Disaster Experts Available to Provide Critical Insight on Readiness for the 2025 Hurricane Season
May 30, 2025, Raleigh, NC — With forecasts pointing to another potentially intense Atlantic hurricane season, IEM’s nationally recognized disaster experts are available to speak with the media to offer timely, authoritative insights. Drawing on decades of experience in emergency management, our specialists actively support preparedness efforts at every level of government. They stand ready to help inform the public with practical, actionable advice to empower families, protect communities, and mitigate risk. Whether breaking down complex planning measures or sharing essential steps for household readiness, IEM experts provide trusted, life-saving guidance when it matters most.
WHO:
Bryan Koon, Former Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) from February 2011 until October 2017, former Director of Emergency Management at Walmart, and currently IEM President and Chief Executive Officer.
TOPICS: Hurricane Planning, Emergency Response Operations, Mitigation, Hurricane Response and Recovery, Public-Private Preparedness Partnerships, State-Coordinated Response and Recovery Operations; Disaster Housing
Alex Amparo, Former Assistant Administrator for National Preparedness, Assistant Administrator of Recovery, and Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator for Puerto Rico at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He currently serves as IEM Vice President of Critical Infrastructure.
TOPICS: Critical Infrastructure, Hurricane Preparedness and Recovery, FEMA Programs, FEMA Public Assistance
James Clark, Former Executive Officer of the Disaster Recovery Division with Louisiana’s Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and currently IEM Vice President of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
TOPICS: State-Coordinated Response and Recovery Programs, Federal Response and Recovery Operations, Emergency Response Operations
Marion McFadden, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), former Senior Vice President at Enterprise Community Partners, and currently IEM Vice President of Disaster Recovery.
TOPICS: Disaster Recovery, Community Disaster Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), Affordable Housing, Community Resilience
Anne Bink, Former Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery for FEMA, former Deputy Commissioner for Disaster Recovery Programs at the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and currently IEM Director of Recovery.
TOPICS: State-Coordinated Recovery Programs, Mitigation and Resilience, Critical Infrastructure, Federal Response Operations, Disaster Recovery, Individual and Public Assistance Recovery Programs, FEMA Program, FEMA Public Assistance
Dr. Rashid Chotani, IEM Chief Medical Officer and Account Executive, and recipient of the 2016 “NATO Scientific Award for Counterterrorism,” with over 20 years of infectious disease, public health, and emergency management expertise.
TOPICS: Public Health Planning During Hurricane Response; Infection Disease Planning, Medical Sheltering
Leigh Deskins, Former emergency management leader in Florida with over 15 years of experience of hands-on hurricane and disaster recovery efforts, currently serving as the IEM Director of Response.
TOPICS: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operations, Disaster Response Operations, Disaster Recovery, FEMA Public Assistance
Nancy Dragani, Former Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 8, former Executive Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and currently IEM Account Executive.
TOPICS: State-Coordinated Response and Recovery Programs, FEMA Programs, FEMA Individual Assistance, FEMA Public Assistance, Federal Response and Recovery Operations
Krista Houk, Former Emergency Services Manager for the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF), former Director of Madison County (Ohio) Emergency Management Agency, and currently IEM Director of Planning and Preparedness.
TOPICS: Emergency Planning, Hurricane Planning, Readiness Assessment, Training and Exercise Programs, After Actions
Chris Smith, Former Director of FEMA Individual Assistance for the Office of Response and Recovery, former State of Nevada Emergency Management Chief, and currently IEM Director of Individual Assistance and Disaster Housing.
TOPICS: Hurricane Planning and Response, Individual Assistance, FEMA Recovery Programs, Federal Recovery Operations, State Response and Recovery Operations, Disaster Housing
HOW: Media requesting interviews should contact press@iem.com to schedule one-on-one interviews.
