This is an interview with The Honorable Craig Fugate, a podcast by Domestic Preparedness, June 11, 2025.
Hon. Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, discusses his philosophy of emergency management with Domestic Preparedness Journal Marketing Coordinator Nicolette Casey-Phillips. From overseeing record-breaking disasters to transforming emergency management, Mr. Fugate has earned his reputation as a giant in the field.
Carcass management is rarely top of mind for emergency managers, but during mass animal deaths, it tests preparedness, coordination, and public trust. Including it in all-hazards planning closes a critical gap and boosts community resilience.
For many service members, the transition from the military to a civilian workforce can be challenging. They have been trained in a specialized skill set and now must determine how to effectively apply those skills in civilian employment. In the emergency management field, veterans can find the vocational purpose they are used to.
Scouts have been trained to stay calm under pressure, take meaningful action in moments of uncertainty, and support others in times of crisis. Their role in emergency response should not be underestimated.
Service dogs do far more than guide or retrieve—they are medical equipment, trained to monitor, alert, and even intervene during a health crisis. For first responders, understanding these working dogs can mean the difference between life and death.
Many factors in the work environment can negatively impact a responder’s mental or physical health. These psychosocial hazards can particularly affect people in high-stress, high-consequence occupations and others in critical roles during emergencies and disasters.
In moments of crisis, a well-executed family assistance center can offer clarity, connection, and compassion that victims’ families and survivors need to begin making sense of loss and change. Family assistance centers provide resources for support services, updates on victim identification, assistance with repatriation of remains, and reunification efforts. Discover how tone, timing, setting, and cultural sensitivity significantly impact the psychological well-being of those affected.
Some of the greatest human-caused disasters in modern history can be attributed to unaddressed psychosocial hazards. Flawed safety cultures contribute to tragic outcomes in which concerns are not taken seriously and dissent is stifled. Learn how to take precautions against a preventable disaster.
Without adequate support and resources, disasters can leave lasting psychological effects on children. In the United States, an estimated 14% of children experience a natural disaster during childhood. Providing psychosocial support is essential in helping them cope with these challenges, thereby building resilient communities.
Dr. Adrienne Heinz and her young family have lived through multiple historic wildfires in Northern California. She decided to turn pain into purpose and mobilize community health leaders to build a mental health safety net for healing and recovery. The lessons from those experiences now serve as a guide and source of hope for other disaster-impacted communities.
This is an interview with The Honorable Craig Fugate, a podcast by Domestic Preparedness, June 11, 2025.
Hon. Craig Fugate, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, discusses his philosophy of emergency management with Domestic Preparedness Journal Marketing Coordinator Nicolette Casey-Phillips. From overseeing record-breaking disasters to transforming emergency management, Mr. Fugate has earned his reputation as a giant in the field. 
Carcass management is rarely top of mind for emergency managers, but during mass animal deaths, it tests preparedness, coordination, and public trust. Including it in all-hazards planning closes a critical gap and boosts community resilience. 
For many service members, the transition from the military to a civilian workforce can be challenging. They have been trained in a specialized skill set and now must determine how to effectively apply those skills in civilian employment. In the emergency management field, veterans can find the vocational purpose they are used to. 
Scouts have been trained to stay calm under pressure, take meaningful action in moments of uncertainty, and support others in times of crisis. Their role in emergency response should not be underestimated. 
Service dogs do far more than guide or retrieve—they are medical equipment, trained to monitor, alert, and even intervene during a health crisis. For first responders, understanding these working dogs can mean the difference between life and death. 
Many factors in the work environment can negatively impact a responder’s mental or physical health. These psychosocial hazards can particularly affect people in high-stress, high-consequence occupations and others in critical roles during emergencies and disasters. 
In moments of crisis, a well-executed family assistance center can offer clarity, connection, and compassion that victims’ families and survivors need to begin making sense of loss and change. Family assistance centers provide resources for support services, updates on victim identification, assistance with repatriation of remains, and reunification efforts. Discover how tone, timing, setting, and cultural sensitivity significantly impact the psychological well-being of those affected. 
Some of the greatest human-caused disasters in modern history can be attributed to unaddressed psychosocial hazards. Flawed safety cultures contribute to tragic outcomes in which concerns are not taken seriously and dissent is stifled. Learn how to take precautions against a preventable disaster. 
Without adequate support and resources, disasters can leave lasting psychological effects on children. In the United States, an estimated 14% of children experience a natural disaster during childhood. Providing psychosocial support is essential in helping them cope with these challenges, thereby building resilient communities. 
Dr. Adrienne Heinz and her young family have lived through multiple historic wildfires in Northern California. She decided to turn pain into purpose and mobilize community health leaders to build a mental health safety net for healing and recovery. The lessons from those experiences now serve as a guide and source of hope for other disaster-impacted communities. 