The Emergency Management Network Podcast

The episode delineates the significant meteorological events as the year 2025 concludes, highlighting the formidable winter conditions that are currently prevailing across various regions. A state of emergency has been expanded statewide in New York, primarily due to the incessant lake effect snow bands and accompanying winter storm warnings. Furthermore, the episode elucidates the nationwide security measures that have been heightened in anticipation of New Year’s festivities, with federal and local authorities implementing rigorous screening processes and restrictions at major venues. Notably, the episode provides critical updates regarding a recent magnitude 5.3 earthquake in California, emphasizing the absence of a tsunami threat yet cautioning against potential aftershocks. As we navigate these multifaceted challenges, we remain committed to delivering timely and relevant information to our audience.Takeaways:* The podcast discusses a strong winter weather setup impacting various regions as the year concludes.* Lake effect snow warnings have been issued for areas in New York, particularly affecting Buffalo.* Emergency measures have been implemented statewide in response to severe winter conditions across multiple states.* Security measures are heightened nationwide in anticipation of New Year’s Eve celebrations and potential threats.* The episode highlights specific security strategies in major cities such as New York and Las Vegas.* Cold weather advisories are in effect for parts of Florida, indicating significant temperature drops overnight.Sources[AP News | https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-bourbon-attack-security-1298ae460051ab9d80e04f41ed7b6802][Clark County | https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/public_communications/clark_county_featured_stories/new-years-eve][LVMPD (ordinances) | https://www.lvmpd.com/services/tourist-safety/local-ordinances-and-state-laws][News3LV | https://news3lv.com/news/local/las-vegas-officials-outline-new-years-eve-restrictions-and-road-closures][Las Vegas Review-Journal | https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/las-vegas-officials-emphasize-safety-ahead-of-new-years-eve-3601857/][Governor of NY | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-expands-state-emergency-statewide-response-lake-effect-snow-and-high-winds][Gothamist | https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-plans-new-security-measures-at-times-square-new-years-eve-celebration][ABC7NY | https://abc7ny.com/post/new-years-eve-nycs-times-square-everything-know-ball-drop-how-watch-more/18330767/][NY1 | https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/public-safety/2025/12/30/nypd-says-secondary-screenings-part-of-nye-security-plan][USGS | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75288851][NWS Buffalo | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=buf&wwa=all][Governor of NY (Dec 29–30 updates) | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-expands-state-emergency-statewide-response-lake-effect-snow-and-high-winds][NWS Gaylord | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=apx&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][NWS Marquette | https://www.weather.gov/mqt/][NWS Austin/San Antonio | https://www.weather.gov/ewx/forecasts][NWS Melbourne | https://www.weather.gov/mlb/][NWS Tampa Bay | https://www.weather.gov/tbw/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Today, we delve into the pressing meteorological phenomena affecting various regions across the United States. Our primary focus centers on the continuation of lake effect snow, particularly in the vicinity of lakes Erie and Ontario, as lingering heavy bands persist through midweek. As gale conditions prevail over Lake Erie, with winds reaching 30 to 35 knots and wave heights of 8 to 13 feet, we underscore the significant hazards posed to small craft and shoreline travel. Furthermore, we address the ongoing recovery efforts in the aftermath of a debilitating blizzard that has left over 150,000 without power, with Michigan bearing the brunt of the impacts. Additionally, we explore the forecast for Southern California, where moderate to strong Santa Ana winds precede a series of rain events that may provoke hazardous conditions, including potential mudslides and debris flows on recent burn scars.Takeaways:* The ongoing weather events include lake effect snow affecting areas downwind of the Great Lakes today.* California is experiencing moderate to strong Santa Ana winds, posing risks for hazardous conditions.* Power restoration efforts are underway following the extensive blizzard impacts that affected multiple states.* Significant rainfall is anticipated in Southern California midweek, leading to potential mudslides and flooding.* The recent magnitude 5.1 earthquake in Alaska prompted a tsunami information statement but no immediate warnings were issued.