The Emergency Management Network Podcast

The Atlantic hurricane season officially opened June 1 as FEMA reaffirmed readiness and the National Hurricane Center continued to watch a high-probability disturbance in the Eastern Pacific. In New Mexico, the Seven Cabins Fire pushed past 29,000 acres with evacuations in Lincoln County and a Type 1 team transition. Hawaii’s Kīlauea ended Episode 48 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption after nine hours of fountaining, leaving the alert level at advisory. President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Delaware tied to February’s severe winter storm, and the Storm Prediction Center flagged severe thunderstorm risk across the Ozarks, Mid-South, and Central Plains. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.
Key Takeaways
• Atlantic hurricane season opens June 1: FEMA states it is prepared, with NHC expecting no Atlantic formation in seven days. Operational focus turns to readiness messaging and posture verification.
• Eastern Pacific watch: A disturbance southwest of Baja California carries a 70 percent 48-hour and 90 percent 7-day formation chance; a second system is expected off Central America later this week.
• NIFC June 1 IMSR: 14 large fires under suppression, two new large fires, 2,825 personnel committed, roughly 2.4 million acres burned year to date.
• Seven Cabins Fire, New Mexico: 29,531 acres in Lincoln County, evacuations north of the Capitan Mountains, command transferred to Southwest Area IMT 2 on June 1.
• Kīlauea Episode 48 ends: Lava fountaining stopped at 1:37 p.m. HST June 1 after nine hours; alert ADVISORY, aviation YELLOW; eruption paused.
• Delaware Major Disaster Declaration: Public Assistance available statewide for the February 22 to 23 severe winter storm in Kent and Sussex counties.
• Severe weather today: Slight Risk across Ozarks/Mid-South and Central Plains; severe wind gust potential in eastern Montana and western North Dakota.
• FEMA deadlines: King County, Washington Individual Assistance applications close June 10; Hawaii Kona Low applications close June 14.
• Alaska volcano status: Great Sitkin remains WATCH/ORANGE with slow summit lava effusion; Mount Spurr remains NORMAL/GREEN.
• New Jersey, Delaney Hall: State plans protected protest zones in Newark; federal staffing posture at Newark Liberty under public dispute.
Sources
FEMA
• FEMA: Major Disaster Declaration for Delaware (June 1, 2026)
• FEMA: As Hurricane Season Begins, FEMA Stands Ready (June 1, 2026)
• FEMA: New Dates and Locations Added for FEMA and SBA In-Person Support (May 28, 2026)
NIFC and InciWeb
• NIFC: Incident Management Situation Report, June 1, 2026
• NIFC: IMSR archive
• InciWeb: Incident Information System
NOAA NWS and SPC
• NHC: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Tropical Weather Outlook
• SPC: Day 1 Convective Outlook
• Climate Prediction Center: Probabilistic Hazards Outlook
USGS
• USGS HVO: Kīlauea Volcano Updates
• USGS HVO: Newest Kīlauea volcano notice (June 1, 2026)
• USGS AVO: Great Sitkin volcano page
• USGS AVO: Mount Spurr volcano page
• USGS: Latest Earthquakes map
Alaska
• USGS AVO: Great Sitkin status (ongoing WATCH/ORANGE)
California
• CAL FIRE: Incidents
• CPUC: Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
Delaware
• FEMA: Major Disaster Declaration for Delaware (June 1, 2026)
Hawaii
• USGS HVO: Newest Kīlauea volcano notice (June 1, 2026)
• Spectrum News: Kīlauea kicks off 48th episode (June 1, 2026)
Montana
• InciWeb: Mthlf Jericho Creek incident
• SPC: Day 1 Convective Outlook (eastern MT severe wind risk)
New Jersey
• Just Security: Early Edition, June 1, 2026 (Delaney Hall, Newark customs staffing)
New Mexico
• KRQE: Officials provide update on Seven Cabins Fire (May 31 to June 1, 2026)
• NIFC IMSR: June 1, 2026 (Seven Cabins listed under Southwest Area)
Washington
• FEMA: Disaster Recovery Center Locator
• FEMA: 2026 Disasters news index
Travel advisories and public health
• U.S. Department of State: Travel Advisories
• CDC: Health Alert Network


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Episode Description
What happens when a single industrial chemical tank threatens an entire community?
In this episode of the Emergency Management Network Podcast, Todd DeVoe and Andrew Boyarsky examine the Garden Grove hazardous materials incident that led to the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents and businesses. What began as a concern over an overheating tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA) quickly escalated into one of Southern California’s most significant precautionary evacuations in recent memory.
Todd and Andrew break down the incident from an emergency management perspective, discussing the decision-making process behind large-scale evacuations, the challenges of public messaging during uncertain situations, and the realities of managing low-probability, high-consequence events. They also explore what this event reveals about industrial hazards in urban environments and how emergency managers can better prepare their communities for complex technological disasters.
This conversation is not about assigning blame. It is about understanding risk, learning from real-world events, and strengthening preparedness before the next incident occurs.
In This Episode
Understanding the Incident
* What happened in Garden Grove?
* The role of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and why it created concern.
* How emergency officials assessed the threat.
* Why was a precautionary evacuation ordered?
The Emergency Management Perspective
* Decision-making under uncertainty.
* Balancing public safety against disruption.
* The importance of situational awareness and intelligence gathering.
* Working with fire, law enforcement, public health, and industry partners.
Evacuating 50,000 People
* Challenges of moving large populations quickly.
* Traffic management and public compliance.
* Protecting vulnerable populations and special needs residents.
* Shelter and mass care considerations.
Public Information and Risk Communication
* Communicating complex hazards to the public.
* Managing rumors and misinformation.
* Building trust during rapidly evolving incidents.
* The role of social media and traditional media.
Lessons for Emergency Managers
* Planning for industrial and hazardous materials incidents.
* Reviewing evacuation zones and protective action strategies.
* Strengthening public-private partnerships.
* Incorporating technological hazards into emergency operations plans.
* Training for events that are unlikely but potentially catastrophic.
Looking Ahead
* What communities can learn from Garden Grove.
* Emerging risks associated with industrial facilities in urban areas.
* Building resilience through planning, exercises, and partnerships.
* Why preparedness remains a community-wide responsibility.
Key Takeaways
* Rare events still require planning.
* Protective actions must be based on available information, not perfect information.
* Effective risk communication can be as important as operational response.
* Strong relationships between emergency managers, fire agencies, law enforcement, and private industry are essential.
* The Garden Grove incident serves as a reminder that technological disasters can have community-wide consequences.
About the Hosts
Todd DeVoe, CEM, is the Editor-in-Chief of The Emergency Management Network, Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Inglewood, educator, author, and IAEM-USA leader.
Andrew Boyarsky is a veteran emergency management professional and co-host of the EMN Podcast, bringing practical insight and operational experience to discussions on disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.
Tags
#EmergencyManagement #HazMat #GardenGrove #PublicSafety #EmergencyPreparedness #RiskCommunication #DisasterManagement #CommunityResilience #HazardousMaterials #EMNPodcast #ToddDeVoe #AndrewBoyarsky #EvacuationPlanning #CrisisLeadership #WholeCommunityApproach


