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