Wildfires, Floods, and Chaos Communications: Management of Issues, Crises and Disasters
We explore effective strategies for managing misinformation, coordinating resources, and maintaining public trust during wildfires and floods. Hear personal stories from the front lines, lessons from past emergencies, and insights on preparation and training. Our podcast offers valuable knowledge for professionals and anyone interested in crisis communications. Follow Wildfires, Floods, and Chaos Communications and stay informed on managing chaos in disasters, emergencies and crises. Find us on YouTube where you can watch recent episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVR9ZZ8PTuX6NAeUwUcCtdkZxeGh58fJF&si=hSeSjoS5X0nfujTV
Episodes
When the 2008 Porters Lake–Lake Echo wildfire tore through the suburbs east of Halifax, more than 5,000 people were forced to flee with only minutes to decide what mattered most. In this episode, Paula Danyluk‑MacDonald - evacuee, mother, neighbour, and principal of Atlantic View Elementary - shares her firsthand account of sudden evacuation, community fear, and the remarkable resilience that followed.
Paula de...
On February 10, 2026, the peaceful mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia faced the worst school shooting in Canadian history. In minutes, eight lives were taken at the community’s only secondary school and at the shooter's home, two more were critically injured, and the town was thrust into a nightmare no one could have imagined.
In this episode of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications...
Tim provides an update after his nearly 3,000 kilometre journey through British Columbia and Alberta.
- Community rebuilding after wildfires
- Emergency management insights from the road
- Personal reflections on safety and service
00:00
Road Trip Reflections
02:57
Community Resilience and Hope
05:47
Insights from Emergency Management Professionals
09:02
Challenges on the Road
12:03
Upcoming Episodes...
What motivates people to prepare for emergencies? Is this the best week for emergency preparedness - or are there greater opportunities lurking? Join Tim and the conversation, recorded Live on LinkedIn and YouTube.
In this episode, Tim will share his thoughts on what emergency preparedness means for responders, on your property and in your community. He's going to share the knowledge he's collected over a few d...
Join Tim today, Tuesday, May 5 at 1700 Pacific, 1800 Mountain, 1900 Central, 2000 Eastern, 2100 Atlantic or 2130 in Newfoundland, for the next Live, on the Butterfly Effect Communications channels on YouTube, LinkedIn, and maybe on Facebook and TikTok too.
During the Live Episode:
- What motivates people to get prepared?
- Is Emergency Preparedness Week the best week for emergency preparedness info?
- Sharing tips f...
What's happening right now in crisis communications, emergency management, and issues management - and what should we be talking about?
Live Fridays (could be any day as Tim tries this out) is your space to ask questions, share what you're seeing in the field, and join an honest, real-world conversation about how we prepare for, respond to, and communicate through disasters and crises - in Canada and be...
In this Quick Bits update, Tim shares a deeply personal reflection following the recent passing of his mother, Carol Conrad, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Through stories from his childhood, Tim explores how his mother’s decades of volunteer work with the Canadian Red Cross shaped his own lifelong commitment to helping people during their hardest moments.
This short episode is both a tribute and ...
After a disaster, the world moves on, but communities don’t. In this episode of the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications Podcast, host Tim Conrad talks with Deb Borsos, one of BC’s most respected recovery specialists, about what really happens after the emergency ends.
Deb shares decades of hard‑earned wisdom from wildfire zones, flood‑stricken towns, and remote communities in both Canada and Austra...
In this Quick Bits update, host Tim Conrad shares what’s new across the Wildfires, Floods and Chaos Communications podcast. Our latest video episode, now on YouTube, features Robert Cosma, Emergency Program Manager for the Tŝilhqot’in National Government, paired with stunning visuals from the Chilcotin region.
Tim also highlights a run of powerful recent episodes, including Crowds, Crisis and Communicatio...
Episode Overview
In this powerful conversation, Indigenous emergency program manager Robert Cosma shares his journey from evacuee to one of the most respected emergency leaders in the Cariboo region. Robert speaks candidly about the realities of evacuations for First Nations communities, the cultural priorities that shape Indigenous emergency response, and why land, animals, and community must be protected together.
E...
Quick Bits: Three Fire Chiefs video episode with a preview of our time with the Indigenous National Government's emergency manager, Robert Cosma. Plus, watch for an updated video episode of last month's Heather Shtuka episode.
Watch, listen and learn at www.communicationspodcast.com
Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.
This episode brings together nearly 150 years of combined volunteer firefighting experience as three Bridgewater Fire Department leaders, Honorary Chief Reid Whynot, Honorary Chief Wayne Thorburne, and Chief Michael Nauss, sit down to reflect on the department’s 150th anniversary and the evolution of service, technology, and community over a century and a half.
Host Tim Conrad guides a conversation filled with ...
When the Attention Leaves: Crisis Communications and the Search for Ryan Shtuka is now available in video at CommunicationsPodcast.com and our YouTube Channel.
Also included is a teaser of a new episode with a 150-year-old fire crew at a 150-year-old volunteer fire department in Nova Scotia.
Visit www.communicationspodcast.com for more detailed show info including photos and videos.
On February 17, 2018, at a residence on Burfield Drive in Sun Peaks, British Columbia, Canada. 20-year-old Ryan Shtuka, a worker at Sun Peaks, vanished without a trace.
Ryan's mother, Heather, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, MCPRS, to reflect on what she learned when someone you love goes missing and how to keep the search alive.
Key Topics Covered
- Heather’s emotional opening and the moment everything...
In this conversation, Tim Conrad and Karen Knight discuss the challenges and strategies in managing volunteers, especially during emergencies. They explore the importance of understanding volunteer motivations, maintaining their well-being, leveraging their skills, and the benefits of role rotation. The discussion emphasizes building relationships with volunteers, streamlining training processes, and recognizing the...
Discover the crucial role of standardization in emergency services and how it saves lives. Standardization is the backbone of efficient emergency response, enabling services to respond quickly and effectively in high-pressure situations. In this podcast, we explore the importance of accreditation in emergency services, including its impact on communication, equipment, and procedures. By standardizing protocols and p...
Knowing what mitigations to have ahead of a cyberattack is one step in many as cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities on mobile devices, computers and entire operations. Learn about the cyberattacks individuals and organizations face today from Kit Professionals' Hunter Geerts.
Listen for:
1:20 Attack methods
12:18 Ransomware and phishing, with a side of mitigation
25:27 VIP impersonation, payroll and vendor...
Conspiracy, AI-created imagery, misinformation and false information now dominate disasters, overpowering truthful and honest information. It is mainstream on social media, podcasts and traditional media, and often repeated by broadcasters, hosts and celebrities.
Pete Jensen is on the front lines of the southern California wildfires, where, in the past, he has served in many roles, including public information ...
National Parks' search and rescue family liaison officer, Moose Mutlow, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, and shares how they connect incident command to families and friends to ensure strong communication throughout searches.
Listen For:
01:50 - The roles of search and rescue and family liaison officers
10:33 - Setting the stage
28:40 - The idea of truth
40:28 - Finale - Three quick questions
C...
Author Doug Levy, of The Communications Golden Hour® Book, joins host Tim Conrad, APR, for the final of three episodes to discuss the roles of public information officers and crisis communications in emergencies and crises/issues.
Listen For:
01:08 - Who to trust?
11:17 - Is that a trusted spokesperson?
15:22 - They turned off the news and turned on an app
22:53 - Finale - Three quick questions
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