Prep Talk

As the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy approaches, New York City Emergency Management staff members reflect on the historic storm and the unprecedented impacts New York City faced. The storm forever changed New York City and was a pivotal moment in creating change to combat climate change and the increase in extreme weather events. On this episode of “Prep Talk” Herman Schaffer, deputy commissioner of community engagement and Heather Roiter, assistant commissioner of risk and recovery at NYC Emergency Management, discuss the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Sandy and the role that NYC Emergency Management played during the preparedness, response and recovery stages. They also discuss lessons the City has learned, programs implemented since the destructive storm hit, and how they prepare for future storms.

¡Prepárate! A Conversation with NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez by NYC Emergency Management

Prep Talk - Episode 83: Coordination with Utility Partners by NYC Emergency Management

The latest episode of “Prep Talk” podcast highlights the strategic plan as well as one its key priorities: talent retention and recruitment, and the agency’s goal for its workforce to reflect the communities it serves. The new episode featuring NYC Emergency Management Monitoring and Evaluation Program Manager Jimmy Deats and Deputy Director of Talent & Culture Veronica Geager.

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season outlook forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, discusses the science behind the outlook for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. He reveals what sparked his interest in meteorology and how he got started in field. Rosencrans also shares how NOAA fits into the disaster cycle and how they work with emergency management agencies when disasters occur. He has experienced a variety of severe weather events and discusses how it shaped his outlook of the future.

Prep Talk - Episode 80: Emergency Planning by NYC Emergency Management

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Commissioner Zach Iscol discusses his experiences, expectations, and what he is looking forward to the most in his new role. Commissioner Iscol also chats about what sparked his interest in the emergency management field, what keeps him up at night, and his leadership approach.

As the emergency management field expands, so too does the need for diverse, knowledgeable professionals. On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” two women leaders in emergency management from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Elyse Morris and Cory Pardo, discuss the role of women in public service, leadership, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and much more. Each guest also shared how they expect the emergency management field to evolve and the importance of having more women involved in public service and emergency management.

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Sonja Orgias, acting deputy chief counsel and co-chair of the equity and diversity council at NYC Emergency Management, discusses this employee-led initiative, the importance of diversity and inclusion in hiring practices and emergency operations, as well as mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. She also shares how a lack of diversity in the emergency management field can adversely affect the communities that are being served. Orgias also provides best practices and discusses working with different agencies to highlight social issues and how accessibility needs are being addressed in the workplace.

With an increase in extreme weather like heavy rain, heat waves, and man-made hazards such as oil spills happening across major U.S. cities, emergency managers understand the unique challenges dense urban areas face. To construct the best approach in emergency response, the Council for Excellence in Government founded the Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM) in 2005. The nonprofit organization serves as a venue to exchange vital information and discuss areas of mutual concern in emergency response matters. Today, the group has grown to include 15 jurisdictions. Read the full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk76