This week, we bring you two stories from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, one from a native Louisianian scientist and the other from a fourth-generation Louisiana fisherman. 

Part 1: Louisianan scientist Estelle Robichaux struggles to deal with the massive oil spill affecting her state while also balancing personal problems.

Part 2:  When Lousiana fisherman Robert Campo receives news of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, he knows his life is about to change.

Estelle Robichaux, a native Louisianian, is a senior restoration project analyst at Environmental Defense Fund. A broadly-trained scientist with a passion for wetlands conservation and restoration, Estelle has a background in natural and social sciences as well as extensive experience in science education. Her field and research background spans wetlands, marine environments and wildlife, from Costa Rica to South Africa to South Caicos. Estelle advocates for the implementation of science-based restoration projects and leads project-related efforts for Restore the Mississippi River Delta. Estelle also works on science communication and tracking the development of scientific and research programs in the wake of the Gulf oil disaster.

Robert Campo is the owner of Campo's Marina located in Shell Beach, Louisiana.  He's a fourth generation commercial fisherman and the great-grandson of the late Celestino Campo, the founder of Campo's Marina started in 1903.  He's the grandson of the late Frank Blackie Campo (a true legend) and the son of Frank J. Campo Jr.  Campo's Marina is the oldest family-owned business in St.Bernard parish and it's one of the top ten oldest family owned businesses that still exists today in Louisiana.  He owns and operates his oyster business with two oyster boats and a farm of nearly 1500 acres of oyster grounds.

Oil: Stories from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

I spoke with Todd De Voe, an emergency management educator and the host of EM Weekly, Business Continuity Today, Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo’s Prepare, Respond, Recover Show  and is also the Produce the EM Student's Show. Todd's involvement in Emergency Response, Emergency Management, Education, and Volunteer Management started when he became a firefighter in upstate New York. Todd joined the United States Navy and became a Hospital Corpsman assigned to the Fleet Marine Force. He served as an emergency medical responder (EMT) in some of Los Angeles County's toughest parts after his service. Todd's first emergency management position was with the City of Dana Point. He led the city's effort to become the second city in California to earn the TsunamiReady designation from the National Weather Service. Todd helped the County of Orange become the first county in the nation to receive the TsunamiReady destination. The City of Seal Beach recruited Todd to develop its emergency management program. Todd responded to the Salon Meritage shooting, the worst mass murder in the history of Orange County. The lessons learned after the event highlighted the role of emergency managers during these types of events. Todd left Seal Beach and moved to emergency management in higher education.  Coastline Community College asked Todd to join the steering committee to help develop their emergency management program. Later that year, he was invited to join the faculty. Today, Todd continues to teach for Coastline College and The University of California Irvine.  Todd is a lifelong learner, and he is a graduate of the National Emergency Management Executive Academy's Cohort VII. He continues to research and write about important emergency management issues, crisis leadership, business continuity, and community re-license. Todd is an active member of the International Association of Emergency Managers and is on the Region 9 board.

We spoke about managing stakeholder expectations, how the role of the EM is changing,  making the case to invest in mitigation projects, and his opinion on dealing with impacts of climate change. Todd is a prolific producer, educator, and networker, and has created an incredible volume of digital media on emergency management and is a voracious student and teacher  in this industry. 

Some links referenced:

EM Weekly
https://sitchradio.com/shows/em-weekly/
Todd De Voe's professional website
https://toddtdevoe.com/
Master Link for Todd De Voe
https://linktr.ee/emweekly 

His email address for contact: devoet@uci.edu

E15 - Managing Expectations and Role of EM - Todd DeVoe EM Weekly

Emergency management is a growing discipline as our world has become increasingly more complex, interconnected, and vulnerable to hazards both natural and human caused. The role of the emergency manager, including leaders in public safety, has expanded and become more vital to cities, counties, states, and large organizations, and much of this work can be contained and effectively managed within projects, be they longer term plans,  disaster recovery, mitigation measures or short-term emergency responses to a disaster. This podcast series focuses on project management topics for emergency managers. Come with us as we ride the wave!

E15 - Managing Expectations and Role of EM - Todd DeVoe EM Weekly

Andrew Boyarsky

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