GeoTrek

How does forensic meteorology help protect homeowners and insurers from fraud? In this episode, recorded live at the 2025 Allied Trust Litigation Summit, we sit down with Amy Fail and Ron Ligocki from Allied Trust to explore how advanced weather science is being used in insurance claims investigations. They share insights on:The role of forensic meteorology in detecting fraudulent claimsHow Allied Trust is using data to protect policyholdersPractical advice for homeowners to avoid contractor scams—like always getting multiple bids This conversation is packed with expert perspectives on the evolving fight against fraud and how science is leading the charge.

Coastal communities face growing threats from erosion, storms, and rising sea levels—but could nature itself be the key to resilience? In Episode 110 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we explore how living shorelines blend natural and engineered solutions to protect our coasts. Our guest, Ryan Gilbert, a natural resource specialist and project manager with Headway Environmental, shares insights on where these projects work best, their biggest opportunities and challenges, and how they are funded.Whether you're a coastal resident, an environmental advocate, or simply curious about sustainable solutions, this episode will provide valuable insights on working with nature to safeguard our shores.

Hailstorms cause billions of dollars in damage each year, but how do we study hail to build stronger homes and communities?In Episode 109 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we dive into the world of hail research, forensic meteorology, and building science with two incredible guests:Brenna Meisenzahl – Researcher at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), leading field studies on hail formation and its impacts on buildings.Sara Hudson – a Forensic Meteorologist at CNC Catastrophe & National Claims, specializing in storm analysis and severe weather damage assessments.Together, we explore:

In Episode 108 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we explore how extreme winter weather impacts the transportation and logistics industry. From blizzards to icy roads, truck drivers and logistics professionals must navigate unpredictable and often dangerous conditions to keep supply chains moving.Our guest, Gary Falldin, Senior Director of Industry Solutions at Platform Science, shares expert insights into how technology and best practices help fleets operate safely and efficiently in severe weather.Join Dr. Hal Needham and Gary as they discuss:

In Episode 107 of the GeoTrek Podcast, we analyze the devastating January 2025 wildfires in Southern California and discuss how communities can better prepare for future wildfire threats. Our special guest, Steve Hawks, Senior Director for Wildfire at IBHS and former CAL FIRE Battalion Chief, brings decades of expertise in wildland firefighting and fire prevention. Having been deployed to the LA fires, he shares firsthand insights into wildfire behavior, risk mitigation, and the importance of building resilience.Join us as they explore:

In Episode 106 of GeoTrek, we explore the fascinating intersection of extreme weather and professional sports. Special guest Mark Paquette, an expert on how weather influences sports, gambling, and betting, joins Dr. Hal Needham to discuss the surprising ways weather conditions impact athlete performance and game outcomes.From wind and rain to heat and humidity, discover how teams and athletes adapt to the elements, and learn why weather is a critical factor for sports analysts, bettors, and fans alike. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a weather buff, or curious about the science behind athletic performance, this episode offers unique insights you won't want to miss!

Join us for Episode 105 of the GeoTrek Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of avalanches! Simon Trautman, Director of the National Avalanche Center, breaks down the science behind how avalanches form, the tools forecasters use to predict them, and the essential steps to interpret avalanche ratings for safer mountain adventures.In this episode, Simon and Dr. Hal Needham discuss the Avalanche Danger Scale, highlight the intricacies of avalanche forecasting, and share captivating images of avalanche events. Learn how to assess and manage avalanche risks, navigate hazardous conditions safely, and discover what a real-life rescue operation involves.Whether you're a skier, mountaineer, or simply curious about the natural forces shaping our world, this episode delivers valuable insights to keep you informed and prepared.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton recently impacted west-central Florida, including the Tampa/ St. Pete metro area. Dr. Jennifer Collins, Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida shares insights on the physical and social impacts of these massive storms.

Gain insights on the challenge of freshwater flooding below sea level, as we explore New Orleans with Chris Franklin, Andrew Woodroof and Johnny Vindigni.

In this episode of the GeoTrek Podcast, we bring you exclusive insights from the 2024 Texas Groundwater Summit, where industry experts and thought leaders gathered to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and advancements in groundwater management in Texas. Join us as we sit down with special guests from the summit to explore the critical issues surrounding groundwater sustainability, drought resilience, and the future of water resources in the Lone Star State. Our guests share their perspectives on the importance of innovative technologies, regulatory updates, and collaborative efforts in securing Texas' water future.Our guests are:Jeremiah Long, Senior Video Producer, Blue Leopard Agencywww.blueleopardagency.comShay Hlavaty, Communications and Outreach Manager, Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation Districtwww.bseacd.orgTaylor Christian, Team Lead on the Texas Water Data Team, Texas Water Development Boardhttps://txwaterdatahub.org/Jodi Ruonavar, Vice President of the Board of Directors, Porter Special Utility Districthttps://portersud.com/Sarah Rountree Schlessinger, CEO, Texas Water Foundationhttps://www.texaswater.org/https://www.texasrunsonwater.org/Amy Bush, Hydrologist, P.G., RMBJ Geohydrogeek@gmail.com

After making landfall in Florida as a hurricane, Tropical Storm Debby stalled out along the South Carolina coast, bringing days of heavy rain impacts to the region. This podcast investigates the science behind the increasing number of slow-moving tropical cyclones impacting the U.S. over the past decade.

