**December 20, 2005 FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project
Activity Report**

\(1\) AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA \-- INVESTIGATING ESTABLISHMENT OF
CENTER FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:

December 20, 2005 \-- Communicated with Bob Wood, who notes he is part
of a group at Auburn which is investigating the establishment of a
Center for Emergency Preparedness at Auburn for the purpose of offering
emergency management training and possibly offering an emergency
preparedness certificate. Pointed out the availability of EMI developed
training courses and academic contract developed educational courses on
the Project website. For additional information, Bob Wood can be reached
at: <rwood2@mail.aum.edu>

\(2\) DISASTERS AS A GROWTH BUSINESS RELATED ARTICLES AND TESTIMONY:

American Meteorological Society. "Hurricanes: Are They Changing and Are
We Adequately Prepared for the Future?" October 25, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.ametsoc.org/atmospolicy/documents/October252005-Hurricanes_000.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.ametsoc.org/atmospolicy/documents/October252005-Hurricanes_000.pdf)
\[Excerpt \-- Following the question \"What is the future likely to
hold?\" \-- \"Based upon our current understanding relating hurricane
intensity to tropical sea surface temperature, we would expect hurricane
intensity to continue to increase at least in the short term as sea
surface temperatures rise\....research indicates that we are facing a
serious risk in the coming decades of increasing hurricane intensity.
Moreover, increases in associated heavy rainfall events and risk of
flooding is also real.\"\]

Emmer, Rod. "Testimony: Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc.,
before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment -- Reducing Hurricane and Flood Risk in the
Nation -- Presented by: Rod Emmer, ASFPM Member and Executive Director,
Louisiana Floodplain Management Association, October 27, 2005." Accessed
at:
[[http://www.floods.org/PDF/ASFPM_Testimony_HouseT&I_ReducingHurricaneFloodRisk_102705.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.floods.org/PDF/ASFPM_Testimony_HouseT&I_ReducingHurricaneFloodRisk_102705.pdf)
\[Note: Argues that the U.S. has simply got to get a handle on flood
losses \-- such as via planning, smart growth and mitigation \--
\"Nothing less than our nation\'s prosperity and economic security are
at stake\....ASFPM believes levees should be considered an option of
last resort and used only to protect existing communities. Levees should
not be used to protect undeveloped land with the speculation new
development will be placed at risk behind those levees\....damageable
structures behind\...levees should be elevated\...or take other
mitigation steps to avoid the catastrophic damage in the case of levee
failure or overtopping.\" Recommends development of \"National Levee
Safety Program,\" much like national dam safety program was developed
after failure of the Teton Dam in 1976.

Recommends that \"In urbanized areas and for critical infrastructure,
where the impacts of flood damages are catastrophic, Federal flood
control projects should be designed to provide protection at or above
the 0.2% (500-year) flood level.\"\]

Holstege, Sean. "National Guard's Readiness Questioned." Tri-Valley
Herald (CA), December 18, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_3321334]{.underline}](http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_3321334)

Los Angeles Times (Editorial). "Protecting new Orleans." December 19,
2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-levees19dec19,0,6464327,print.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials]{.underline}](http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-levees19dec19,0,6464327,print.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials)

\(3\) DISCIPLINES, DISASTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT \-- BOOK
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:

December 20, 2005 \-- Received, reviewed and approved new draft of the
first, introductory, chapter to this electronic textbook \-- \"The
Importance of Multi- and Inter-Disciplinary Research on Disasters and
for Emergency Management,\" by lead book developer, Dr. David McEntire,
University of North Texas. Forwarded this revised chapter to the EMI
Webmaster to upload to the Project website \-- Free College Courses and
Books section \-- where it should be accessible shortly. From the
chapter\'s abstract:

\"This introductory chapter discusses the emerging consensus among
scholars and practitioners for multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches
to disasters and emergency management. It explains why such this
strategy is deemed necessary and highlights the benefits of moving
beyond explanations emanating from single or separate fields of study.
The chapter then outlines what the reader can expect from the book and
concludes with a discussion about barriers inhibiting disciplinary
convergence and how they might be overcome.\"

\(4\) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY/DEFENSE HIGHER
EDUCATION CONFERENCE, JUNE 5-8, 2006:

December 20, 2005 \-- Talked with Dan Byram of Corinthian Colleges,
Inc., about changing the topic he will work to develop for the
conference from Emergency Management Competencies and Curricula to
working to arrange for a small group of emergency management and
homeland security textbook developers to attend the conference. We have
addressed the topic of EM Competencies and Curricula at the last several
conferences, and am not sure it is still a fruitful topic. For
additional information, Dan Byram can be reached at: <dbyram@cci.edu>

