Podcast – PreparedEx

In this episode of the PreparedEx Podcast, host Rob Burton sits down with Jack Murphy, one of the world’s leading experts in high-rise safety, fire protection, and all-hazards emergency preparedness. With decades of experience shaping high-rise emergency standards, Jack brings deep insight into how cities, property owners, and first responders must adapt to rapidly evolving threats in today’s vertical environments.

Together, Rob and Jack examine the recent Hong Kong high-rise fires, exploring how unique facade materials, fire dynamics, and construction conditions can accelerate catastrophic incidents. Jack breaks down what makes preparedness in tall structures fundamentally different, covering vertical response challenges, stairwell and evacuation considerations, standpipe limitations, and the operational realities incident commanders face when seconds matter and conditions shift floor by floor.

The conversation also digs into:

• Global concerns with vertical evacuation and high-rise fire behavior
• Lessons learned from incidents involving ACM facades and exterior fire spread
• How building information cards and true “building intelligence” transform emergency response
• The growing impact of non-fire threats like active shooters, cyber disruptions, and infrastructure failures
• Where emerging technologies, including AI-driven sensors and smart building systems—can genuinely enhance preparedness (and where organizations tend to over-rely on them)
• The importance of multi-agency coordination and why building engineers often become the most critical partner during a major incident

Whether you’re a building owner, facility manager, corporate security leader, or part of a crisis and emergency response team, this episode offers clear, actionable guidance on strengthening preparedness for complex, high-rise environments.

Preparedness saves lives, and Jack’s insights show exactly how to stay ahead of the risks.

In episode 160 of The PreparedEx Podcast, host Rob Burton explores why human crisis analysts, particularly those with military and intelligence backgrounds, continue to outperform AI in crisis scenario design. As AI becomes more capable, some predict it will replace human analysts, but the real strength lies in combining both. Force shapers understand intent, emotion, friction, and cascading impacts in ways machines cannot. They create realistic, high-pressure environments that reveal true leadership, adapt dynamically in real time, and design scenarios that push decision-makers beyond predictable patterns. While AI can generate simulations, only humans can shape experiences that build stronger, more resilient leaders for the complex crises of the future.

Too many organizations treat crisis simulations and tabletop exercises as the finish line, when in reality they’re just the starting point. In this episode, Rob Burton explores why the real value lies in what comes after the exercise: prioritizing findings, assigning ownership, keeping leadership engaged, and measuring improvement.

Rob shares common challenges resilience leaders face, practical strategies for turning lessons into action, and contrasting case examples—from financial services firms that ignored findings and paid the price, to healthcare organizations that invested in follow-up and entered COVID-19 better prepared.

Listeners will walk away with a practical checklist and actionable steps to ensure their next crisis exercise doesn’t just check a box but actually strengthens resilience.

As organizations begin planning for 2026, one critical area often overlooked—or left until it’s too late—is budgeting for resilience. In this episode, we explore why resilience should be treated as a strategic investment, not just a line item. Drawing from our latest PreparedEx blog, we’ll discuss how early planning and thoughtful proposals provide more than just numbers: they offer clarity, insight, and flexibility to strengthen your preparedness program. We’ll also highlight a real client testimonial that shows the impact of investing in resilience services before a crisis strikes.

Whether your organization is building resilience from the ground up or enhancing a mature program, this episode offers practical steps to ensure your 2026 budget supports confidence, readiness, and long-term value.