The Government Fix – "The Government Fix for Disaster Response"

Podcast: The Government Fix
Host: Amanda Renteria (CEO, Code for America)
Guest: Dr. Samantha Montano, Disaster Researcher and Author of Disasterology
Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores how disaster response in government goes far beyond the immediate whirlwind of hurricanes or wildfires. Host Amanda Renteria interviews Dr. Samantha Montano—disaster researcher, author, and emergency management expert—about what it takes to build truly resilient systems that address disasters before, during, and long after they happen. Together, they challenge the myth of “disasters don’t discriminate,” dive into the success and failures of recovery, and offer actionable advice for governments and individuals alike in an era of climate-driven crises and shifting federal support.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Samantha Montano’s Path to Disaster Research

• Personal Origin Story:
  • At age 17, Samantha volunteered in post-Katrina New Orleans, which fundamentally shifted her view of disasters from media headlines to the lived reality of slow, difficult recovery.
    • “To actually physically be there and see the extent of the destruction... it completely altered my understanding... how much help is needed, not just during the response... but also for years and years, in some cases decades into the recovery.” —Montano [01:57]
• Social Justice Lens:
  • Her upbringing in a Jesuit high school framed her early volunteer work through social justice, which highlighted the deep inequities that amplify disaster impacts. [02:55]

Defining "Disasterology" and "Disaster Justice"

• Coining the Term:
  • "Disasterology" emerged from Samantha's grad school eureka moment—a way to share academic insight with practitioners and the public, making research accessible and relatable.
    • “I started using this term ‘disasterology’ to describe... the very broad field of disaster research... The combined effort is what we could call disasterology.” —Montano [04:35]
• Disaster Justice:
  • Emphasizes that disasters expose (and intensify) existing social injustices, and recovery or mitigation efforts must be designed equitably.

Seeing Communities Before Disaster Strikes

• Government's Proactive Role:
  • Effective disaster response begins well before the disaster, with mitigation and preparedness that accounts for each community’s risks and vulnerabilities.
  • Mitigation Grants & Planning: FEMA’s grant-driven model aims to incentivize identification of vulnerable areas and encourage pre-disaster planning—though, as Dr. Montano notes, “it doesn’t work quite as well as I just described it.” [07:36]

The Myth That Disasters Do Not Discriminate

• Research-Based Reality:
  • “Disasters do discriminate... it’s rooted in the pre disaster vulnerabilities of communities.” —Montano [10:25]
• Wealth Gap Impact:
  • Wealthier communities have stronger infrastructure, more resources for evacuation, and better access to recovery funds (and the ability to even apply for those funds), while marginalized groups face compounded disadvantages at every stage.
• Cascading Inequity:
  • The cumulative effect of decades of under-investment, lack of government recognition, and logistical barriers contributes to vastly unequal recovery.
  • “We even have some communities that are relying on a volunteer emergency manager. So there’s just no possible way that they’re going to be able to do that preparing for recovery that we know is necessary.” —Montano [23:09]

Recovery: Back to Normal or Something Better?

• Complex Realities:
  • Recovery isn’t a binary success/failure; different segments of a community experience disparate outcomes even years after.
  • Katrina as Case Study: In New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, some homes and institutions rebuilt, but many lots remain vacant decades later.
    • “In some ways, yeah, it was successful... But there’s also a lot of people who didn’t come back.” —Montano [15:43]
• Normal Was the Problem:
  • “Normal is what got you into the disaster in the first place... Real recovery means building something better.” —Renteria [38:03]
• Barriers to "Building Back Better":
  • Lack of knowledge, limited funding, trauma, and urgency all make it difficult for individuals and governments to implement risk reduction improvements post-disaster.
    • “Ideally... you want to make as many changes in terms of reducing risk as possible in recovery... but... when you bring that into practice, you start running into some pretty massive barriers...” —Montano [18:39]

The Reality of Emergency Management Capacity

• Under-resourced Emergency Managers:
  • Most communities lack the staff or resources for robust pre-disaster planning.
  • New research shows many places do not even have a full-time emergency manager, let alone the capacity for comprehensive recovery planning. [23:09]
• Importance of Pre-Disaster Planning:
  • Having a plan is less about the exact document, more about the process of coordination and building relationships ahead of a crisis. [21:45]

Shifting Federal Support & the Need for Local Resilience

• Post-Katrina Progress... and Regression:
  • “After Katrina... the field has made tremendous changes... But... the headline on the 20 year anniversary is that FEMA is back to how it was when Katrina happened and... we are not ready to respond to another event like Katrina.” —Montano [26:20]
• Local Responsibility:
  • “Governors and mayors need to make sure they have an emergency manager... FEMA always is a support... That extra help is not necessarily coming now.” —Montano [27:55]
• Rainy Day Funds:
  • Local governments must set aside funds for emergencies, given less reliable federal assistance.

