What is Disasterology?

Guest: Dr. Samantha Montano

When a disaster strikes, most of us focus on what we can see: the storm, the wildfire, the flood, or the earthquake. But what if the real story begins long before the event—and continues long after the headlines fade? Today on Weather Geeks, we're joined by Dr. Samantha Montano, a disaster researcher, author, and one of the leading voices helping the public better understand how disasters actually work. Through her work in "Disasterology," she examines the systems, decisions, and vulnerabilities that can turn natural hazards into human disasters—and what we can do to build more resilient communities. We'll talk about some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding disasters, why recovery is often the most overlooked phase of the disaster cycle, and how individuals, communities, and leaders can better prepare for the challenges that come before, during, and after a crisis.

Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Disasterology and Dr. Montano
2. 01:05 How Disasterology Became a Field
3. 02:07 The Human Side of Disasters
4. 03:36 Disaster Research and Human Responsibility
5. 05:08 The Role of Community and Leadership
6. 07:10 Impact of Physical and Social Vulnerability
7. 09:16 Training and Roles of Emergency Managers
8. 11:50 Public Misconceptions and Personal Responsibility
9. 13:51 Communication Strategies During Disasters
10. 14:29 Break 1
11. 14:30 Recovery Challenges and Success Factors
12. 18:49 Community Leadership in Recovery
13. 22:24 Social Media and Disaster Communication
14. 26:19 The Future of Disaster Communication
15. 28:51 Break 2
16. 28:51 Increasing Costs of Disasters and Communication
17. 36:16 Building Resilient Communities
18. 39:01 The Future of Disaster Management
19. 41:03 Optimism and the Next Generation of Emergency Managers

Resources

• Book - Disasterology: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Climate Crisis
• Dr. Samantha Montano - Website - https://disaster-ology.com
• FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency - https://www.fema.gov

Guest links

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/samlmontano/
• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/samlmontano.bsky.social

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