* Winter advisories and lake effect snow warnings remain active across various states, impacting travel conditions significantly.Sources[USGS — M5.1, 93 km N of Yakutat, AK | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000rlhy][NWS Los Angeles (LOX) — Rain/Santa Ana Overview | https://www.weather.gov/lox/][NWS LOX Area Forecast Discussion | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=LOX&site=LOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1][Iowa DOT/DPS — Plan to Reopen I-35 (News Release) | https://iowadot.gov/news/2025-12-29/iowa-dot-and-dps-plan-reopen-interstate-35-early-afternoon-december-29][KCRG — I-35 Fully Reopens (Local Confirmation) | https://www.kcrg.com/2025/12/29/i-35-fully-reopens-after-nearly-24-hour-blizzard-closure-north-central-iowa/?outputType=amp][NWS Baltimore/Washington (LWX) — High Wind Warning (Highland Co. VA/Blue Ridge) | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=VAZ503&warncounty=VAC091&firewxzone=VAZ503&local_place1=Blue+Grass+VA&product1=High+Wind+Warning][NWS LWX — High Wind Warning (Blue Ridge) | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=VAZ507&warncounty=VAC113&firewxzone=VAZ507&local_place1=Etlan+VA&product1=High+Wind+Warning][NWS Blacksburg (RNK) — Hazardous Weather Outlook noting High Wind Warning (WV Potomac Highlands) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=rnk&wwa=hazardous+weather+outlook][PowerOutage.US — Michigan Statewide Outage Map (Live) | https://poweroutage.us/area/state/michigan][AP — Great Lakes/Northeast Storm & Outages Overview | https://apnews.com/article/91be280dce64d7d02ff587ba63e5dd26][NWS Buffalo — Winter Storm Warning (Lake-Effect) | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=NYZ020&warncounty=NYC009&firewxzone=NYZ200&local_place1=Olean+NY&product1=Winter+Storm+Warning][Office of Governor Hochul — Expanded State of Emergency | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-expands-state-emergency-statewide-response-lake-effect-snow-and-high-winds][NWS Cleveland — Lake Erie Marine Gale Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/cle/marine_forecast][NWS Cleveland — Winter Weather Advisory/Lake-Effect (NE OH) | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=OHZ022&warncounty=OHC133&firewxzone=OHZ022&local_place1=Hiram+OH&product1=Winter+Weather+Advisory][NWS Cleveland — Lake Effect Snow Warning (Erie/Crawford) | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=PAZ001&warncounty=PAC049&firewxzone=PAZ001&local_place1=Erie+PA&product1=Lake+Effect+Snow+Warning][NWS State College (CTP) — Lake Effect Snow Warning (Warren/McKean) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=CTP&wwa=lake+effect+snow+warning][NWS Baltimore/Washington (LWX) — High Wind Warning (Blue Ridge) | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=VAZ507&warncounty=VAC113&firewxzone=VAZ507&local_place1=Etlan+VA&product1=High+Wind+Warning][NWS Blacksburg (RNK) — Hazardous Weather Outlook noting High Wind Warning (Western Greenbrier) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=rnk&wwa=hazardous+weather+outlook] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

🎙️ The Emergency Management Network Podcast — The Year in Reviewwith Todd T. DeVoe & Dan ScottEpisode Description Every year tells a story. Some years change the plot.In this special Year in Review episode of the Emergency Management Network Podcast, Todd T. DeVoe and Dan Scott return for their annual reflection—an unscripted, practitioner-driven conversation about what the past year revealed about emergency management, leadership, and the systems that support communities before, during, and after disasters.This year’s discussion includes a clear-eyed look at recent changes within FEMA and what they signal for the future of the profession. Todd and Dan explore how shifts in structure, policy emphasis, and organizational priorities affect local and state emergency managers, especially those already operating with limited capacity and increasing expectations.Beyond FEMA, the conversation examines broader themes that defined the year: rising operational complexity, prolonged periods of uncertainty, political and fiscal pressure, and the ongoing challenge of sustaining preparedness when attention fades. They reflect on how emergency managers navigated quiet periods, defended readiness, and relied on professional judgment when guidance was incomplete or evolving.The episode also highlights the unseen work of emergency management—the planning meetings, coordination calls, and incremental improvements that rarely make headlines but prevent failure. Todd and Dan emphasize that professionalism is often expressed not in dramatic response but in restraint, consistency, and credibility.As the conversation turns forward, they resist prediction in favor of reflection. What lessons should be carried into the coming year? What does effective leadership look like in a changing federal landscape? And how can the profession remain steady while the ground beneath it continues to shift?This episode closes the year with honesty—and opens the next one with intention.Show NotesIn This Episode, Todd and Dan Discuss:* What the past year revealed about the state of emergency management* Recent changes at FEMA and their implications for practitioners* The gap between federal policy shifts and local operational reality* Leadership during prolonged uncertainty and system transition* Why “nothing happened” can still represent success—and risk* The hidden labor of preparedness and coordination* What emergency managers should carry forward into the next yearKey Themes* Emergency management in a period of institutional change* Readiness as a sustained discipline* Professional judgment amid evolving guidance* Trust, credibility, and relationships across levels of government* Quiet prevention versus visible responseWhy This Conversation MattersChange at the federal level does not stay there. It shapes funding, expectations, doctrine, and daily practice—often long before the impacts are fully understood.This year-end conversation creates space to examine those changes thoughtfully, grounded in practitioner experience rather than headlines. Reflection, in this context, is not optional—it is part of responsible leadership.Listen, Reflect, ShareIf this episode resonates, share it with a colleague, a supervisor, or a partner agency navigating similar questions about preparedness, policy, and practice.Emergency management is not just about adapting to change. It is about understanding it—together. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