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Episode Description
In this episode of the Emergency Management Network Podcast, Todd DeVoe and Andrew Boyarsky introduce a new long-form series, The 48 Laws of Emergency Management.
This series explores the hard-earned lessons, leadership principles, operational realities, and unwritten rules that define the profession of emergency management. Drawing inspiration from decades of field experience, philosophy, crisis leadership, disaster policy, and organizational behavior, Todd and Andrew discuss why emergency management is far more than plans and checklists. It is about people, decision-making, trust, adaptation, communication, and leadership under pressure.
This opening episode serves as an overview of the series and lays the foundation for future conversations. The discussion examines how emergency managers operate in ambiguity, why relationships matter more than org charts, and how the profession continues to evolve in an increasingly complex world.
Whether you are a new emergency manager, a seasoned practitioner, or simply interested in leadership and crisis management, this series aims to challenge assumptions and encourage deeper thinking about the profession and its future.
Show Notes
The Emergency Management Network launches a new ongoing series: The 48 Laws of Emergency Management. Hosted by Todd DeVoe and Andrew Boyarsky, this series examines the deeper realities of emergency management through practical experience, philosophy, leadership lessons, and honest conversation about the profession.
Emergency management is often taught through doctrine, frameworks, and plans, but the real work of the profession happens in the face of uncertainty. This series explores the lessons that emergency managers learn over years of disasters, activations, political environments, public expectations, and operational pressures.
In this introductory episode, Todd and Andrew discuss:
* Why emergency management is fundamentally about people
* The unwritten rules of leadership during a crisis
* How emergency managers build influence without direct authority
* Why relationships matter more than organizational charts
* The importance of trust, communication, and credibility
* The tension between policy and operational reality
* How philosophy and systems thinking apply to emergency management
* Leadership lessons from military command philosophy and disaster response
* Why is adaptability one of the profession’s most important traits
* The future challenges facing emergency management professionals
The conversation also explores how emergency management has evolved into a profession that requires strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, operational competence, and the ability to work across disciplines and political environments.
This episode sets the stage for future installments, in which Todd and Andrew will break down individual “laws” and discuss the practical application of each principle in real-world emergency management.

Tags
Emergency Management, Emergency Management Network, EMN, Todd DeVoe, Andrew Boyarsky, Disaster Response, Crisis Leadership, FEMA, IAEM, Public Safety, Emergency Planning, Incident Command, EOC, Community Resilience, Disaster Recovery, Crisis Communication, Leadership, Systems Thinking, Homeland Security, Disaster Policy, Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Operations, Crisis Management, Disaster Leadership, Emergency Manager, Organizational Leadership



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Episode Description
This week on the Emergency Management Network Podcast, we take a deep dive into the FEMA Review Council and what its work could mean for the future of emergency management in the United States. As conversations continue around disaster response, federal coordination, resilience policy, and the role of FEMA in an increasingly complex risk environment, the review process has become a focal point for emergency managers across the country.
In this episode, we explore the political realities, operational concerns, and strategic questions surrounding the council’s recommendations and broader national discussions about FEMA reform. From federalism and funding to capability gaps, workforce challenges, climate adaptation, and the growing expectations placed on local emergency managers, this conversation examines what is at stake for the profession and the communities we serve.
This is not just a conversation about FEMA. It is a conversation about the future identity, mission, and structure of emergency management in America.
Episode Summary
The Emergency Management Network Podcast examines the FEMA Review Council and the ongoing national conversation surrounding the future of FEMA and emergency management. The discussion focuses on the operational, political, and policy implications of potential reforms and how those changes may impact local emergency managers, state agencies, tribal governments, nonprofit partners, and the private sector.
The episode explores whether FEMA is being asked to do too much, whether the current federal system supports or hinders disaster resilience, and how emergency managers can engage constructively in shaping the future of the profession amid growing disasters, increasing public expectations, and mounting fiscal pressure.
The conversation also addresses the importance of professional identity, whole community coordination, and the challenge of balancing national consistency with local flexibility.
Key Topics Discussed
• What the FEMA Review Council is and why it matters now
• The growing debate over the federal role in disasters and resilience
• How federalism shapes emergency management in the United States
• The increasing expectations placed on FEMA after major disasters
• Whether FEMA has become overextended operationally and politically
• Workforce challenges and the professionalization of emergency management
• Disaster funding, mitigation investments, and long-term recovery concerns
• The role of local emergency managers in future national preparedness efforts
• Climate adaptation, catastrophic risk, and complex incident management
• Why emergency management must maintain both operational credibility and policy influence
• The importance of engaging elected officials and the public in conversations about preparedness and resilience
Discussion Questions
• What should FEMA’s core mission be in the next decade?
• How can local emergency managers better shape national policy discussions?
• Are we building a resilient system or simply managing recurring crises?
• What capabilities should remain local, state, or federal responsibilities?
• How should emergency management adapt to increasingly complex and overlapping disasters?
Closing Thoughts
Emergency management sits at the intersection of policy, operations, leadership, and community trust. The FEMA Review Council represents more than an organizational review. It reflects a larger national conversation about preparedness, resilience, governance, and the future direction of the profession itself.
As emergency managers, this is a moment not only to react to change, but to help define it.


