During this week’s radio show you will learn about:

• Learn about the Hidden Heroes
• What to Learn From Those Who Step Up in the Face of Disaster
• Individual Stories of Courage and Bravery from the Front Lines
• The Organization ShelterBox and their work around the Globe
• What You Can Do in the Face of Disaster

Suzanne is an award-winning and internationally-recognized disaster management consultant, instructor and speaker, who has helped governments, communities and companies plan for and respond to disasters for nearly twenty years. She was recently awarded the prestigious global 2015 Innovation & Excellence Award – Excellence in Emergency Management (Canada), as well as the 2014 International Business Excellence Award – Crisis Communications Consultant of the Year (Canada). She is also the recipient of the 2014 Alumni Achievement Award from her alma mater, Cambrian College.

Suzanne has been personally involved in crises such as the 1998 “Ice Storm of the Century” in Eastern Canada, the 2003 Northeast Blackout, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the H1N1 pandemic, as well as numerous floods, fires, severe storms and reputational crises. One of Suzanne’s key career achievements was being commissioned by the UN Headquarters to help them review, test and evaluate their pandemic plans and procedures.

Prior to her career in emergency management, Suzanne was a news reporter and anchor, government press secretary, and speechwriter.

Suzanne became Ontario’s first female Emergency Management Field Officer, where she helped coordinate the government’s response to emergencies.  In recognition of her response work during the 1998 “Ice Storm of the Century” in Canada, she received the Amethyst Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Government of Ontario.

Suzanne’s first book, Disaster Heroes, was released in May 2015 and tells the stories of ordinary men, women and children who have done extraordinary things to help respond, recover and rebuild following some of the world’s most significant disasters.

You can learn more about Suzanne here.

About Shelterbox:

Every year, hundreds of thousands of families across the world lose everything when disasters strike. Often with no warning, families lose their homes, their possessions and their livelihoods. Every day they are faced with a battle for survival.

Since we began in 2000, we have responded to earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, typhoons and conflict, delivering emergency humanitarian aid to communities in need.

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Syria crisis, and the biggest storm to ever make landfall – Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines; we have responded to some of the largest humanitarian crises the modern world has ever known. Alongside this, we have also helped many thousands of people displaced by disasters that are not featured in the media. Simply put, if there are families in need of emergency shelter, we will do everything we can to help them.

The top priority of many aid organizations is to provide food, water and medical care to help people survive the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Without protection from the elements, survivors are at a higher risk as they await nourishment or medical attention. We recognized that little or no assistance was given in terms of proper shelter to help them through the first few days, weeks and months as they tried to rebuild their lives. Today, ShelterBox assists disaster survivors during the critical period following a disaster but preceding reconstruction.

To help them begin to rebuild their lives and communities, we deliver shelter and lifesaving supplies to the most vulnerable people.

Highly trained ShelterBox response teams distribute aid on the ground, working closely with local organizations, international aid agencies and a global network of volunteers.

You can learn more about Shelterbox here.