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Disaster Podcast

Disaster Podcast

By: Jamie Davis Sam Bradley Joe Holley Kyle Nelson
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 For Emergency Responders at All LevelsMedicCast Productions, LLC Biological Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • IBHS Supports Research into Hailstorms and Other Disasters

    IBHS Supports Research into Hailstorms and Other Disasters
    Apr 25 2026
    Hail Damage This episode of the Disaster Podcast featured a discussion about resilience and preparedness with guest Jake Sorber from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). Jake explained IBHS’s research on severe weather hazards, particularly focusing on hail damage and wind-driven hail, which can cause significant additional damage to homes. He described IBHS’s unique ability to manufacture scientific ice spheres to accurately test building materials’ resistance to hail impacts. Becky DePodwin, our disaster emergency management expert joined the discussion along with our episode host, Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary 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. Podcast Discussion Summary Disaster Podcast: Resilience and Preparedness Jamie Davis welcomed listeners to the Disaster Podcast and introduced the topic of resilience and preparedness. He noted that Sam was unavailable due to her recent move, but Becky was present as a guest. Jamie then introduced Jake Sorber, a research project scientist at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, who discussed his background in atmospheric science and his current work studying the effects of hail and wind on residential homes and commercial structures. IBHS Structure Testing and Mitigation Jake explained how IBHS, an insurance industry organization, was founded to conduct full-scale testing of structures to better understand vulnerabilities to severe weather events like hurricanes, hail, tornadoes, and wildfires. He described a specific hailstorm in Rock Hill, South Carolina in April 2024 that demonstrated how wind-driven hail can cause damage beyond rooftops, including siding and windows, which can lead to water intrusion and significantly increase losses by 2-4 times. Jake emphasized the importance of identifying “damage amplifiers” – structural elements that fail and cause disproportionate damage, which helps in developing mitigation strategies. Hail Risk and Insurance Insights Jake explained that there is limited historical data on wind-driven hail frequency, and IBHS is developing an instrument to measure impact angles and forces during their annual hail field campaign. He noted that while storm severity has shifted, socioeconomic factors like urban sprawl and increased building costs have had a greater impact on insured losses than weather changes. Jake mentioned that severe convective storms now cause annual losses of $40-60 billion, up from $15 billion historically, primarily due to increased population in hazard areas rather than increased weather risk. Hail-Resistant Building Materials Assessment Jake explained that hail-resistant building materials do exist and are assessed based on IBHS’s testing protocol, which involves simulating hailstorms in a lab. He mentioned that synthetic composite roofs like F-Wave and metal roofs perform well against hail damage, though metal roofs may have cosmetic issues. Jake noted that while some materials like synthetic composites show no damage after multiple hail exposures, the distinction between cosmetic and functional damage is important to consider. Residential Building Weather Resilience Jake from IBHS discussed residential building resilience against severe weather hazards. He explained that while completely hazard-proof homes don’t exist, building materials and construction methods can significantly reduce risk, particularly in high-risk areas like Tornado Alley. Jake described IBHS’s work on developing resilience scores for structures and their unique ability to manufacture hailstones for testing building materials. He also covered wildfire preparedness, emphasizing the importance of defensible space and structure separation. The discussion concluded with information about IBHS resources available at ibhs.org. Wrap up and updates The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group. Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast for weekly insights from leaders in disaster response and research!
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    34 mins
  • Disaster Trauma and Mental Health with Sonnet Daymont

    Disaster Trauma and Mental Health with Sonnet Daymont
    Apr 17 2026
    Sonnet Daymont, clinical therapist, joins the show this week with a look at the treatment and management of mental health trauma in both victims and responders following a major event. Her experiences following devastating wild fires in the Los Angeles area in January of 2025 help her define the needs of individuals in the short and long term. Dr. Joe Holley from Paragon Medical Education Group and Becky DePodwin, our disaster emergency management expert joined the discussion as well. The episode is co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary 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. Podcast Discussion Summary Disaster Podcast Planning Meeting The team introduced themselves and discussed upcoming topics for the Disaster Podcast. Sam mentioned moving to Missouri and plans to build a tornado shelter in his garage. Becky advised keeping an eye on the severe weather forecast during the move. The group then introduced their guest for the episode, trauma expert Sonnet Daymont, who is a licensed marriage and family therapist and consultant on films. They discussed her background and her upcoming book “When Dangerous Feels Like Home,” a true crime memoir about healing from trauma. Sonnet’s Trauma Therapy Memoir Discussion The discussion focused on Sonnet’s background as a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in trauma treatment. She explained her upcoming book “When Dangerous Feels Like Home,” which is a true crime-inflected memoir about her journey to becoming a therapist through experiencing relational trauma. The conversation also touched on Sonnet’s work in the film industry, including consulting on a horror film about child abuse titled “Women in the Yard.” When asked about red flags for narcissistic personality traits, she began explaining how these traits relate to antisocial personality disorder and the challenges they present in relationships, though the transcript ended before she could complete her answer. Narcissistic Behavior Identification Discussion Sonnet advised that identifying narcissistic behavior involves paying attention to genuine empathy and listening carefully to others. They explained that while some behaviors like love bombing and grandiosity can be normal early in relationships, pathological versions might indicate manipulative or harmful intentions. Sonnet also clarified that mental health disorders like narcissism lack biomarkers and diagnostic criteria change over time, while explaining that Machiavellianism describes manipulative and cunning behavior lacking empathy. Psychological Disorders and Resilience The group discussed psychological disorders, focusing on the differences between psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder as defined in the DSM. Sonnet explained that while these conditions share some traits like low empathy, they represent distinct diagnostic categories, and individuals can exhibit multiple disorders simultaneously. Becky raised questions about nature versus nurture in personality development, to which Sonnet responded that brain scans show differences in people with reduced empathy or antisocial behavior, though the cause could be either genetic or environmental factors. The conversation then shifted to trauma and resilience, with Sonnet sharing insights about how supportive caregivers or mentors can help individuals process trauma constructively rather than developing problematic behaviors. Jamie introduced a new topic about disaster resilience, asking about preparation methods for people living in disaster-prone areas, but the transcript ended before this question was addressed. Disaster Responder Mental Health Strategies The meeting focused on discussing self-care and mental health strategies for disaster responders and survivors. Sonnet explained key components of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including mindful awareness, thought restructuring, and exposure therapy, as effective tools for managing trauma and anxiety. The discussion highlighted how community support and social connections are crucial during disasters, with examples from recent wildfires in Los Angeles. The group agreed to bring back Sonnet for future discussions on mental health topics, particularly focusing on meteorologists’ experiences with disaster forecasting and its impact on their mental well-being. Wrap up and updates The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group. Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget...
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    44 mins
  • Future Proof Homes Against Disaster with Ben Gilliland