Historic Hurricane Beryl broke many Atlantic basin hurricane records, becoming the farthest east hurricane and the only cat-4 hurricane to form in June, then the earliest cat-5 hurricane on record. This podcast features interviews with Brian McNoldy and Phil Klotzbach, who provide historic context for this record-breaking storm, as well as on-the-ground interviews with storm survivors in Texas.

Engineering provides many solutions to reduce losses from coastal hazards. But how do we determine optimal solutions, considering design criteria, budgets, and community input? Dr. Bret Webb, Professor of Civil Engineering at University of South Alabama, provides engineering perspectives on coastal resiliency in this episode.

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) President and CEO, Leslie Chapman-Henderson, shares her vision to reduce property losses through groundbreaking awareness initiatives for homebuilders, homeowners and design professionals.

Join us to dive deeper into the journey Alan Sealls took to become the meteorologist we know and love! Hear about Alan's early life, education, and the path that lead him to where he is now.

As we kick off the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season we want to be prepared and informed about tropical weather communication. Join us as none other than meteorologist Alan Sealls joins us to share information about tropical weather communication.

Mark Sudduth, founder of HurricaneTrack, takes us along on his journey through more than two decades of hurricane videography and storytelling.

Hurricanes are complex storms that generate four deadly hazards- destructive winds, storm surge flooding, rainfall flooding and tornadoes. In this episode, Dr. Hal counts down his top 10 list of misunderstandings about hurricanes that increase the chance people will be blindsided.

Josh Morgerman (Hurricane Man) joins us for an interview that captures the intense impacts of the world's most powerful storms, discusses how to build better in hurricane country, and talks about the dangers of generalizing hurricane impacts based on observing a few named storms.

Forecasters, scientists and disaster relief specialists weigh in on what we can expect this upcoming hurricane season and how we can be better prepared. We also take a look at the connection between AI and weather forecasting.

My favorite meteorologist, Carl Parker from The Weather Channel, joins us for a discussion about climate change impacts on tropical weather, advice on science communication, and the importance of having empathy with those impacted by extreme weather events.

Melissa Beaudry, Senior Resilience Planner at Halff, provides insights on how to help communities improve resilience plans.

This podcast features interviews with four professionals focused on making Gulf Coast communities more resilient from coastal hazards. They were recorded at the Gulf of Mexico Conference, which brought together more than 1100 professionals to share the latest research and best practices, in Tampa, Florida.

On September 8, 2023, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in northwest Africa, inflicting more than 2,900 fatalities. This podcast provides on-the-ground interviews from the Kingdom of Morocco, including interviews with earthquake survivors in an earthquake tent village, and perspectives about the pros and cons of traditional versus modern building styles for disaster resiliency.

This podcast highlights interviews with seven participants from the CNC Connect Conference in Mobile, Alabama, from Jan 8-10, 2024. The conference brought together hundreds of professionals in the insurance services and extreme weather response industries. We also interview seasonal hurricane forecasting expert Phil Klotzbach to get a sneak peek of what we may expect next hurricane season.

After striking the Gulf Coast as a cat-5 hurricane in 1969, Camille inflicted the deadliest disaster in Virginia's history, killing 114 people in catastrophic floods and landslides near Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. This podcast interviews three storm survivors on live interviews recorded at the Nelson County Historical Society's Oakland Museum.

This episode provides the top 10 memories from the GeoTrek podcast during the past calendar year (2023).

Stakeholders at the 22nd Bell County Water Symposium came together to discuss the future of water in Central Texas, in an area that has observed severe droughts and explosive population growth in recent decades.

Kainoa Horcajo, Director of Community Development with Global Empowerment Mission Hawaii, provides insights on the impacts of the catastrophic wildfires that struck Maui this past August.

Firefighting couple Gary Ringate and Kellie Murphy-Ringate share stories and insights from decades of fighting fires in Minnesota. Their perspectives on topics like hazard prevention and having a disaster plan, relate closely to disaster mitigation efforts for other hazards.

