#49 Fire Response and Oil Spill Hazmat Incidents - Interview with Eric Helpenstell
Deepwater Horizon, Alaskan Oil Pipeline, Kuwait Oil Fires, just to name a few of the disasters that Eric Helpenstell has responded to throughout his storied career. We talk about private emergency services and management operations work and the amazing experiences Eric has had on this week’s episode.
This Spring marks 11 years since the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. It marks 10 years since the Tohoku Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Fukushima Disaster, 30 years since the Kuwait Oil Fires, 32 years (almost to the date of this episode) since the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and so many other major disasters that were major game changers in emergency management and disaster response.
Eric Helpenstell has been in the response, recovery, or post-recovery (mitigation phase) of many of these catastrophic disasters. He has a background of fire suppression in wildfires, involved with logistics during the Pandemic, and even worked to unify children and parents during the family separation policies of the US Boarder Crossing. Eric's experiences are extensive, his knowledge and advice is critical for the prevention of looming threats. A great reminder that training + experience + data is the right mix to become Disaster Tough.
Bonus: Eric and John talk about the Keystone XL Pipeline project, the dangers, the considerations, and the importance of working with stakeholders from Tribal Governments to the Energy Sector.