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Episode SummaryWhat if the future of emergency management is already here, just not where we’ve traditionally looked?
In this episode, Todd DeVoe sits down with Marcus T. Coleman Jr., Vice President for Community Resilience Strategy at United Way Worldwide, for a candid, practitioner-level conversation about the evolving landscape of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Drawing on more than a decade inside FEMA and DHS, and experience supporting over 50 presidentially declared disasters, Marcus offers a clear-eyed view of what is changing and what emergency managers need to rethink.
This is not a polished success story. It is an honest discussion about the gaps between government systems and community reality, the increasing influence of philanthropy, and the hard truth that resilience is being built from the ground up, often outside of traditional emergency management structures.
Key Themes and Conversation
The Shift to Community-Led PreparednessMarcus breaks down the movement away from top-down models toward locally driven resilience. Programs like United We Prepare are not just outreach efforts, they represent a fundamental shift in who owns preparedness. Communities are no longer passive recipients of government planning, they are becoming co-creators. The conversation challenges emergency managers to rethink authority, control, and engagement in preparedness efforts.
Mental Health as a Core Recovery FunctionUsing real-world examples like the Greater Valdosta United Way response to Hurricane Helene, Marcus highlights a persistent blind spot in disaster recovery. Mental health is not a secondary issue, it is central to long-term recovery. The discussion explores how trauma, anxiety, and prolonged stress shape community outcomes and why emergency management systems continue to under-resource this space.
Real-Time Data and the Power of 211The conversation turns to data, not the static kind found in after-action reports, but live, dynamic data that tells the story of unmet needs in real time. Marcus explains how 211 systems are becoming critical intelligence tools, capturing gaps that traditional assessments miss. With 19 million referrals in 2025 alone, including dramatic increases in housing and food assistance requests, this data offers a new lens for situational awareness before, during, and after disasters.
Public-Private Interdependence in CrisisEmergency management has always relied on partnerships, but the stakes are higher now. Marcus discusses the growing interdependence between government, nonprofits, and private sector partners like Uber and Lyft. These relationships can accelerate response and recovery, but only if they are intentionally designed. When they are not, they introduce friction, inequity, and delay.
The Quiet Influence of PhilanthropyOne of the most candid parts of the conversation explores how philanthropy is shaping recovery timelines and priorities. Funding streams, donor interests, and nonprofit capacity are influencing outcomes in ways that are rarely discussed in formal emergency management circles. This raises important questions about equity, accountability, and who ultimately drives recovery decisions.
Why This Matters for Emergency ManagersThis episode challenges the profession to confront an uncomfortable reality. The systems we rely on are no longer sufficient on their own. Community organizations, data networks like 211, and private sector partnerships are not supporting actors, they are central to the mission.
If emergency managers are not actively integrating these elements into planning and operations, they are not just missing opportunities, they are creating gaps.
About the GuestMarcus T. Coleman Jr. serves as Vice President for Community Resilience Strategy at United Way Worldwide. He previously spent over a decade at FEMA and DHS, where he built national partnerships across nonprofit, faith-based, philanthropic, and private sector organizations. Marcus has supported response and recovery for more than 50 presidentially declared disasters under three FEMA Administrators and has advised thousands of organizations on preparedness, response, and recovery.
Closing ThoughtResilience is no longer something we deliver to communities. It is something communities build, often with or without us. The question for emergency managers is simple, will we lead in that space, or will we struggle to catch up?
Tagscommunity resilience, nonprofit partnerships, disaster recovery, emergency management leadership, 211 data


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