The Cold Hard Truth: Why Winter Storms Freeze Our Systems and Expose Our Failures
By Todd DeVoe, MPA, CEM, & Dan Scott, M.A., CEM
Winter storms are not just weather events. They are stress tests of leadership, policy, infrastructure, and preparedness. The January 2026 ice storms revealed uncomfortable truths about mitigation failures, emergency management visibility, and the real cost of short-term thinking. This piece examines what winter disasters expose — and what emergency managers must do differently before the next storm arrives.
When Philosophy Meets Disaster
Emergency management is not a profession built for comfort. It is not a safe space for polite conversations or softened truths. It is an arena where reality tests systems in real time. When disaster hits, intentions and titles mean very little. Outcomes mean everything.
