Twenty-five years after September 11, Bobby and Mike are joined by FDNY HazMat 1 Lieutenant John Cassidy and retired NYPD Emergency Service Unit member Mike Kenny to look at how 9/11 changed hazmat response. The discussion follows the rapid expansion of funding, training, WMD preparedness, analytical technology, PPE, FEMA USAR capability, and the outside schools that helped rebuild experience after the devastating loss of hazmat personnel.
They also examine the growing pains that came with new money and new equipment, the evolution of fire and law enforcement cooperation, and why younger technicians often became the best carriers of new ideas back into their organizations. The result is a candid look at how far hazmat preparedness has come in 25 years, what capabilities are beginning to fade, and why continued training and interagency cooperation still matter.
Key Moments
00:00 Sponsors and Opening
03:47 How 9/11 Accelerated Hazmat
07:20 Funding, Bhopal, Sarin and Anthrax
10:32 Fire and Police Learn to Work Together
12:33 When Lab Technology Came to the Street
15:58 How Hazmat PPE Evolved
24:39 Why Outside Training Changed the Culture
30:16 Decon, Funding and Modern Preparedness
33:39 Is the Country Better Prepared Today?
Episode Sponsors
Rigaku Analytical Devices
Rigaku provides handheld Raman analyzers for first responders facing unknown hazards. Their 1064 nm Raman technology reduces fluorescence interference, enabling chemical identification in under a minute—even in difficult samples. Rigaku’s fourth-generation platform expands accessory support to help teams assess hazards faster and safer.
Teledyne FLIR Defense
CBRNE threats don’t wait for safe locations. Teledyne FLIR Defense equips responders, security professionals, and military personnel with real-time detection tools for mobile, fixed, and covert deployment. From handheld trace detectors to autonomous bio-monitors, their technology ensures rapid threat recognition and evidence-quality documentation in any environment.
908 Devices
908 Devices delivers handheld chemical analysis tools addressing fentanyl exposure, toxic industrial hazards, and global security threats. Responders use these devices to rapidly detect, identify, and monitor thousands of chemical hazards—bulk or trace—directly at the point of need.
ObexionFR
ObexionFR is a mobile solution for lithium-ion battery fires developed by former FDNY HazMat experts. It neutralizes fires by addressing heat, oxygen, and fuel—cooling batteries, isolating oxygen, and preventing re-ignition while maintaining safe gas levels.
Fire Suppression Solutions
Fire Suppression Solutions, based in Slinger, Wisconsin, is the U.S. master distributor for advanced suppression technologies. Their partnership with LifeSafe Technologies delivers TRF (Thermal Runaway Fluid), proven through testing to extinguish lithium-ion battery fires. Products include A & B fire solutions and BSI-rated systems across 10 categories, including lithium-ion batteries.
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Music Credit
Music from #InAudio
Rock & Workout
