalist who dedicated much of his time to helping his community through volunteerism, the program provides 10 graduate students in the New York City area the opportunity to complete a nine-month, paid fellowship in a New York City go...
This year’s unprecedented challenges have not stopped New Yorkers from helping their communities in times of emergency. In fact, many are stepping up to join the New York City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Herman Schaffer, acting deputy commissioner for community preparedness, and Joseph Pupello, director of volunteer programs at NYC Emergency Management, discussed how the CERT volunteer program has adapted its in-person, hands-...
If you want to stay informed about the latest emergency occurring in New York City, look no further than Notify NYC. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Rebecca Baudendistel, director of public warning at NYC Emergency Management, discusses the importance of using the messaging platform to provide accurate, timely information to the public before, during, and after an emergency. From severe weather to health emergencies like COVID-19, we take a deep dive into the protocols implemented to ensur...
As New York City heads into peak hurricane season, New York City Emergency Management’s podcast, “Prep Talk,” takes a closer look at hurricane preparedness in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the latest episode, Jacob Cooper, NYC Emergency Management’s deputy commissioner for readiness, shares important tips to help New Yorkers prepare for a coastal storm and highlights key changes to the City’s sheltering plans as hurricane season converges with COVID-19. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/prep...
The COVID-19 pandemic is not stopping community organizations from what they do best: help those who need it the most. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Rev. Karen Jackson, director of recovery and community initiatives at Project Hospitality, and Erum Hanif, chief executive officer of APNA Community Center in Brooklyn, discuss the initiatives their organizations have implemented to help their communities during this difficult time. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk52
As the weather warms up and the potential risk for heat waves increases, New York City is taking a number of steps to ensure New Yorkers are safe this summer. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Kizzy Charles-Guzman, deputy director at the Mayor’s Office of Resiliency, and Carolyn (Cari) Olson, assistant commissioner of the Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, discuss initiatives to help vulnerable populations beat the heat, specif...
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the latest episode of “Prep Talk” features Ali Gheith, certified emergency manager (CEM) and professional disaster mental health counselor. Gheith discusses steps individuals can take to cope with stress related to these difficult, unprecedented times, identifies the signs and symptoms of stress and anxiety, describes their effects, and outlines tips for stress management. New York City’s NYC Well is available for anyone who may have trouble copin...
As New York City, New York State, the nation, and the world continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Criswell takes a moment to reflect on actions NYC Emergency Management took leading up to this crisis, as well as the ongoing challenges the agency continues to adapt to as this global emergency continues. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk49
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the latest episode of “Prep Talk” features Dana Golub, vice president of programs management at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Golub discusses her current role representing PBS and its member stations in all public safety initiatives, and overseeing the PBS-WARN system. PBS-WARN provides an alternate source of inbound Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) messages in the event of an internet disruption or cyberattack. Listen as Golub also reflects on th...
Equity of opportunity is key to building a strong economy. In recognition of Black History Month, the latest episode of “Prep Talk” features Gregg Bishop, commissioner for the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Commissioner Bishop discusses his role in creating a more vibrant, inclusive economy and his dedication to forging opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs). In addition to business development, Commissioner Bishop highlights his agency’s commi...
Leadership empowers people. That is the message Marty Bahamonde shares on the latest episode of Prep Talk. Bahamonde, who serves as director of the disaster operations division for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) office of external affairs, outlines the key steps to effective leadership and provides the tools leaders can use to inspire colleagues with a vision for success. Bahamonde, who has been directly involved in more than 100 disaster responses ranging from hurricanes and t...
