Get Ready Alaska - 2025 River Watch with APRFC Kyle Van Peursem and Jen Wallace
Get Ready Alaska – Riverwatch with Jen Wallace (DHS&EM) and Kyle Van Peursem (APRFC)
Each spring, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM) partners with the Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center (APRFC) for the Riverwatch Program. This collaborative effort monitors Alaska’s rivers—particularly the Yukon, Kuskokwim, and other waterways prone to ice jams—during the spring breakup season.
Riverwatch teams take to the skies to observe the breakup front in real-time, providing critical updates to riverine communities at risk of flooding.
In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, Kyle Van Peursem from the APRFC and Jen Wallace from DHS&EM join us to share insights about the Riverwatch Program, the risks posed by ice jam flooding, and what this year’s breakup forecast means for Alaskans.
Tune in to the Get Ready Alaska Podcast on popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Podbean.
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Get Ready Alaska – Alaska Volcano Observatory with Kristi Wallace and David Schneider
Get Ready Alaska – Alaska Volcano Observatory with Kristi Wallace and David Schneider
Alaska is home to numerous active volcanoes, making volcanic monitoring and research essential for public safety. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) plays a crucial role in tracking volcanic activity, studying both past and present eruptions, and issuing alerts when volcanic events pose risks to communities and transportation systems. In this episode of Get Ready Alaska, AVO experts Kristi Wallace and David Schneider discuss the methods used to monitor and study volcanoes, the potential impacts of eruptions, and how the public can stay informed about volcanic activity. Additionally, they provide insight into the recent activity at Mount Spurr and explore the possible consequences of an eruption on Southcentral Alaska.
Tune in to the Get Ready Alaska Podcast on popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Podbean.
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1:03:11
Get Ready Alaska - Part 2: Emergency Management Assistance Compact with Andrew Jen Wallace and Dave Reilly
Get Ready Alaska - Part 2: Emergency Management Assistance Compact with Andrew Jen Wallace and Dave Reilly
When disaster strikes, affected states can call on neighboring states for help through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This mutual aid agreement enables all 50 U.S. states and territories to request and provide disaster-related support.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, several DHS&EM staff members were deployed to North Carolina to assist. Part two of this two-part series explores the critical work done by DHS&EM’s Jen Wallace, Dave Reilly and other DHS&EM staff, who helped run a massive distribution center in a hard-hit North Carolina county.Â
Tune in to Get Ready Alaska on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible/Amazon, Google Podcasts, and Podbean.
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40:01
Get Ready Alaska - Part 1: Emergency Management Assistance Compact with Andrew Sather & Jonathan Nichols
Get Ready Alaska - Part 1: Emergency Management Assistance Compact with Andrew Sather & Jonathan Nichols
When disaster strikes, affected states can call on neighboring states for help through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This mutual aid agreement enables all 50 U.S. states and territories to request and provide disaster-related support.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, several DHS&EM staff members were deployed to North Carolina to assist. Part one of this two-part series explores the critical work done by DHS&EM’s Andrew Sather and Jonathan Nichols, who supported North Carolina’s Emergency Management Agency in organizing and coordinating the state's EMAC process.
Tune in to Get Ready Alaska on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible/Amazon, Google Podcasts, and Podbean.
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46:08
Get Ready Alaska - Izzy Brown with the Youth Preparedness Council
Get Ready Alaska - Izzy Brown and the Youth Preparedness Council
The FEMA Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) empowers young people to take an active role in emergency preparedness. Izzy Brown, a member of the YPC from Denali, Alaska, joins Get Ready Alaska to share her experiences with the council. In this conversation, she discusses the importance of giving back to her community, the friendships she's made, and her Crisis Zone podcast.
To learn more about the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, visit Youth Preparedness Council | FEMA.gov.
Tune in to the Get Ready Alaska Podcast on popular platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Podbean.
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