From coastal flooding in the Northeast to tropical rainfall threats in the Pacific, this episode of the Disaster Podcast explores how changing weather patterns create challenges for communities and responders. Disaster meteorologist Dan DePodwin joins hosts Jamie Davis and Sam Bradley to discuss nor’easters, hurricane activity, El Niño, and storms that return after seemingly fading away.

Dan begins by explaining what makes a storm a nor’easter and why these systems can cause problems well beyond snowfall. In the Northeast forecast discussed during the recording, the concerns include coastal wind gusts of 40–60 miles per hour, heavy rain, rough surf, and potential power outages. Persistent onshore winds have already set the stage for coastal flooding, with the Jersey Shore, Long Island, and southeastern New England among the areas of concern.

The conversation then shifts to the Pacific, where tropical systems threaten both island communities and the mainland. Dan describes how tropical moisture interacting with Hawaii’s mountainous terrain can produce extreme rainfall, flash flooding, and landslides. Another concern is moisture moving inland from the eastern Pacific, potentially bringing flooding to parts of the Southwest and central United States. A storm’s effects can extend far beyond its coastal track.

National Hurricane Center Website

El Niño provides a broader backdrop for the discussion. Dan explains how warmer equatorial Pacific waters and changes in atmospheric conditions can influence tropical activity and weather patterns around the world. He also distinguishes those large-scale influences from the ingredients that produce an individual storm: understanding El Niño helps explain the seasonal picture, but it does not mean every weather event has a single cause.

Sam brings a personal perspective to the discussion, recalling a tornado warning while driving through Missouri. She describes taking shelter in a convenience store as warning sirens sounded and later learning that a tornado had struck in the general area. Her experience leads into a conversation about seasonal tornado risks and the importance of paying attention to changing conditions while traveling.

The group also explores so-called “zombie storms”—tropical systems that weaken or lose their tropical characteristics before reorganizing. Hurricane Ivan comes up as the hosts and Dan discuss how a storm’s story can continue long after its initial impact.

Throughout the episode, Dan connects the weather science with the practical concerns facing responders: coastal flooding, inland rainfall, power disruptions, and rapidly changing forecasts. Listen for a conversation about understanding the hazards behind the storm names and keeping the full geographic reach of a weather event in view.

Our thanks to Dr. Joe Holley from Paragon Medical Education Group for sponsoring the Disaster Podcast.

Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.

A hurricane approaching the Gulf Coast brings concerns that extend well beyond its expected landfall. In this episode of the Disaster Podcast, disaster meteorologists Kyle Nelson and Dan DePodwin join Dr. Joe Holley, a physician with a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team, to discuss coastal and inland weather threats, responder preparations, and the dangers of complacency.

Hosts Sam Bradley, a paramedic and author, and Jamie Davis, a paramedic, nurse, and author, guide a conversation that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, connecting tropical weather with flooding, drought, and seasonal planning.

The team examines the Gulf Coast forecast discussed during the recording, including concerns for the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, southeastern Mississippi, and Georgia. Heavy rainfall, storm surge, and possible tornadoes all feature in the discussion. Joe shares how response teams had begun positioning around the anticipated impact area in preparation for potential deployments.

Dan explains an important distinction when looking at hurricane maps: the forecast cone describes the expected track of the storm’s center, rather than the full area that could experience dangerous weather. Rainfall, gusty winds, and other hazards can reach communities far from that track. The conversation includes potential inland impacts across the Southeast and flooding concerns in the Appalachians.

Meanwhile, tropical activity in the Pacific raises a different set of concerns. Moisture moving toward the western United States may bring welcome rain, but heavy precipitation over a short period can create flash flood risks in desert communities. Kyle discusses the particular vulnerability of wildfire burn scars, where runoff and debris flows can threaten areas downstream.

That leads Jamie to ask how water managers in Colorado use forecasts to plan for snowpack and reservoir supplies. Kyle explains the importance of looking months ahead and why a single rainy period cannot resolve a long-term drought. Dan adds perspective on El Niño and its potential influence on winter weather, while the group acknowledges the uncertainty involved in seasonal forecasting.

Preparedness remains a central theme throughout the episode. Jamie reflects on friends trading wildfire risks for hurricane risks after moving to the Gulf Coast. Sam shares her own experience navigating unfamiliar warning systems, highlighting how much there is to learn when moving to a different region.

Joe points to complacency as a serious concern, even among people who have weathered previous storms. Familiarity with a place does not mean every storm will behave the same way or bring the same consequences.

The team closes by discussing the value of local emergency management updates and official social media channels. Those sources help residents—and loved ones following from elsewhere—understand local preparations and changing conditions.

Listen as Kyle, Dan, Joe, Sam, and Jamie explore the weather behind the warnings and the importance of taking each storm’s risks seriously.

Our thanks to Dr. Joe Holley from Paragon Medical Education Group for sponsoring the Disaster Podcast.

Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.

When an emergency turns into an extended shift, even basic needs like water, food, and clean socks can become a challenge. In this episode of the Disaster Podcast, co-hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis welcome Hannah Cornett and Luke Croston from Tags4Lives, a nonprofit helping communities support the people who respond when disaster strikes.

Their approach starts with a relationship. By working directly with departments before an emergency, Tags4Lives identifies what personnel need and establishes a process for getting requested supplies into their hands without disrupting operations.

Hannah explains how the organization prepares supply packs for different weather conditions and assignments. Items can include water, granola bars, socks, sunscreen, and first aid supplies, with departments helping determine what makes sense for their crews. In-kind donations, grants, and private support help make that work possible.

Drawing on her wildland fire experience, Sam shares why coordination matters. Well-intentioned donations can create extra work when the food or supplies don’t fit the situation. Establishing relationships ahead of time helps turn community generosity into practical assistance that responders can actually use.

Hannah describes how that process has worked in Northeast Ohio, including providing water to fire, public works, and parks departments during hot weather. Getting the system in place before supplies are needed allows departments to request support when conditions change or a routine workday stretches into a prolonged response.

Luke brings an important public works perspective to the conversation. Responding to tornadoes, water main breaks, and other emergencies helped him recognize his department’s role as first responders. Public works employees keep essential infrastructure functioning and help restore the services a community depends on after a disaster. Their crews face long hours and unexpected assignments, and they need support, too.

There’s also a personal element in every appreciation bag. Hannah describes including handwritten messages of gratitude from the public, including messages written on aluminum tags. Alongside the practical supplies, those notes offer a reminder that someone recognizes the work these crews are doing. Jamie reflects on how meaningful that connection can be during a difficult response.

The conversation returns to a lesson that applies across disaster preparedness: build relationships before the emergency. Tags4Lives gives community members a coordinated way to help, while allowing departments to guide the support their personnel receive.

Listen as Hannah and Luke share how their program works, why public works belongs in the responder support conversation, and how a few practical supplies paired with a personal thank-you can make a difference during a long shift.

Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.