The Disaster Recovery Hour with Chris Plunkett

Mike Thomson heads ImpactWeather’s client services and business continuity programs and is past Chairman/CEO of the national Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) and President of the South Texas Chapter (http://www.acp-international.com). As a seasoned 30-year veteran in the crisis management field, Mike managed successful corporate responses to 9/11, the Northeast power outage, the postal anthrax threat and Hurricane Isabel, Ike and Dolly. A former head of business continuity at a Top 100 law firm, he has managed the consulting teams helping to build the business continuity programs at several Fortune 500 corporations including Sysco, Devon Energy and Newfield Exploration. A retired colonel, 28-year US Air Force veteran and member of the Energy Security Council (ESC), Mike also serves on two national committees on US business preparedness standards and practices. Mike joined ImpactWeather in 2009 to create their ImpactReady division. His business unit helps clients integrate ImpactWeather services and products into their contingency planning, emergency response and crisis management efforts (www.impactweather.com).

Knut Henning Haug, First Responder from Oslo Norway. We will be discussing what its like at the firehouse in Norway, first responder issues, the Oslo shootings, and other international preparedness and recovery issues. Its National Preparedness Month in Norway too. Knut is 29 years old, lives in Norway and has been a full time professional firefighter since 2006. Knut works just outside Oslo in Lørenskog. Knut started out working in the ambulance service in 2005 and has been doing that as a part time job in addition to his firefighting and also an instructor in first aid and basic fire related training. Knut went to New York in to participate in the World Police and Firegames 2011, and competed in the event called Toughest Competitor Alive.

Bruce Wolf, Environmental - Occupational Health Consultant for Garden State Environmental, has an informative conversation with Chris about mold and testing for your safety.This podcast is a must for any home or business owner. Geoff Turner is discussing business continuity preparedness. Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee devastated the Northeast and it will be months, even years, before communities recover. Some companies will close their doors forever while others activated their plans and resumed operations in a timely manner. Hurricanes will certainly get your attention, but a business is more likely to suffer power or telephone outages than a hurricane. Busted water pipes, computer crashes, pandemics and even winning the lottery can threaten the survival of a company. Join in the conversation as Geoff shares some valuable information to help your company turn a potential disaster into an annoyance.

Jeremy Gruber from Fire station 1 8131 Georgia Ave. Silver springs, MD and Rescue One, specializing in providing a full array of safety training and product solutions to organizations and individuals. With over 13 years of experience, we provide CPR, AED, First-Aid, ACLS, PALS, OSHA, Pet CPR, Bloodborne Pathogen, First Responder, and Fire Extinguisher Training, and are a Top 20 distributor of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Gerry Giesinger from Service Master recounts the 9/11 experience at the Pentagon. The Pentagon called ServiceMaster Clean at 11:30 a.m. on the 11th. The ServiceMaster Recovery Management staff, dedicated to catastrophic disaster mitigation and restoration, was on the move by noon, and was at the Pentagon on September 12th. At 8:30 a.m. that day, a crew of 50 ServiceMaster Clean technicians mustered in the Pentagon's western parking lot. Supplies and people from ServiceMaster Clean local offices were mobilizing up and down the East Coast and as far away as Michigan.

Terry Winters: currently the Private Sector Liaison for Federal Emergency Management Agency in the New York and New Jersey region.  In this new position Terry is responsible for coordinating with local and state emergency management offices preparing the private sector for disasters. 

Meteorologist, Steve Pellittierie of Ion Weather has been on the Radio since 1975. As the lead Ion Weather morning "weather caster" Steve's professionally clear sound, is and has been a reassuring voice for "what the weather will be" for millions of listeners in the top markets of the northeastern United States. to discuss Irene's impact here in NJ. Chris Greene from The National Ready Corporation joins us to give his perspective onthe Washington DC earthquake and government reaction.

Lynn Moloney, President of Advanced Egress Solutions, Inc. Recipient of the Advocates in Action Award, Community Emergency Response Team Member, Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award in Education, Federal Emergency Management Agency Trainee, Certified Red Cross Shelter Manager, and CPR/AED Certified

Frank Cilento former Police lieutenant at NJ Bergen County Prosecutor's Office will be discussing preventative child safety and current events regarding child safety. Also, John Gramendi with information on the Ham Radio operators function in emergency preparedness and recovery.

Paul Sebring of MMRC Global back from South America and giving an in studio update on MMRC's most recent mission in. Storm chasing with Gerry Giesinger from Service Master.

Christopher Greene from The National Ready Corporation joins us to give his perspective on Oslo and a look back to September 11th. Andy Weitzberg, President of the Long Island Chapter of the Association of Contingency Planners discusses IT business contingencies.

In the wake of the Oslo bombing and shooting disaster DRH brings back our violence expert Felix Nater. Also joining us is Gerry Giesinger from Service Master.

Gerry Giesinger from Service Master Memphis TN discusses the flooding in the Southeast and Felix P. Nater, President of Nater Associates, Ltd. a Certified Security Consultant, discusses contingency planning for the workplace.

Gerry Giesinger from Service Master Memphis TN Gerry is from Service Master corporate headquarters in Memphis, TN and will be discussing the recent floods in Memphis. Mike Gianchetta and Christopher Greene from The National Ready Corporation who's program partners provide "All Hazard Emergency Management - Training - Products - Process and Programs" to the Military, Public Safety, Corporate and private sectors of the globe. www.gianco.com

Chris talks with George about his personal fire experience. Chris also speaks with Joe Aiello Director of Program Development, at CEAS. The Corporate Emergency Access System, or CEAS, was developed to help address this new set of realities. CEAS is a pre-event credentialing program that allows critical business employees to gain access to restricted areas following a disaster or serious emergency by using a secure identification card recognized by the police.

Jim Arnott and Brian Loberg of the World Association of Natural Disaster Awareness & Assistance. Live tsunami report from Japan Bryan Loberg aid worker in Japan. Fund raising for EARTHQUAKES HURRICANES TSUNAMIS VOLCANO'S EXTREME WEATHER TORNADOES CYCLONES FLOODS & LANDSLIDES WILDFIRES & BUSHFIRES http://www.wandaa.org Live update from Paul Sebring Haiti update.