Ready to Recover: A podcast series that looks at how recovery works after a damaging earthquake and what people may experience when they seek to finance repairs and get back on their feet. These discussions consider common challenges and options—including what can be done to prepare before disaster strikes.
This podcast series is produced by CREW at crew.org with funding from FEMA through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
Episode 8 – What Can a State Geologic Portal Reveal About Your Earthquake Hazard?
Preparing for disasters starts with understanding the hazards and risks that we face. Many state geological surveys provide public access to geologic hazard portals or viewers on their websites. These interactive tools provide information about earthquakes and other geologic hazards in the state. In this podcast, geologists Corina Allen, Adam Hiscock, and Jeri Young Ben-Horin…
Episode 7 – Disaster Recovery Challenges and Solutions for Small Businesses
This episode takes a closer look at small businesses: A community’s recovery after an earthquake or other disaster hinges a lot on the recovery of small businesses, which provide goods, services and employment, and often have a social role as well. Yet small businesses—especially in low- and moderate-income communities—are really vulnerable to the damage and…
Episode 6 – Disaster Recovery Challenges Faced by Financially Vulnerable People & Communities
This discussion focuses on how and why disasters disproportionately impact lower-income people and considers the factors that inhibit their recovery, as well as potential options and ideas for addressing them. Dr. Carlos Martín is the David M. Rubenstein Fellow at Brookings Metro and the Director of the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center…
Episode 5 – Retrofitting Before the Earthquake to Prevent Injury and Damage and Speed Recovery
Strengthening buildings before an earthquake strikes can lessen damage and improve recovery afterwards. In this episode, five experts look at the costs, options, and challenges of investing in seismic retrofitting, and they discuss how retrofitting programs can help. Janiele Maffei is chief mitigation officer and director of research at California Earthquake Authority. Among her responsibilities…
Episode 4 – How Federal Disaster Loans Help Homeowners, Renters, Businesses, and Nonprofits Cover their Recovery Costs
This episode looks at federal disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a way to pay for post-earthquake repairs and other costs not covered by insurance—which could include the deductible of an earthquake insurance policy. Corey Williams is a public information officer at the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.…
Episode 3 – The Potential Role of Parametric Earthquake Insurance in Post-Disaster Recovery
The following episode features an interview with Kate Stillwell, founder of the parametric earthquake insurance company Jumpstart. The podcast explores what parametric earthquake insurance is and what role it could play in the recovery of households and communities after an earthquake. Kate Stillwell is the founder of the parametric earthquake insurance company Jumpstart and President…
Episode 2 – Individual & Household Recovery: What to Expect from Insurance and Federal Assistance after an Earthquake or Other Disaster
This episode explores what financing recovery can look like for individual households making an insurance claim or seeking disaster recovery assistance. Amy Bach is the Executive Director and co-founder of United Policyholders, a California-based national non-profit that educates and advocates for policyholders on insurance coverage, the claim process, and public policy matters. United Policyholders runs…
Episode 1 – Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses: Potential Impacts and Costs of Earthquakes
In this episode, guest host Althea Rizzo leads a discussion of the 2023 Hazus Estimated Annualized Earthquake Losses report, which provides a nation-wide view of rising earthquake risk and potential losses—information that can help disaster planners identify priorities, guide decision-making, and draw attention to the need for mitigation and recovery planning. Jesse Rozelle is the…
