**April 6, 2006 FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project
Activity Report**

\(1\) CASE STUDIES IN CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT \-- BOOK
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:

Received for review from lead textbook developer, George Haddow, George
Washington University, 2nd draft of Chapter 9 \"International Disaster
Management\" (78 pages).

\(2\) DHS RELATIONSHIP WITH STATES AND LOCALS:

Crary, David. \"Many States Bash Intelligence Sharing.\" Associated
Press, April 5, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/14271509.htm]{.underline}](http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/14271509.htm)

\[Article is based upon a survey of State homeland security directors by
the National Governors Association, with 40 responding. While the title
focuses on intelligence sharing, the content is much broader and brings
to the surface State dissatisfaction with DHS engagement with them.
Excerpts:

\"The directors remain concerned about lack of state input into the
development of federal security policy. Directors are nearly unanimous
in recommending that the federal government coordinate with states prior
to adopting and implementing policies\....

\"Most directors view the primary state grant program of the federal
Department of Homeland Security as underemphasizing disaster prevention
and recovery. One director said more flexibility was needed so states
could spend the money as they saw fit, whether that be for adding
personnel or tightening protection of possible terrorism targets.

\"According to the survey, the states do not feel they have
representation in the Department of Homeland Security\'s policy
development and rule-making process. Several state directors said DHS
consults with a few hand-picked state officials and \'then claims that
it produced policy based on broad state input, the survey said.\"

Reminds one of complaints of FEMA before James Lee Witt became FEMA
Director and made Customer Service and Responsiveness, Coordination and
Cooperation, and Mitigation the touch-stones of his administration.\]

\(3\) DISASTERS WAITING TO HAPPEN:

Dalessandro, James. \"Earthquake!\" San Francisco Magazine, May 2005 (13
pages). Accessed at:
[[http://www.sanfran.com/archives/view_story/352/]{.underline}](http://www.sanfran.com/archives/view_story/352/)

D\'Aleo, Joe. \"The September Surprise: The Great Hurricane of \'38.\"

Intellicast.com, August 1, 2000. Accessed at:

[[http://www.intellicast.com/DrDewpoint/Library/1123/]{.underline}](http://www.intellicast.com/DrDewpoint/Library/1123/)
\-- see, particularly the \"Could It Happen Again\" section.

Ritter, John. \"Disaster Is Coming To San Francisco\...The Question Is
When.\" USA Today, April 6, 2006. Accessed at:

[[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-04-05-sf-earthquake-cover_x.htm]{.underline}](http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-04-05-sf-earthquake-cover_x.htm)

\(4\) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & HOMELAND SECURITY/DEFENSE HIGHER EDUCATION
CONFERENCE, JUNE 6-8, 2006:

Talked with Jeff Smith, who teaches a course on Natural Disaster
Management at American Public University, about adding to the agenda, in
a Breakout Session, a 10-15 minute presentation he is proposing on
\"Innovative Local Funding for Disaster.\" Communicating with several
breakout session presenters to determine if this presentation can be put
into their breakout session.

\(5\) IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY BOISE CENTER:

From Bessie M. Katsilometes, Director of Health and Technology at the
ISU Boise Center:

\"Notice of Intents (NOIs) for offering Associate of Science Degree (AS)
and Bachelor of Science (BS) Degrees in Emergency Management (EM) have
been submitted through the Idaho State University (ISU) curriculum
process for the current spring semester. The NOI proposals have been
approved by the College of Technology Curriculum Committee, where the
degrees are to be offered in conjunction with the Institute of Emergency
Management (IEM) at the ISU Boise Center. Now the NOI proposals are
before the ISU Curriculum Council for its consideration. If approved by
the Curriculum Council, the NOIs will ultimately be sent to the Idaho
State Board of Education (SBOE), once seen and accepted by the ISU
Faculty Senate, the ISU Dean\'s Council, and the Council of Academic
Affairs and Programs (CAAP). Upon SBOE approval, we hope to hire a
faculty member this fall to further develop the degree offerings so that
the AS program can possibly begin spring 2007 with an anticipated start
time of spring 2008 for the BS program. The ISU Curriculum Council is
meeting weekly through April and these NOI proposals will soon be on the
agenda\....\" For additional information, Bessie Katsilometes can be
reached at: <katsbess@isu.edu>

\(6\) NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM:

Schor, Elana. \"Insurers Guard Against Cuts to Flood-Coverage
Subsidies.\" The Hill, April 6, 2006. Accessed at:

<http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/TheExecutive/040606_fema.html>

\(7\) PREPAREDNESS:

Associated Press. \"Disaster Planning Complex for Businesses.\" April 5,
2006. Accessed at:
<http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Biz-Small-Talk.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print>

Beren, Norris L. \"Guest Column: Emergency Preparedness: A Company That
Understands and Acts.\" Rock River Times (Rockford IL), April 6, 2006.
Accessed at:

[[http://www.rockrivertimes.com/index.pl?cmd=viewstory&cat=6&id=12879]{.underline}](http://www.rockrivertimes.com/index.pl?cmd=viewstory&cat=6&id=12879)

B. Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., CEM

Higher Education Project Manager

Emergency Management Institute

National Emergency Training Center

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

16825 S. Seton, N-430

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

\(301\) 447-1262, voice

\(301\) 447-1598, fax

wayne.blanchard@dhs.gov

[[http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu]{.underline}](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu)

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