When the Old Trails Fire moved from the wildland into neighborhoods near Spokane, Washington, it left behind a complex pattern of destruction—and important clues about how wildfire spreads through communities. In this episode of Disaster Discussions, host Rachael Penton Gauthier is joined by IBHS Senior Wildfire Fellow Mark Novak to discuss IBHS’s post-fire investigation of the Old Trails Fire. Drawing on his experience as both a firefighter in the West and a wildland fire investigator, Mark explains what the team observed on the ground, how fire behavior and suppression shaped the outcome, and what physical evidence can reveal about the fire’s path. The conversation explores structure spacing, combustible fencing, vegetation, vehicles and other connective fuels, as well as the role firefighters played in saving homes. Together, Rachael and Mark look at what the homes that burned—and the ones that survived—can teach us about reducing wildfire risk and giving communities and first responders a better chance when the next fire comes.

When it comes to hail damage, size is only part of the story. Two hailstones of the same size can produce very different outcomes depending on the roofing material, its age and condition, and the strength and structure of the hailstones themselves.

In this episode of Disaster Discussions, IBHS Managing Director of Atmospheric Science Dr. Ian Giammanco, Research Project Scientist Jake Sorber, and Central Michigan University Ph.D. student and IBHS Summer Fellow Sabrina Servey recap the 2026 IBHS hail field deployment across the Plains. They discuss the partnership behind the research, the challenges of chasing hail during a drought-affected season, and what the team learned from 10 intensive operating periods.

The conversation explores new field capabilities- from deployable trailers and roofing-panel exposures to hailstone strength testing and impact video- and how these observations help connect controlled laboratory testing with the complex conditions of real storms. Hear what researchers are learning about hailstone characteristics, hail concentration, and the performance of asphalt and composite roofing materials- and the questions that remain as IBHS works toward more realistic, actionable understanding of hail damage and how it impacts both roofing materials and the building envelope.

Disasters impact more than buildings- they affect entire communities. Recovery happens faster when homes, businesses, and local economies are rebuilt with resilience in mind.

In this episode of Disaster Discussions, Chris Stallings of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Michael Newman of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) discuss how disaster assistance and research-backed mitigation can help reduce future losses and support stronger recoveries.

Listeners will learn how SBA disaster assistance supports homeowners, renters, and businesses, how mitigation investments can help break the cycle of repeated disaster damage, and which practical resilience upgrades make the biggest difference. The conversation also explores the value of combining SBA recovery resources with IBHS building science to help communities rebuild smarter and recover faster.

Resources:

SBA Disaster Assistance: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

SBA Mitigation Assistance: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/mitigation-assistance