EPISODE · Dec 19, 2025 · 48 MIN
S4, E9: Healing After the Headlines Part 2: Voices in the Storm
from Hometown Ready Emergency Management · host Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management
When the Joplin tornado tore through southwest Missouri, 911 dispatchers became a critical lifeline in the middle of chaos. In this episode, April Ford shares her firsthand experience working behind the headset during one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history. From managing her team in Jasper County with overwhelming call volumes to carrying the emotional weight of voices in crisis, April offers an inside look at the unseen role dispatchers play during disasters. Learn about her experience and recovery process in the second part of our mental health series. Stop the Threat, Stop the Stigma: https://stopthethreatstopthestigma.org/National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: https://stopthethreatstopthestigma.org/National Association of EMS Physicians: https://naemsp.org/2023-2-1-ems-burnout-and-mental-health/Don’t forget to click the subscribe button. Also, you can stay in touch with us via social media to remain HometownREADY and, as always, BE AWARE and TAKE CARE!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldGreeneOEMX (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/gcoemInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gc_oem/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GreeneCountyOEMLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gcoem/mycompany/Website: Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management
What this episode covers
When the Joplin tornado tore through southwest Missouri, 911 dispatchers became a critical lifeline in the middle of chaos. In this episode, April Ford shares her firsthand experience working behind the headset during one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history. From managing her team in Jasper County with overwhelming call volumes to carrying the emotional weight of voices in crisis, April offers an inside look at the unseen role dispatchers play during disasters. Learn about her ex...
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S4, E9: Healing After the Headlines Part 2: Voices in the Storm
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