After 24 years and 46 seasons, Jeff Probst and the “Survivor” crew know what it takes to create a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan in the remote reaches of the Pacific — and at home.
How important is it during the production of “Survivor” to be prepared for potential natural disasters, and what precautions does your team take to ensure the safety of the castaways and crew?
Being prepared for potential natural disasters is one of the most important components to consider when setting up a production in the tropics or anywhere overseas. Although you rarely see the impact of a natural disaster play out on the show, we take these types of threats very seriously and spend a lot of time preparing for the “just-in-case” scenarios that could arise.
We tend to focus on three areas: avoidance, monitoring, and preparation. For avoidance, the first thing we do is establish the types of major natural disasters we could encounter in any area we’re shooting, and then we focus on how to minimize their impact. Extreme weather patterns such as cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical depressions are the most common and often the most threatening. The first thing we consider is our schedule. Can we schedule our shoot so as to avoid these high-risk times of year? If so, that solves a lot of problems, but that’s not always possible.
We are also constantly monitoring for potential disasters — daily and often several times a day. Weather can change extremely quickly, but thanks to technology we can often see potential threats weeks in advance, and we always have emergency plans in place. Seismic activity is also a major concern as it can lead to a tsunami. We have access to instant alerts, and we always have a pre-arranged general alert and evacuation plan for the crew and contestants that we can activate very quickly. This is something we spend a lot of time on, to make sure our plan is as up-to-date as possible. We have signs posted everywhere, and every crew member has a lanyard with a laminated card that has evacuation plans and emergency phone numbers.
Finally, we have specific preparation plans in place for every situation, so the minute we get word that we may have an issue, we know which plans to activate. For example, if we are expecting strong winds, we will take steps to minimize boat traffic, tie down any loose equipment or materials, and remove the tent tops from our workshops. If the situation appears more severe, then we ramp up our preparation to the next level by pulling our boats out of the water, strapping them down on land, and securing all equipment. We will also distribute flashlights, food, water, and first aid kits to the crew. We may even prepare our backup generators in case of power outages and board up all windows in offices and living spaces. We also stockpile emergency rations and fresh water to last us for several days after an event in case we are isolated.
When it comes to our players, we obviously take their safety very seriously. We don’t take any risks. If we determine the threat level is severe, we evacuate them to a safe location until the weather has passed. We always have emergency kits at every tribe camp that are not for use by the players during the game, but are there in the event of an emergency situation where we cannot get to them.
When you’re as remote as we are, a reliable communication system is absolutely essential. We have a full-time communications team whose only job is to keep us communicating with one another throughout our shoots and in any kind of conditions. This communication system allows for the quick sharing of information. This creates a work environment in which everyone feels safe and no one panics. They know we have a plan.
How has your perception of storm and disaster preparation evolved since witnessing castaways suffer through horrible storms over the past 25 years?
Technology has changed things quite a bit. We no longer have to wonder what is happening or what might be coming. We are always monitoring the weather because we’re aware of how quickly things can change.
We’re also very fortunate to have an amazing marine team led by Hendrick “Henni” Rall, our marine manager. He is an expert at this kind of stuff. If Henni says a storm is coming, we don’t ask questions, we just start activating our emergency plans.
What advice would you give to our readers on how to be better prepared for natural disasters? Are there any essential items you’d recommend having in a disaster preparedness kit?
The obvious answer is sometimes the most boring: Plan in advance. This includes having quick access to items like flashlights, water, food, first aid kits, prescription medications, and things like that.
My wife and I have a large backpack in our closet that is filled with these kinds of items that we update every year. Also, think about how you would charge your phone or computer in the event of a power outage. Having an old-school AM/FM radio with fresh batteries is a good idea. It sounds extreme, but if all power is out, you can at least get updates on what is happening through local news outlets.
A generator is perhaps the most valuable item to add to your arsenal. Just be sure to make a note in your calendar to check it regularly by starting it, checking the fuel, and having extra fuel on hand.
One other essential is establishing some kind of buddy system. This could be a friend who lives close or it could be an entire block in your neighborhood. Being able to rely on each other during emergency situations is essential.
Have you ever had a close call with a disaster situation in your personal life, and if so, what did you learn from that experience?
During February of 2024, there was an unusually heavy period of rain in Los Angeles which led to a very serious flood and mud situation on our block. We were at a Grammy party when we got a text from our neighborhood emergency chain warning everyone what was happening. We headed home immediately to find an absolute disaster situation. One of the hillsides in our neighborhood had collapsed, leading to a river of mud that quite literally flowed through the garage and living room of one of our neighbor’s homes. Several homes on our street suffered tremendous damage. What followed over the next few weeks was an amazing display of community. Our emergency text chain was very busy with people from blocks away texting to say they found a scrapbook or a piece of jewelry. There was even a turtle that had been swept away and found by a neighbor. It reminded me how important it is to share your phone number with your neighbors and introduce yourself, if for no other reason than a situation like this where you may need each other in order to survive.
