Everything's A Disaster

20/04/2020

Here's a good BBC article that talks about why we have difficulty recognizing crises...it fits in really well with Episode 3: Denial, Deliberation, Action.

The current pandemic has affected some countries more than others, partly because they have been slow to react to the crisis. That, it turns out, is a very human response.

17/04/2020

Remember 2 months ago, before we were sheltered-in-place, when no one was quite sure about what covid-19 was and how it would impact our lives? Do you remember how it felt? What you thought?

When faced with stressful and foreign situations our brains go into a different mode. Because we spend so much of our time avoiding stress, when we are faced with the unknown, it shocks our system and our normal way of thinking.

In episode 3, I talk with Dr. Mary Nelan, Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas in Emergency Management and Disaster Science about the progression our brains go through when faced with disaster events: Denial, Deliberation, Action.

Everything's A Disaster aims to explain all the things we don't understand about going through and recovering from disasters with the aim of getting us better informed.

27/03/2020

Welcome to Episode 2 of Everything’s A Disaster, in this episode I talk about why you should listen, why you should care, and why I’m doing this podcast.

With more time on our hands means more time for podcasts. And while continuing to drink from the covid fire hose seems like the only thing to do, to stay up to date on the latest developments, it might be a good time to take a step back and think about how covid-19 has forced us into a space that we try to avoid. That space being thinking about all those ‘what if’ scenarios and what we’d do if we were ever faced with them. I realize that we avoid thinking about those ‘what' if’ scenarios like we’re trying to avoid other humans right now…but if we’re here…why not try to learn and grow from it? When life hands you coronavirus infected lemons…

So instead of subscribing to one of the countless podcasts about covid-19, with the latest developments on cases, the lack of medical equipment, or the absolutely insane gyrations of the stock market, listen to episode 2 of Everything’s A Disaster; the show that aims to explain all the things we don’t understand about going through and recovering from disasters, with the aim of getting us better prepared.

Everything's A Disaster aims to explain all the things we don't understand about going through and recovering from disasters with the aim of getting us better informed.

18/03/2020

Hi everybody, A new blog is up at www.everythingsadisaster.com!

I keep reading articles about how in the midst of the unprecedented measures being taken by governments at all levels, people are reluctant to change their behaviors to "flatten the curve."

I think this is happening for a few reasons that I dig into in my latest post.

www.everythingsadisaster.com/blog/to-flatten-the-curve

Current events have stripped away a lot of the comfort and security we’ve grown accustomed to and replaced them with uncertainty and anxiety; and it’s that comfort and security that has changed how we perceive risk and our ability to relate to it.

16/03/2020

The Washington Post has a great article on how social distancing can have an impact on "flatting the curve." Because much of what we're trying to wrap our heads around is new, the animations in the article clearly illustrate how social distancing will work.

If you haven't read it yet...I encourage you to do so.

The early trickle of new coronavirus infections has turned into a steady current. By creating simple simulations, we can see how to slow it down.

14/03/2020

Hi Everyone,

It’s been awhile; life has a way of forcing you to re-prioritize things, and Everything’s A Disaster was put on the back
burner as a result. And in that absence there has been no shortage of things to keep us on our toes…especially now, as we find ourselves in the midst of a covid-19 pandemic.

One of the things that I’ve been working on and am excited to share with you is that Everything’s A Disaster now has a podcast!

I just finished the first episode that talks about what we’re currently dealing with and want to share it with you. You can listen to it at www.everythingsadisaster.com

I’m continuing to work on the rest of the first season and will let you know when it’s ready to launch…in the meantime, please give the show a listen and take care of yourselves as we work our way through this.

I’ll be posting more regularly soon and encourage you to checkout: www.everythingsadisaster.com as that will be the home for all future episodes, blogs, and other info. You can also subscribe to Everything's A Disaster on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and soon, Apple Podcasts.

We’re challenged when it comes to preparedness, and our evolving response to Covid-19 reflects that. In this episode we’re going to talk about the shift in public perception that’s taking place and how what we’re experiencing is similar to what survivors of disasters go through.

10/10/2019

Just in time for Halloween, California learns how to prepare in the dark.

A new post is up at Everything's A Disaster, check it out...if you have power.

http://everythingsadisaster.blogspot.com/2019/10/preparing-in-dark.html

14/10/2017

The past several weeks have been a lot; it’s been tough to know where to begin, what to think, or how to feel. Just as I believe I have my head wrapped around one thing, two more come along that knock me sideways.

To those who have lost friends, family, homes, or livelihoods…I wish for you the time needed to process and heal, as well as a recovery that gives you the resources and support needed to make you whole.

For as much as I point out what I perceive to be the flaws and oversights in the systems designed to protect or mitigate against the types of events that have us on the ropes, I thank those who have and those who are currently responding to the events that have impacted so many.

Stay safe and do good.

23/06/2017

As individuals and communities continue to struggle with more frequent flooding events, this barricade is seems like an interesting way to mitigate some the impacts.

Anyone see these things in action?

https://youtu.be/fQ4QVaJu79w

bluemont.com.au bluemont.nz

04/03/2017

What we have is a failure to communicate.

http://everythingsadisaster.blogspot.com/2017/03/what-we-have-is-failure-to-communicate.html

Crisis Communication and Emergency Notification are continual challenges because when it goes right, no one knows...but when it goes wrong, the results play out very publicly

02/03/2017

Just because the rain in CA has stopped for a few days doesn't mean the threat of flooding has ended.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-snowpack-survey-march-20170301-story.html

California's snowpack is far above average for this time of year, a March 1 survey shows.

27/02/2017

This will have to suffice until March 9th, when the American Society of Civil Engineers comes out with their 2017 Infrastructure Report Card. Anyone want to take bets on our grade? I'm going with a solid D.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/23/us/americas-aging-dams-are-in-need-of-repair.html?utm_source=huffingtonpost.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange&_r=0

Dam crises and failures in California and Nevada shed light on an aging American infrastructure.