Our neighbors, our friends, and our community will get us through an emergency. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Allison Pennisi and Justin Bennett sit down with Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich, director of security and resilience studies at Northeastern University, and the keynote speaker for NYC Emergency Management’s 2020 Community Preparedness Symposium: Bridging the Gap to Communities. During the episode, Dr. Aldrich discusses how social ties within neighborhoods increase resilience in the...
Jan 10, 2020•24 min
As spectators anticipate the countdown to a new year, the eyes of the world turn to the crossroads of the world. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” officials from Times Square Alliance and NYC Emergency Management provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes insight into the organization of this special event. Guests Tom Harris, senior vice president for the Times Square Alliance, and Kevin Clark, operations manager at NYC Emergency Management, discuss why comprehensive planning and coordination, inc...
Dec 23, 2019•24 min
Are the older adults in your family prepared for an emergency? On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” special guests Edward Powell, community engagement coordinator at NYC Emergency Management, and Benjamin Strong, senior director of the office of emergency preparedness at the Department for the Aging, discuss the importance of older adults establishing emergency support networks with their family, friends, neighbors, and caretakers. Mayer Waxman, the managing director for SelfHelp Community Serv...
Dec 13, 2019•28 min
Family. Friends. Food. Floats. Thanksgiving is around the corner, and New York City is home to one of the nation’s biggest holiday celebrations: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” officials from Macy’s and NYC Emergency Management provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes insight into the organization of this special event. Tune in for information about new floats, the best spots to view the parade, and the big performers that headline this year’s event. Special...
Nov 20, 2019•20 min
Winter is coming, and with it, the threat of snowfall and other hazards. In recognition of Winter Weather Awareness Week, November 3 through November 9, the latest episode of “Prep Talk” features ranking uniformed four-star chief Edward Grayson, director of the bureau of cleaning and collection at the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY). Chief Grayson provides exclusive, behind-the-scenes insight into the City’s snow operations, including a new chemical that will be used this season to...
Nov 04, 2019•46 min
Runners take your mark – the TCS New York City Marathon is quickly approaching. The annual event, organized by the New York Road Runners, is a 26-mile run tracking through all five boroughs. On November 3, organizers expect more than 52,000 runners to participate with millions more spectating around the city. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” guests from New York City Emergency Management and the New York Road Runners discuss the importance of local, state, and federal coordination in ensuri...
Oct 23, 2019•43 min
Are you secure online? On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” guests from New York City Emergency Management and the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. The episode is in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held every October. This year’s theme — Own It, Secure It, Protect It — focuses on key areas including citizen privacy, consumer devices, and e-commerce security. Eric Smalls, assistant commissione...
Oct 08, 2019•34 min
The 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly is underway, and on the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Patrick Freaney, assistant special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York Field Office, discusses the comprehensive security measures implemented to protect world leaders and dignitaries during the annual session. Designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE) by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service assumes the mandated role as the lead...
Sep 19, 2019•24 min
Effective communication is the key to staying safe during an emergency. In the latest episode of ‘Prep Talk,’ Amy Gibson-Grant, vice president and group campaign director at the Ad Council, and Bill Oberlander, executive creative director and co-founder of Oberland, discuss the role creative marketing and advertising can have in raising public awareness and inspiring change. The guests also talk about their partnership with New York City Emergency Management and the new public service announceme...
Sep 04, 2019•35 min
Not sure where your hurricane evacuation zone is located? There’s a map for that. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Josh Friedman, executive director of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at NYC Emergency Management, discusses the utility of GIS mapping in the emergency management field. He shared his insight into how experts use mapping for situational awareness before, during and after emergencies, as well as how everyday New Yorkers utilize mapping during their daily lives. Read full tr...
