Above the Skyline: Jack Murphy on High-Rise Preparedness and Modern Emergency Challenges

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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.

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