The back-to-back hurricanes that swept through the Southeastern U.S. brought unimaginable destruction to the region. Many places are far from recovered, with tens of thousands of people still without power in some areas.

But behind the scenes, transportation networks need to keep running. People need to be evacuated to safety. Supplies have to get through. Emergency workers need to get to where they are needed.

This week we pull back the curtain with a special episode focused on how our transportation networks prepare for and recover from disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton. On this special episode of Transit Unplugged, host Paul Comfort connected with six transportation leaders in Florida about the preparations, their Emergency Operations Centers, and what happens now to recover.

We hear from:

• Brad Miller, CEO of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
• Coree Cuff Lonergan, CEO of Broward County Transit (BCT)
• Dave Dech, Executive Director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail
• Ivan Maldonado, Executive Director of Palm Tran
• Tiffany Homler Hawkins, CEO of Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX)
• Greg Slater, CEO/Executive Director of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority

This is a unique episode that only Transit Unplugged can bring you! Make sure you tune in and share with your transit colleagues.

Next week on the show, we have Mass Transit Magazine 40 Under 40 winner Schneider St. Preux talking about his 12 year transit career trajectory from bus operator to General Superintendent of Bus Operations for the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works. Schneider tells Paul what it took to build his career and his advice for other up and coming leaders in the industry.

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo https://www.modaxo.com

• Host: Paul Comfort
• Producer: Paul Comfort
• Editor and Writer: Tris Hussey
• Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Special thanks to:

• Brand design: Tina Olagundoye
• Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova
• Marketing content, Transit Unplugged Newsletter, & transit puns: Tris Hussey

If you have a question or comment, email us at info@transitunplugged.com.

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00:00 Introduction to the Eye of the Storm

00:45 Brad Miller: Riding Out the Storm

01:17 Coree Cuff Lonergan: Tornadoes and Transit

01:33 Ivan Moldanado: Coordination and Preparation

01:54 Tiffany Homler Hawkins: Orlando's Response

02:22 Dave Dech: TriRail's Role in the Crisis

02:44 Greg Slater: Road Networks and Disaster Management

03:43Brad Miller: Firsthand Hurricane Experience

11:03 Brad Miller: Evacuation and Recovery Efforts

21:19 Dave Dech: TriRail's Hurricane Preparedness

32:11 Coree Cuff Lonergan on Broward County's Hurricane Response

36:03 Ivan Maldonado Discusses PalmTran's...