    Future Proof Homes Against Disaster with Ben Gilliland
    Apr 10 2026
    The Disaster Podcast hosted Ben Gilliland from Future Proof Property Intelligence to discuss his company’s AI-powered solution for assessing and mitigating climate-related risks to homes. Ben explained how their technology uses smartphone video scans, NVIDIA AI, and IBM climate data to create 3D models of properties, identify risk factors, and provide remediation plans and cost estimates. The discussion covered how their system addresses the mismatch between rising weather risks and shrinking insurance options, with an average cost of $10,000-$40,000 for home remediation. Becky DePodwin joined the call as well to offer her thoughts on this technology. The episode is co-hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary 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. Podcast Discussion Summary Disaster Response Program Evolution The group discussed Joe, a Memphis-based medical director and ER doctor who runs Pentagon Medical Education Group, which provides experiential training for disaster responders using cadaver labs. Benjamin shared that his organization has shifted focus to develop a private sector solution for disaster mitigation after FEMA’s funding changes, working with Thomas Chandler from Columbia on developing remediation programs. Benjamin explained how their program has evolved to include three main areas: remediation, education, and preparedness, moving from a initial focus on house hardening to a broader approach including people engagement and warning systems. Resilience Technology Podcast Preparation The meeting focused on preparing for an upcoming podcast episode about using technology to enhance home and workplace resilience. Benjamin Gilliland from Future Proof Property Intelligence was introduced as the guest. The hosts, Jamie and Sam, discussed the format of the podcast and introduced Becky, a meteorologist and emergency management expert, as a participant. The conversation briefly touched on weather conditions and El Nino before transitioning to prepare for the main discussion about resilience technology. AI-Powered Home Assessment Solution Benjamin shared his extensive background, from his early career in lighting design for rock bands to his involvement in early Silicon Valley computing, where he funded several technology projects including the first spelling checker and multimedia initiatives. He explained how his non-profit TPHA.org, which focuses on affordable and climate-resilient housing in Hawaii, led to the development of Future Proof’s AI-powered solution. The system uses iPhone video recordings to create 3D models of homes, generating repair plans, budgets, and material lists while also identifying available government grants and financing options for home improvements. Disaster Preparedness and Risk Mitigation Benjamin and Sam discussed disaster preparedness and risk mitigation, particularly focusing on a three-silo approach involving home assessments, education, and emergency alerts. Benjamin explained their work with Columbia University, which includes developing a vision system using AI to help homeowners identify safe areas in their homes during disasters, while simultaneously creating video records of their belongings for insurance purposes. They also discussed a comfort bot with patent-pending technology that can adjust its messaging based on the listener’s age and situation during emergency alerts. AI Emergency Warning Conflicts Becky raised concerns about how AI systems might handle competing emergency warnings, such as conflicting advice during Hurricane Ida where tornado and flooding warnings contradicted each other. Benjamin acknowledged this was still an area being developed, mentioning NVIDIA’s work on reasoning components and noting that while the system could potentially handle house-related alerts, direct AI instructions for emergency warnings were still 2-3 years away. The discussion highlighted the need to address how AI systems might triage conflicting alerts based on house mapping and personal information, though current AI trustworthiness for direct emergency instructions was deemed insufficient. Address-Level Risk Assessment System Benjamin explained that their risk assessment system operates at the address level rather than broader grid squares, providing more granular data than what insurance companies currently use. He described how they can identify specific risk factors like trees near homes in Southern California versus central Missouri, where different hazards prevail. The system aims to empower homeowners with property risk information while creating a bridge between homeowners and insurance companies, allowing for better-informed decisions about insurance and potential ...
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    46 mins
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