\(5\) HOMELAND SECURITY RELATED ARTICLE AND DHS YEAR-END FACT SHEET:

Department of Homeland Security. \"Fact Sheet: Select Homeland Security
Accomplishments for 2005.\" December 20, 2005. Accessed at:
[[https://dhsonline.dhs.gov/portal/jhtml/dc/sf.jhtml?doid=22191]{.underline}](https://dhsonline.dhs.gov/portal/jhtml/dc/sf.jhtml?doid=22191)
\[Note: In his email to DHS employees distributing this Press Release,
DHS Secretary Chertoff noted that: \"Three key principles will drive our
programs and our philosophy in the weeks and months ahead: working
together as a team, being a risk-managed Department, and overcoming
adversity.\"\]

Hudson, Audrey. "Homeland Security Consolidates Agencies." Washington
Times, December 20, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.washtimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20051219-111536-1518r]{.underline}](http://www.washtimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20051219-111536-1518r)
\[Excerpt: \"The Homeland Security Department is consolidating its
terrorist and natural disaster preparation efforts into one new agency
to include duties once performed by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. George W. Foresman, was confirmed Saturday by the Senate as
undersecretary for preparedness at the Department of Homeland Security.
He will be responsible for all training and disaster planning\....Mr.
Foresman will head the new Preparedness Directorate, which got \$4
billion from Congress for its first year of operations\.... The Senate
has yet to act on the confirmation of FEMA acting Director David
Paulison, whose budget for the next fiscal year was cut by nearly 12
percent to \$2.6 billion\.... \'Under these kinds of catastrophic
conditions {Katrina response}, FEMA should not have seen its role as a
butler waiting in the wings to assist when called. Rather, it needed to
be a battler, anticipating the problems and making the bureaucracy move
quickly for the safety and security of the people of the Gulf Coast,\'
Mr. {Senator} Lieberman said.\"\]

\(6\) KATRINA RELATED ARTICLES, TRANSCRIPT AND REPORTS:

Brookings Institution Metropolitan Program. New Orleans After The Storm:
Lessons From the Past, A Plan For The Future. Washington, DC: Brookings
Institution, 45 pages, October 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20051012_NewOrleans.htm]{.underline}](http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20051012_NewOrleans.htm)

Burby, Raymond J. "Hurricane Katrina and the Paradoxes of Government
Disaster Policy -- Bringing About Wise Governmental Decisions for
Hazardous Areas." (Invited Paper Prepared for Publication in the Annals
of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, March 2006.
Accessed at:
[[http://www.floods.org/PDF/Burby_Katrina_WiseGovernmentalDecisions.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.floods.org/PDF/Burby_Katrina_WiseGovernmentalDecisions.pdf)

\[Abstract: \"The unprecedented losses from Hurricane Katrina can be
explained by two paradoxes. The safe development paradox is that in
trying to make hazardous areas safer the federal government has in fact
substantially increased the potential for catastrophic property damages
and economic loss. The local government paradox is that while their
citizens bear the brunt of human suffering and financial loss in
disasters, local officials pay insufficient attention to policies to
limit vulnerability. I demonstrate in this article that in spite of the
two paradoxes disaster losses can be blunted if local governments
prepare comprehensive plans that pay attention to hazard mitigation. The
federal government can take steps to increase local government
commitment to planning and hazard mitigation by making relatively small
adjustments to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and the Flood
Insurance Act. However, to be more certain of achieving a reduction in
disaster losses I suggest that a major reorientation of the National
Flood Insurance Program from insuring individuals to insuring
communities is likely to be needed.\"\]

Environment & Energy Daily. "Hurricane Katrina: Former Army Corps Gen.
Gerald Galloway Calls For National Flood Plan." September 22, 2005.
Accessed at:
[[http://www.eande.tv/transcripts/?date=092205#transcript]{.underline}](http://www.eande.tv/transcripts/?date=092205#transcript)

Grunwald, Michael, and Susan B. Glasser. "The Slow Drowning of New
Orleans." Washington Post, October 9, 2005, A01. Accessed at:
[[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/08/AR2005100801458_pf.html]{.underline}](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/08/AR2005100801458_pf.html)
\[Note: Missed this one when it came out \-- go figure. Couple excerpts:
\"For years, it was common knowledge in Louisiana and Washington that
New Orleans could be destroyed by a hurricane. But decision makers
turned away from the long-term investments that might have averted a
catastrophe, pursuing instead projects with more immediate payoffs. Some
of those projects made the city more vulnerable\....Local officials
often resisted proposals to protect their communities from storms
because they did not want to pay their share of federal projects.\"\]