A powerful winter storm is currently impacting the upper Midwest and Great Lakes, resulting in blizzard conditions that pose significant hazards to travel and safety. As we delve into this episode, we will explore the ongoing weather events, including whiteouts and scattered power outages affecting regions from Northern Michigan to parts of Minnesota. Additionally, we will discuss the gale force winds and rough seas prevalent along the Texas and Louisiana coasts, which are exacerbated by a strong post-frontal surge. Our analysis will also cover the recent earthquake detected near Susanville, California, and the resultant advisories in effect for wind and marine conditions along the Pacific Coast. We remain vigilant in monitoring these weather developments and their implications for the affected areas.Takeaways:* A significant winter storm currently impacts the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.* Travel conditions remain perilous due to ongoing winter storm warnings and advisories.* Gale force winds are creating hazardous marine conditions along the Texas and Louisiana coasts.* Northern Michigan is experiencing heavy snowfall and dangerously low visibility due to the storm.* Blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of Minnesota, with dangerously low wind chill factors.* Earthquake activity was noted in Northern California, though no major damage has been reported.Sources[USGS Latest Earthquakes | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/][NWS Los Angeles AFD | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=LOX&product=AFD&site=LOX&version=1][NWS San Diego | https://www.weather.gov/sgx/][SFGATE | https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/magnitude-4-7-earthquake-strikes-outside-21265540.php][NHC Tropical Weather Discussion — Gulf gale | https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWDAT.shtml][NWS Lake Charles Marine WWA | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=hgx&wwa=all][NWS Marquette DSS Packet | https://www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf][NWS Gaylord DSS Packet | https://www.weather.gov/media/apx/DssPacket.pdf][NWS Twin Cities — Warnings | https://www.weather.gov/mpx/][NWS Minneapolis MapClick (Minneapolis) | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=44.9618&textField2=-93.2668][NWS WWA Summary — Winter Weather Advisory (Monroe County) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=winter+weather+advisory][NWS Bismarck | https://www.weather.gov/bis/][NWS Grand Forks WWA text | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=bis&wwa=all][NWS Houston/Galveston Marine | https://www.weather.gov/hgx/][NWS Marine Zone — Galveston Bay | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=HGX&product=CWF&site=NWS][NWS Lake Charles Marine WWA (TX/LA waters) | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=hgx&wwa=all][NWS Austin/San Antonio Fire Danger Statement | https://www.weather.gov/ewx/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

The primary focus of today’s discussion centers on the severe weather conditions affecting the Inland Northwest and the Pacific Northwest, characterized by strong winds capable of causing significant damage. We elucidate the National Weather Service’s warnings regarding gusts that may lead to the downing of trees and power lines, thereby creating hazardous travel conditions, particularly for high-profile vehicles. Furthermore, we advise individuals residing in the affected areas to secure loose outdoor items and to prepare for potential power outages while exercising heightened caution on exposed roads. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of the routine seismic activity recorded by the US Geological Survey, noting the occurrence of small earthquakes across various regions, including Southern California. In our concluding remarks, we remind our audience to remain vigilant and prioritize safety amidst these challenging weather circumstances.Takeaways:* The National Weather Service has issued warnings for strong winds across the Inland Northwest and Pacific Northwest.* Residents in affected areas should secure loose outdoor items and prepare for potential power outages.* Small earthquakes have been routinely recorded in Southern California and other regions in the west.* High wind warnings in Oregon indicate gusts that can cause significant travel hazards for high profile vehicles.* Winter weather advisories in North Central Washington may impact morning commutes due to accumulating snow.* Overall, no significant updates were reported from other states in the last 24 hours.Sources[USGS Latest Earthquakes | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/][NWS Watches/Warnings text | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=all][NWS Watches/Warnings text | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=all][NWS Portland forecast office update | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][NWS Watches/Warnings text | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=otx&wwa=all] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe