Hurricanes, Wildfires & Heatwaves: Can NYC Handle the Next Big One? With Zach Iscol

On this episode of Thin Ice with Amy Freeze, we dive into crisis leadership with Zach Iscol, New York City’s Emergency Management Commissioner. A combat veteran, nonprofit leader, and disaster relief volunteer, Iscol has been on the front lines of some of the biggest crisis events of recent time—from the battlefields of Iraq to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, COVID-19, and deadly floods in Queens.

Iscol shares his insider perspective on leading emergency response efforts, coordinating citywide disaster preparedness, and tackling emerging threats like extreme heat, wildfires, and hurricane storm surges in a changing climate.

He breaks down:

🔥 The biggest natural disaster threats to NYC

💨 The new tech-driven emergency response systems

🌪️ What keeps him up at night as NYC’s chief crisis manager

🌀 How New Yorkers can prepare for the unexpected

Plus, he opens up about his time as a Marine in Iraq, the nonprofit he built for veterans’ mental health, and whether a run for political office is in his future.

Could America’s next major wildfire disaster happen in the Northeast? Is New York prepared for another Hurricane Sandy? This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at NYC’s crisis response and how one leader navigates disaster, decision-making, and the unknown.

Connect with Zach here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachiscol/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZachIscol4NYC/

Find the full show wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thin-ice-with-amy-freeze/id179273041

Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/0zjmAo4zvXINRZ0XX3tRwE

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Amy Freeze is an independent Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and Television Host. A six-time Emmy Award-winning meteorologist and television host, Freeze went to FOX Weather from WABC-TV in New York. Since 2011, she was part of the station's weather team, where she also hosted several broadcast specials and the popular Eyewitness News Weekend Morning Edition. Find out more about Amy’s career on https://amyfreeze.com/