King, Rawle O. Hurricane Katrina: Insurance Losses and National
Capacities for Financing Risk (RL33086). Washington, DC: Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress, September 15, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.uscongress.com/section/pdf/CRSRL33086_9_18.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.uscongress.com/section/pdf/CRSRL33086_9_18.pdf)

Roth, Larry. "Statement of Larry Roth, P.E., Deputy Executive Director,
American Society of Civil Engineers, U.S. Senate Committee on
Environment & Public Works." November 17, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.floods.org/PDF/Roth_SentateTestimony_LeveeFailure_111705.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.floods.org/PDF/Roth_SentateTestimony_LeveeFailure_111705.pdf)

Walters, Jonathan. "Contention Over Catastrophes." Government Executive
Magazine, December 1, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=32967&printerfriendlyVers=1&]{.underline}](http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=32967&printerfriendlyVers=1&)
\[Excerpt: \"Already, governors are lining up in opposition to the
\"federalization\" of domestic disaster response. Yet some in federal
government clearly feel that if they\'re going to be blamed for
failures - failures they ascribe at least in part to state and local
officials - then they\'d prefer a system in which the federal government
has the option of being much more pre-emptive\.... Bill Leighty, chief
of staff for Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, spent two weeks in Louisiana
helping coordinate the state response. He says watching FEMA\'s actions
versus the military\'s while he was in New Orleans suggests the strong
need for an intergovernmental discussion of when a more aggressive
federal approach is appropriate. FEMA\'s mind-boggling bureaucratic
approach to every item it provided or action it took was, at times,
brutally exasperating, says Leighty. \'But when you tell the 82nd
Airborne, \'Secure New Orleans,\' they come in and they know exactly
what to do and it gets done.\'\"\]

Wetmore, French. "A Recipe for Rebuilding and Mitigation in New
Orleans." September 7, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://www.floods.org/PDF/FrenchWetmore_Recipe_for_Rebuilding_090705.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.floods.org/PDF/FrenchWetmore_Recipe_for_Rebuilding_090705.pdf)

\(7\) MITIGATION COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS REPORT:

December 20, 2005 \-- Drafted a note in yesterday\'s activity report
about the release of a report by the Multihazard Mitigation Council of
the National Institute of Building Sciences, entitled \"Natural Hazard
Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from
Mitigation Activities; Volume 1 - Findings, Conclusions, and
Recommendations.\"

Today I want to devote some space to note just how important this report
is. As the report notes, the 106th Congress indicated to FEMA that \"an
analytical assessment is needed to support the degree to which
mitigation activities will result in future \'savings\'.\" The context
was that many claims of the cost effectiveness of hazards mitigation
measures as had many questions concerning the validity of such claims.
FEMA contracted with the National Institute of Building Sciences to
independently investigate this question.

As a result of it\'s lengthy and detailed investigation, the NIBS MMC
writes that its report and supporting publicly accessible documentation
\"provides conclusive evidence that natural hazard mitigation activities
are of benefit to the nation as a whole and are a cost-effective
investment of federal funds.

The NIBS MMC concludes that \"a dollar spent on mitigation saves society
an average of \$4.\"

The report further states that \"The study found the FEMA funded
mitigation activities brought about the most additional non-federally
funded mitigation benefits if the FEMA grant was of the sort that helped
to institutionalize mitigation in communities.\" This last is a veiled
reference to FEMA\'s abandoned Project Impact. Why veil the reference?
In that the Administration has recently gotten into the habit of
recognizing mistakes, why don\'t we all recognize that getting rid of
Project Impact was a huge mistake and that this program needs to be and
ought to be brought back.

The summary report and the supporting documentation can be accessed at:

[[http://nibs.org/MMC/MitigationSavingsReport/natural_hazard_mitigation_saves.htm]{.underline}](http://nibs.org/MMC/MitigationSavingsReport/natural_hazard_mitigation_saves.htm)

\(8\) WAR ON TERROR RELATED ARTICLES:

Pipes, Daniel. "Haven't You Heard? The World Is Now A Very Safe Place."
Jewish World Review, December 20, 2005. Accessed at:
[[http://jewishworldreview.com/1205/pipes2005_12_20.php3]{.underline}](http://jewishworldreview.com/1205/pipes2005_12_20.php3)

Washington Post (Editorial). "Going Too Far." December 20, 2005.
Accessed at:
[[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/19/AR2005121901040_pf.html]{.underline}](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/19/AR2005121901040_pf.html)

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)

"Please note: Some of the Web sites linked to in this document are not
federal government Web sites, and may not necessarily operate under the
same laws, regulations, and policies as federal Web sites."