A catastrophic ice storm crushed Upstate New York and portions of southern Canada in January 1998. Days of freezing rain left more than 3 inches of ice on trees, power lines, and utility poles, causing extended power outages during the coldest time of the year. Rouses Point, New York, a village on the border of Vermont and Quebec, Canada, fared better than many other locations because they started burying power lines underground seven years before the ice storm struck. This episode provides

What would you do if your city was facing the threat of collapse from running out of water during an unprecedented drought? When Wichita Falls, Texas, faced this situation in the 2011–2015 drought, they found a creative solution only successfully implemented one other time in world history: direct reuse of wastewater for treated drinking water. In this episode, Daniel Nix, Utilities Operations Manager with the City of Wichita Falls, shares how they pulled off this award-winning endeavor and saved

Serving as a companion piece to the recent episode on the massive wildfire outbreak in Texas, we feature two experts on the topic of the relationship of wildfires to ecology. Dr. Kelly Lyons, professor of Biology at Trinity University in San Antonio, embarks on a field excursion with us into a recent burn zone to help us interpret the landscape. Matt Mccaw, President for the Texas Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, shares about the impacts of fire on animals, functions of prescribed

Scientists are predicting an active 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season. This episode explains the science behind these predictions. We also look back at factors driving recent active hurricane seasons, lessons learned from fieldwork, and emerging trends that coastal residents should understand to protect themselves and their communities.

Lessons learned from people who live in fire country

In this episode we bring forests and green spaces to you—in your community, home, or business. Jonathan Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Andromeda District, shares his vision for a new generation of green living. This Miami-based movement is passionate about bringing plants and green spaces into urban environments, and recently built the largest living green wall in the US in Nashville, Tennessee. We discuss how green walls and plants can clean the air and cool our cities through evaporative

Artist John William Bailly, faculty fellow at Florida International University and the Artist in Residence Fellow at Miami’s Deering Estate, shares his passion for exploring the world, and how he lets cultural and natural excursions guide his art. This podcast explores landscapes and paints a contrast between tropical South Florida and the open spaces of Europe. Listeners on this episode are invited to come along on an audio slough slog, which is a water hike through the Everglades.

Sea-level rise has emerged as one of the greatest impacts of climate change. In this episode, Dr. Keren Bolter, a climate scientist from South Florida with a passion for sea-level rise education and communication, shares how communities can prepare for the impacts of this hazard. She shares that impacts may be more complex than people realize, but communities can find hope by planning ahead and raising awareness.

Ice jam floods form when river ice jams along with pinch points and sharp turns in rivers after breaking up during warm or rainy weather. The ice jam acts as a dam, backing water up into riverine communities. This episode investigates the science and impacts of these unusual floods through interviews near the Pennsylvania-New York-New Jersey tri-state. Guests include Tom Vicchiariello, Director of Emergency Management for Port Jervis, New York; Bill Clark, President of Matamoras-Westfall Historical

It's amazing how much we rely on our phones and cell technology during major storms. In this episode, Jonathan Feuer, Vice President of Business Development for CellAntenna Wireless, shares insights about cellular technology with a special focus on natural disasters. He shares how Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) can be used to enhance cell service and gives advice on how homeowners, business owners, and managers of large facilities can take proactive steps to become better connected all the

Leona Chereshnoski provides stories from one of the snowiest inhabited places on Earth, recorded at her family’s farmstead on the Tug Hill Plateau of Upstate New York. Leona provides practical insights related to the importance of removing heavy snow loads from roofs and winter driving safety. She also shares about the importance of snow in this region, as winter tourism is a large part of the local economy. Leona’s family has turned the dairy farm into Old Lard’s Barn Bed and Breakfast, located

German civil engineer Steffen Krei shares perspective on flood protection in Germany in this international episode of the GeoTrek podcast. This interview provides insights into Germany’s long-term flood records, major flood events, and efforts to protect the country in vulnerable ports like Hamburg. Mr. Krei also shares his personal reflections about growing up in East Germany, and how drastically life changed when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

Mark Rayome is the building code official in Camden, New York, a village in the heart of the snow belt that receives more than 200 inches of snowfall annually. This high-energy episode covers a wide variety of topics, including Mark's passion for history, cross-cultural experiences, building codes and waste water treatment. This interview is particularly applicable for people thinking about construction practices in areas with extreme weather.

Don Gale and his wife Jodi have run Twin Maple SugarWorks in Lincoln, Vermont, since 1998. They produce certified organic, pure maple syrup in a 5200-tap sugarbush at the base of Mount Ellen. In this podcast, Don shares his wealth of experience to explain the intricacies of maple syrup production, including the impacts of weather and climate on this iconic regional product.

This is a question on a lot of people’s minds, as Christmas is right around the corner. Listen to this episode or read the article, What is the probability of a white Christmas this year? on geo-trek.com: https://geo-trek.com/blog/what-is-the-probability-of-a-white-christmas-this-year

Bonus episode: listen in as Geotrek guest host, Shaq Vaxter, interviews the Poor People's Campaign of Sacramento. Hear how they're working together with policymakers to develop solutions for the unhoused communities of California, and how they handled the pandemic to make sure the homeless were cared for.

This episode picks up with Megan's life in Guam, her adventures around the Tropical Pacific and Southeast Asia, and then her move to Death Valley, California, the site of the hottest recorded temperature on Earth. Megan shares about the beauty of Death Valley’s parched landscape, as well as a firsthand account of what it was like to feel temperatures reach 130F. She shares the tragic personal story of losing most of her possessions in a wildfire, and valuable perspectives on life, cultures, and

Adventurers and explorers, this episode is for you! Megan McAlonis Hernandez is a National Park Service employee who is currently stationed in New Mexico. For almost two decades, she has worked with the NPS, living in remote places like the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Guam. During that time, she has traveled extensively, visiting 35 countries and 46 states. This episode is great for adventure travelers, as we hear Megan’s stories about exotic excursions—including trekking in the Himalayas,

In Part 2 of this 2-part interview with Eleanor Kitzman, we discuss tree falls as a major hazard in windstorms, explore insights about hail as a major weather peril, and discuss the importance of disaster prevention. Kitzman is a lawyer, insurance executive, and entrepreneur, who lives near Austin, Texas. She is the former insurance commissioner for Texas and South Carolina.

In Part 1 of this 2-part interview with Eleanor Kitzman, we compare insights from the February 2021 Texas Freeze, discuss Kitzman’s journey into insurance, and give perspective on how to build better through the Fortified project. Kitzman is a lawyer, insurance executive, and entrepreneur, who lives near Austin, Texas. She is the former insurance commissioner for Texas and South Carolina.