Resilience at Every Level

• Advice for Individuals & Neighborhoods:
  • Prepare personal emergency plans, run drills, keep supplies ready, and foster connections with neighbors, as local cohesion can be critical in disaster. [29:52]
  • “People do need to rely more on their local community than has necessarily been the case in the past.” —Montano [29:52]

Technology and Disaster Response

• Promise and Peril of Tech:
  • Social media used to be a lifeline—during Hurricane Harvey, platforms like Twitter and innovations such as Crowdsource Rescue directly saved lives.
    • “There was a couple of folks who made a website called Crowdsource Rescue in the middle of Harvey that still exists... a platform to coordinate search and rescue with people who need rescue.” —Montano [33:25]
  • But the rise of misinformation has diminished reliability; there’s uncertainty around what platforms will work in future disasters.
    • “The disinformation, misinformation on there was just so extreme that, you know, it wasn’t going to be useful anymore.” —Montano [31:29]
• Fundamentals Endure:
  • Technology is invaluable, but responders must be able to work “with a pencil and a piece of paper” if infrastructure fails. [31:29]

What Keeps Dr. Montano Hopeful

• Next Generation:
  • Working with students new to emergency management who are passionate, equity-focused, and innovative provides hope for future progress.
    • “The next generation is coming.” —Montano [35:49]

Notable Quotes and Moments

• “Disasters do discriminate... it's rooted in the pre disaster vulnerabilities of communities.”
  — Dr. Samantha Montano [10:25]

• “Normal is what got you into the disaster in the first place.”
  — Amanda Renteria [38:03]

• “Recovery isn’t about returning back to normal... Real recovery means building something better, something more resilient.”
  — Amanda Renteria [38:03]

• “A lot of those efforts... have just kind of disappeared overnight. Unfortunately, we are in a really tough position right now that looks remarkably similar to the pre-Katrina situation.”
  — Dr. Samantha Montano [26:20]

• “We even have some communities that are relying on a volunteer emergency manager. There’s just no possible way that they’re going to be able to do that preparing for recovery that we know is necessary.”
  — Dr. Samantha Montano [23:09]

• On technology:
  “I always tell my students, I need to know first that you can respond to a disaster with a pencil and a piece of paper.” — Dr. Samantha Montano [31:29]

• On the future:
  “The next generation is coming. That keeps me hopeful.” — Dr. Samantha Montano [35:49]

Key Timestamps

• [01:57-03:30] – Samantha’s Katrina experience & entry into disaster work
• [04:35-06:39] – Defining "disasterology" and why research often doesn’t reach practice
• [07:36-09:35] – Mitigation, preparedness, and how government can (try to) “see” at-risk communities before disaster strikes
• [10:25-14:05] – Disasters and inequity; why the “disasters don’t discriminate” framing is wrong
• [15:35-18:06] – Long-term recovery: failed and mixed outcomes using Katrina’s Lower Ninth Ward as an example
• [18:39-21:32] – The realities and barriers of “building back better” after disaster
• [23:09-24:59] – Capacity challenges: under-resourced emergency management agencies
• [26:20-27:43] – Katrina’s legacy, policy changes, and recent regression in preparedness
• [27:55-29:52] – Local governments and communities: advice for the new landscape
• [31:29-34:16] – Technology’s changing role: the rise and limits of social media and disaster response tech
• [35:49-36:21] – Hope for the future: new generations in emergency management
• [36:49-37:25] – “Magic wand” answer: centering disaster management on real community needs

Lessons & Takeaways

• Preparedness must be everyday, not event-driven.
• Systems need to address equity at every stage—from pre-disaster mitigation to long-term recovery.
• Local capacity and relationships matter more as federal backstops dwindle.
• Technology is powerful, but resilient systems require non-digital backup and trust networks.
• Youth and fresh energy are key to future progress.
• Real resilience means building something better, not just normal.

For more: Visit codeforamerica.org