Aug 13, 2019•39 min
It only takes one storm. That is the reminder Nelson Vaz, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service, emphasizes on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” As the Atlantic hurricane season moves into its peak, Vaz reminds listeners of important steps to prepare, make a plan, know your risks, and stay informed. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk35
Jul 30, 2019•44 min
The New York City Emergency Management Department welcomes Commissioner Deanne Criswell. Commissioner Criswell brings a wealth of knowledge to the agency, with over 25 years of experience in federal, military and local government response to complex incidents and disasters, including six years at FEMA. Criswell is also a retired member of the Colorado Air National Guard, where she served 21 years as both a firefighter and Deputy Fire Chief. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Commissioner Cris...
Jul 09, 2019•25 min
Providing timely and accurate information to the public is crucial during an emergency. In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” special guests Lisa Fowlkes, chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety Homeland Security Bureau, and Benjamin Krakauer, assistant commissioner of strategy and program development at New York City Emergency Management, discuss the importance of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in effectively communicating critical, public safety alerts to the public dur...
Jun 18, 2019•20 min
Safety first. That is the message Principal Philip Carollo has for his staff and students at PS 56, The Louis DeSario School, in Staten Island. In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” the hosts chat with Mr. Carollo and Keith Grossman, the director of emergency management at the DOE, about the importance of teaching kids how to prepare for emergencies. Find out what makes preparedness education a community approach, and hear Mr.Carollo’s blueprint for safety in schools. Read full transcript: on.ny...
May 21, 2019•34 min
Mentorship is a priority at the New York City Emergency Management Department. In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” special guests Robert Cohen and Jennifer Pearsall, both with NYC Emergency Management, discuss the benefits of mentorship in professional growth. Pearsall and Cohen outline the agency’s four-step mentorship program and provide insight about how emergency managers and other organizations can implement such an initiative. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk31
May 08, 2019•35 min
In recognition of Immigrant Heritage Week in New York City, April 15 through April 21, the latest “Prep Talk” episode features New York State Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou and Pedro Garcia, manager for staff development for training and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at the Tenement Museum. The special guests discuss the importance of working with the NYC Emergency Management Department, elected officials, and community organizations to prepare immigrants for emergencies. Read fu...
Apr 16, 2019•40 min
Spring is back, and the possibility of April showers could bring more than May flowers. As the potential for rain increases, so does the risk of flooding hazards. In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” special guests Natan Mandelbaum from NYC Department for Environmental Protection (DEP) and Jessica Sanchez of NYC Emergency Management discuss how the agencies work together to mitigate flooding risks in the city. In this episode, you will learn about the importance of flood preparedness along with...
Apr 03, 2019•29 min
NYC Emergency Management is highlighting March for Meals. In recognition of Meals on Wheels Awareness month, also known as March for Meals, the latest episode of “Prep Talk” features the relationship between NYC Emergency Management and Citymeals on Wheels. “Prep Talk” hosts sat down with Rachel Sherrow from Citymeals on Wheels and Johanna Conroy of NYC Emergency Management to discuss how the partners work together to serve the community and prepare New Yorkers before emergencies. In this episod...
Mar 19, 2019•30 min
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the latest “Prep Talk” episode features Penny Neferis, the director of business continuity, disaster recovery and emergency response at JetBlue, and Linda Reissman, the director of emergency management at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Listen as both guests discuss how major emergencies like Hurricane Sandy and 9/11 have influenced their careers and shaped emergency management both on a local and national level, and hear what each guest thinks is the greatest ...
Mar 05, 2019•31 min
The best way to prevent the measles is to get the vaccine. That is the message Dr. Demetre Daskalakis — Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene — has for listeners on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 127 confirmed cases of measles in 10 states across the country from January 1 to February 14, 2019. In this episode, Dr. Daskalakis debunk...
Feb 19, 2019•35 min
In recognition of Black History Month, the latest “Prep Talk” episode features Jerome Hatfield and Calvin Drayton, two African-American leaders in emergency management and public safety. Mr. Hatfield is the former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II administrator under the Obama Administration, while Mr. Drayton currently serves as the first deputy commissioner at NYC Emergency Management. The episode takes a close look at their professional journey and highlights their successe...
Feb 05, 2019•49 min
If you’re looking to reduce your risk for hazards this year, look no further. In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, special guests Heather Roiter and Melissa Umberger provide expert perspective on how New York City works to reduce the impacts of natural and man-made hazards, ranging from winter weather and hurricanes to cyber threats and chemical releases. The guests discuss the new 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan website, developed to represent the City’s plan for accessing hazards that pose a risk to...
Jan 24, 2019•27 min
It is not too late to make a New Year’s resolution to be more prepared. That is the message the New York City Emergency Management Department wants New Yorkers to know. In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, special guest Katelyn James provides an expert perspective about how individuals can practice preparedness in 2019. James discusses NYC Emergency Management’s “Resolve to Be Ready” calendar, an interactive tool filled with simple tips that can help people work preparedness into their busy schedu...
Jan 09, 2019•18 min
It is always good to be a good neighbor. To ensure that New Yorkers are prepared for the winter season, New York Cares and New York City Emergency Management partnered to release a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) about how New Yorkers can donate coats to people in need. In the latest episode, “Prep Talk” hosts chat with Gary Bagley, executive director at New York Cares, and Herman Schaffer, assistant commissioner for community outreach and NYC Emergency Management to discuss the new initia...
Dec 21, 2018•32 min
It’s always good to have a backup plan. In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi discuss the City’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) with Tony Marzuillo, director of COOP at NYC Emergency Management. Established as a mayoral executive order in 2007, the order requires each City agency to have a comprehensive COOP plan in place to ensure that agency staff can continue to deliver essential services to the public in the event of an emergency. Read full transcr...
Dec 10, 2018•14 min
“Honor. Rewarding. Privilege.” These are the words members of New York Task Force 1 (NY-TF1) use to describe their work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) team. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi sit down with three members of NY-TF1 to discuss their September deployment to North Carolina in support of Hurricane Florence relief efforts. You will hear first-hand accounts of the team’s rescues and experi...
Nov 30, 2018•27 min
In the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” hosts Omar Bourne and Allison Pennisi highlight the work of NYC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers as the program celebrates its 15th anniversary. Bourne and Pennisi chat with Christina Farrell, deputy commissioner of external affairs at NYC Emergency Management, FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Brosi, and NYPD Inspector Phylis Byrne. The special guests discuss CERT training, CERT volunteers’ roles in helping first responders during emergencies, and th...
Nov 08, 2018•27 min
Coordination is the heartbeat of emergency management. That is the message emergency management leaders emphasized on the latest episode of “Prep Talk”. Hosts sat down with Barb Graff, director of the Seattle Office of Emergency Management, Thomas Sivak, deputy director for the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and Joseph Esposito, commissioner of NYC Emergency Management, to discuss the importance of information sharing on the heels of the Big City Emergency Man...
Oct 16, 2018•36 min
The New York City Emergency Management Department and the FDNY remind you to “stand by your pan.” In honor of FDNY Fire Prevention Week, October 9 through 14, “Prep Talk” hosts sat down with FDNY’s Director of Community engagement Fabricio Caro, and FDNY Lieutenant Michael Kozo, to talk about the importance of educating New Yorkers about fire safety and prevention. In this episode, Lt. Kozo and Mr. Caro discuss FDNY’s range of programs to help people become “FDNY Smart,” from frequently changing...
Oct 09, 2018•19 min
Emergency management is made possible through coordination. In the latest “Prep Talk” episode, the New York City Emergency Management Department sat down with Michael Devulpillieres, communications officer for the American Red Cross’ Greater New York chapter. Topics discussed include NYC Emergency Management’s longstanding partnership with American Red Cross Greater New York ― working together before, during, and after emergencies ― as well as the American Red Cross Greater New York’s range of p...
Sep 17, 2018•12 min