Last year, Hurricane Ian inflicted the deadliest natural disaster in Florida since the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, and the costliest disaster in state history. This podcast looks back at this catastrophe, the recovery process, and lessons learned, through interviews with WINK-TV Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt, as well as Casper and Kylie Gregory with the Tropical Weather Threat Society.

Himalayan mountaineer and Mount Everest Expert Pete Athans shares insights from leading expeditions to the world's highest mountains, perspectives on high-altitude weather extremes, and first-hand accounts of how the 2015 earthquake and Covid-19 Pandemic impacted Nepal.

Join us on an adventure with Warren Faidley, America's Premier Storm Photographer. Warren is an American adventurer, photojournalist, storm chaser, and disaster survival expert. He is officially credited as the first storm-chasing photojournalist, documenting hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, mudslides, blizzards, and many more types of extreme weather over a multi-decade career.

Hurricane Idalia was the first major (cat 3+) hurricane to strike Florida's Big Bend Region since the late 1800s. This podcast documents storm impacts on the region, as well as voices from many storm survivors.

Boeing 777 Captain and accomplished artist Jonathan Frank takes us on an around-the-world adventure to explore the impacts of extreme weather on aviation.

Tiffany Staten, Engineer with PEA Group in Houston, Texas, shares her vision for sustainable development that mitigates flood losses. This interview was part of the Women in Coastal Science Speaker Series, organized by Galveston's Park Board of Trustees.

Dr. Laura Myers, Senior Research Scientist and Director of Resiliency at the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research, University of Alabama, provides social science perspectives to mitigate losses from hurricanes.

This summer, smoke from Canadian wildfires and enhanced urban and industrial pollution have made air quality a high-profile weather story. David Lu, Co-Founder and CEO of Clarity Movement, shares the science behind air pollution, how we can better detect air quality, and practical steps we can take to protect ourselves.

Hurricane Harvey flood victim Rahel Abraham innovated a large, waterproof bag that zips around cars and other large valuable items, like grand pianos. Her Houston-based product is now gaining widespread attention, as it promises to make flood-prone communities around the world more resilient.

A janitor throwing out an important stack of tropical climate research papers led Dr. Bill Gray to redirect his research into seasonal hurricane forecasting at Colorado State University. Dr. Phil Klotzbach shares this story, and the science behind seasonal hurricane forecasts.

Tim Riecker, The Contrarian Emergency Manager, shares timeless insights on how to help communities better prepare for disasters, with a focus on extensive stakeholder collaboration to develop better plans.

Local knowledge is crucial for building and planning for extreme weather and natural disasters. In this episode, which was recorded live in California's Sierra Nevada during a historic snowfall winter, three professionals share perspectives on what it was like to live and work in such extreme environments.

Six experts share insights on cutting-edge hurricane research, forecasting products and education/ outreach at the National Tropical Weather Conference. Explore these insights from Leslie Henderson, Jaime Rhome, Julie Rochman, Brian McNoldy, Ryan Rickert and Derrick Herndon.

Academic climate experts Daniel Swain, Andrew Schwartz and Julie Kalansky weigh in on perspectives about California's mega-winter, including measuring near record snow depth, analyzing climate patterns, and discussing potential snow/ flood impacts.

The 1755 Lisbon, Portugal earthquake revolutionized building and planning practices around the world. Check out this story along with other insights about landscape architecture from Benjamin George, associate professor at Utah State University.

U-Surge provides the most comprehensive archive of coastal flood data for hurricanes and tropical storms around the world since the mid-1800s, providing insights into the frequency and magnitude of storm surge floods, the world's most deadly and costly natural disaster. Flood Information Systems analyze the impacts of these floods, by overlaying digital building and infrastructure maps.

Tulsa Meteorologist Michael Seger took an unconventional path in his pursuit of weather work. This podcast tells his back story, which involves years of studying art and some crazy times in South Florida- like hanging out with Aerosmith. He also covers tornado safety and communication in this episode.

Arctic weather outbreaks can inflict large loss of life and financial losses to the economy in the Central and Eastern U.S. Judah Cohen, climatologist at MIT, describes the influence of the Polar Vortex and Siberian snowpack on these weather patterns, as well as some insights on predicting their timing.

The 2022 Christmas Week Blizzard killed 44 people in western New York, making it the deadliest winter storm on record. Meteorologist Don Paul explains the meteorology and impacts of a remarkable storm that inflicted catastrophic impacts on a region accustomed to severe winter weather.

Julie Shiyou-Woodard, President and CEO of Smart Home America, shares how this non-profit partners with locally-based organizations to foster better building in disaster-prone communities.

Murphy Buggs, Property Claims Manager at CNC Catastrophe and National Claims, shares insights on many different angles of work in insurance adjusting.