Emergency Management Episodes

Emergency alerts are supposed to reach everyone - but they don’t. In this episode, Tim Conrad speaks with Jen McEachen, a deafblind emergency management professional who has spent years identifying the gaps that leave millions of people behind during disasters. Jen shares what daily navigation looks like with deafblindness, why current public notification systems fail, and how simple changes can dramatically improve access.

In this episode, Fire Chief Paul McCarthy of the 150 Mile Fire Department and Emergency Program Manager for the Williams Lake First Nation, joins host Tim Conrad for a deep dive into one of the most unpredictable wildfire seasons in recent memory. Knucwentwecw is a Secwepemctsin (Shuswap) word meaning "helping each other" or "working together physically and mentally.

After a disaster, the world moves on, but communities don’t. In this episode of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast, host Tim Conrad talks with Deb Borsos, one of BC’s most respected recovery specialists, about what really happens after the emergency ends. Deb shares decades of hard‑earned wisdom from wildfire zones, flood‑stricken towns, and remote communities in both Canada and Australia. She explains why communication failures can derail recovery, why co...

This episode brings together nearly 150 years of combined volunteer firefighting experience as three Bridgewater Fire Department leaders, Honorary Chief Reid Whynot, Honorary Chief Wayne Thorburne, and Chief Michael Nauss, sit down to reflect on the department’s 150th anniversary and the evolution of service, technology, and community over a century and a half. Host Tim Conrad guides a conversation filled with history, humour, and hard‑earned wisdom from decades on the front lines...

In this conversation, Tim Conrad and Karen Knight discuss the challenges and strategies in managing volunteers, especially during emergencies. They explore the importance of understanding volunteer motivations, maintaining their well-being, leveraging their skills, and the benefits of role rotation. The discussion emphasizes building relationships with volunteers, streamlining training processes, and recognizing the impact of lived experiences. They also highlight the mental he...

Discover the crucial role of standardization in emergency services and how it saves lives. Standardization is the backbone of efficient emergency response, enabling services to respond quickly and effectively in high-pressure situations. In this podcast, we explore the importance of accreditation in emergency services, including its impact on communication, equipment, and procedures. By standardizing protocols and practices, emergency management can reduce errors, improve respo...

Conspiracy, AI-created imagery, misinformation and false information now dominate disasters, overpowering truthful and honest information. It is mainstream on social media, podcasts and traditional media, and often repeated by broadcasters, hosts and celebrities.  Pete Jensen is on the front lines of the southern California wildfires, where, in the past, he has served in many roles, including public information officer. Much of what he shares applies no matter where you are. What we know about wildfires, how they move and how we fight them is international.