by The Readiness Lab
The Disaster Tough Podcast is for emergency managers, by emergency managers. We share stories, lessons learned, and tips to help you make informed decisions. Our host, John Scardena is a former Federal Emergency Response Official with Type 1 response experience. He now leads Doberman Emergency Management, from which this is being recorded. Our guests are also field experts who provide their insights in our conversation based podcast. <br />Discussions with emergency managers revolve around the entire disaster life-cycle. We provide solutions based on training and backed by data. We share experiences of emergency response and identify the lessons learned through our own version of after action reporting. This is conversation mode activated. We are known for flipping from serious to humor without warning. Try to keep up in our weekly podcasts!<br />About Doberman Emergency Management. We provide customized plans, mitigates hazards, delivers training, and supplies emergency products to meet the unique needs of clients. We identify and solve the Nation’s most complex incidents. That’s our job.
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Publishing Since
4/3/2020
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March 14, 2025
In this episode of the <i>Disaster Tough Podcast</i>, John catches up with the audience after his first break in six years. He breaks down the state of emergency management (EM), FEMA reform, and the urgent need for data-driven decision-making and brand standards. With growing concerns about the future of EM, this episode challenges outdated models, calls out inefficiencies, and pushes for a more strategic, structured approach.<br /><br />The EM field is facing major challenges, from funding gaps to a lack of clear role definitions. Passionate debates online highlight growing concerns, but many conversations fail to focus on <b>long-term sustainability</b>. Emergency managers often struggle to define their role, leading to confusion among stakeholders and underfunding of essential programs. John predicts that <i>without major changes, EM as a profession could fade within 10-20 years.</i><br /><br />John challenges the <b>style of approach for calls-to-action</b>, using the airline industry as an example. Despite recent FAA incidents, year-over-year accident data remains stable, proving that <b>two events don’t create a trend—media hype does</b>. The same applies to emergency management: decision-making must be <b>data-driven</b>, not reactive to sensationalized narratives.To be effective, <b>EM must be seen as the strategic coordination of emergency services</b>, not just business management. John emphasizes the importance of <b>branding, clear communication, and stakeholder engagement</b> to secure funding and influence. Without a <b>standardized role</b> for EM professionals across industries, decision-makers struggle to see its value—leading to underfunding and a lack of dedicated resources.<br /><br />John identifies six critical areas FEMA must address to overcome its challenges:<br /><br />1. Funding & Budget Issues – Many disaster declarations are for minor incidents ($8M or less). FEMA needs a smarter approach to resource allocation.<br />2. Technology & Data Utilization – FEMA is severely behind in adopting modern technology for disaster response, coordination, and tracking.<br />3. Emergency Management vs. Auditing – 90% of FEMA operates like the "IRS of Disasters," focusing on compliance and funding rather than true emergency management.<br />4. Deployment & Workforce Structure – The current hiring and deployment model is inefficient, leading to wasted resources and burnout.<br />5. Enhancing EMI (Emergency Management Institute) – FEMA should focus on developing best practices for all industries, not just public safety, to elevate emergency management as a profession.<br />6. Strategic Coordination & Reform – FEMA must embrace long-term planning, efficiency, and structured leadership instead of reacting to crises with short-term fixes.<br /><b></b><br /><b>The Call to Action: Evolve or Become Obsolete</b><br /><br />Emergency management must shift toward <b>data-driven decision-making, strategic planning, and interagency collaboration</b>. EM professionals need to embrace <b>branding, marketing, and clear messaging</b> to establish credibility and secure funding. The field must also attract <b>multi-disciplinary stakeholders</b>, including finance and logistics experts, to enhance operational efficiency.Emergency management is at a crossroads.<br /><br />Without embracing <b>innovation, technology, and strategic coordination</b>, the field risks being <b>phased out</b>. FEMA and EM leaders must focus on <b>efficiency, structure, and stakeholder engagement </b>to secure long-term success. The world isn’t on fire—<i>but without change, emergency management might be.</i>
January 21, 2025
Listen, Watch, & Support DTP: www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links<br /><br />Boost the signal with a $5 monthly donation!<br /><br />Become a TRL Insider Member with a ton of extra content! <br />#emergencymanagement #disastertough #leadership #emergencyservices <br />-------------- <br /><br />One day after Inauguration Day in the United States, the Disaster Tough Podcast welcomes a former White House Medical Officer to the show.<br /><br />Travis Kaufman served as a Medical Officer in the White House from 2016 to 2021. <br /><br />He has also served in the US Army for nearly 25 years in various capacities, including as an Aeromedical Physician Assistant and an Engineer Diver. <br /><br />He has also worked in medical education as an adjunct professor and Emergency Management professional at Lynchburg University. <br /><br />He currently serves as the Director At Large of the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants. <br /><br />In this episode, Travis discusses the importance of balancing fluidity in job execution, while maintaining industry standards in the medical and emergency management fields. <br /><br />He and host, John Scardena also discuss what the Emergency Management field needs to do to evolve and improve itself as it grows in the world of response.<br /><br />--------------<br /><br />*Major Endorsements: L3Harris's BeOn PPT App.<br /><br />Learn more about this amazing product here: https://www.l3harris.com/<br /><br />Impulse: Bleeding Control Kits by Professionals for Professionals: https://www.dobermanemg.com/impulse<br /><br />Emergency Management for Dynamic Populations (DyPop): Hot Mess Express: An emergency management leadership course focusing on response tactics during terrorist attacks.<br /><br />Hot Mess Express includes an immersive exercise during an intentional train derailment scenario. Register for DyPop here: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/shop/p/dynamic <br /><br />Doberman Emergency Management Group provides subject matter experts in planning and training: www.dobermanemg.com
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