**November 17, 2006 FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project
Activity Report**

\(1\) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE, JUNE 4-7, 2007
\-- MITIGATION TOPIC:

Communicated with Melis Mull, Policy, Resources & Communication Section
of the FEMA HQ Mitigation Division concerning her suggestion that a
session on Mitigation be incorporated into the future June 4-7, 2007
Conference. Communicating now on variety of options.

\(2\) HAZARDS WORKSHOP ABSTRACTS AND SELECT POWER POINTS

Received late yesterday the latest \"Disaster Research\" electronic
newsletter (#466) from the Natural Hazards Center at the University of
Colorado at Boulder. Amongst the many profitable items therein was a
note to the effect that abstracts and several Power Point presentations
from this past July\'s 2006 Annual Workshop are now electronically
accessible at:
[[http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/archives/2006/]{.underline}](http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/archives/2006/)

\(3\) INCIDENT COMMAND:

Received today the following (edited) USFA Press Release dated late
yesterday, concerning new ICS offerings:

\[\"Emmitsburg, MD - \...first-responders can now take two new Incident
Command System (ICS) review courses online through the National
Emergency Training Center (NETC) Virtual Campus. These new
scenario-based courses are intended as a review of fundamental ICS
concepts and principles for the student prepared to take intermediate or
advanced-level ICS training, or for those who need a refresher in
ICS\.... New ICS courses now available are:

Q-464 - Fundamentals Review for ICS 300. This course can be utilized as
a pre-course module or as remedial training for the classroom version of
ICS 300; this course alone does not meet the training requirements for
ICS 300.

Q-465 - Fundamentals Review for ICS 400. This course can be utilized as
a pre-course module or as remedial training for the classroom version of
ICS 400; this course alone does not meet the training requirements for
ICS 400.

The two new courses follow the precedent set by the popular on-line
interactive ICS training offered on the NETC Virtual Campus,
specifically designed for operational responders. Two of the courses
often used by responders to meet NIMS ICS training requirements:

Q-462 - ICS 100, Introduction to ICS for Operational First Responders.

Q-463 - ICS 200, Basic ICS for Operational First Responders.

These courses can be found on the NETC Virtual Campus at
[[http://training.fema.gov]{.underline}](http://training.fema.gov/).
Select the \"Online Training (NETC Virtual Campus)\" link found under
Quick Links.\"\]

\(4\) PREPAREDNESS:

Department of Health and Human Services. Providing Mass Medical Care
With Scarce Resources: A Community Planning Guide. Washington DC: HHS
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, November 16, 2006, 175
pages. Accessed at:
[[http://www.ahrq.gov/research/mce/#down]{.underline}](http://www.ahrq.gov/research/mce/#down)

\[From HHS Press Release: This Planning Guide \"provides community
planners, as well as planners at the institutional, state and federal
levels, with valuable information that will help their efforts to plan
for and respond to a mass casualty event (MCE). An MCE is a catastrophic
public health or terrorism-related event, such as an influenza pandemic,
in which the needs of tens of thousands of patients or victims could
overwhelm the community\'s health care system. This planning guide
examines MCE response and preparedness challenges across a wide range of
health care settings and provides recommendations for planners in
specific areas. The guide also discusses ethical and legal
considerations related to MCE planning in pre-hospital, hospital,
acute-care, and alternative-care sites. Planning for palliative care, or
the aggressive management of symptoms and relief of suffering, that must
be integrated into the planning for, and response to, an MCE, also is
covered.\" Note: This guide was prepared by Health Systems Research,
Inc, Rockville MD, Dr.s Sally J. Phillips and Ann Knebel (editors).\]

Department of Homeland Security. \"Homeland Security Launches New Ads to
Demonstrate Importance of Family Emergency Planning.\" Washington DC:

DHS Office of the Secretary, November 14, 2006. Accessed at:

[[http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1163518483290.shtm]{.underline}](http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1163518483290.shtm)

\[Excerpt: \"The new PSAs unveiled today include television, radio,
print, internet and outdoor versions\... Also released today is a
television ad featuring First Lady Laura Bush discussing emergency
preparedness. All of the new PSAs highlight the fact that many families
have not yet taken the steps needed to prepare for emergencies including
getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan and
learning more about different emergencies and their appropriate
responses\.... The new documentary-style television and radio ads
feature real families discussing their emergency plans, or lack of and
ask, \"Is your plan any better?\" In her PSA, Mrs. Bush encourages
Americans to take some basic steps to prepare their families for all
types of emergencies. The new PSAs will be distributed to television and
radio stations nationwide this week via FastChannel and all of the new
ads can be viewed on the Ad Council Web site at
[[www.adcouncil.org]{.underline}](../www.adcouncil.org).\" BWB Note: To
access the PSAs, I recommend, as well, going to:

[[http://www.ready.gov/america/about/psa.html]{.underline}](http://www.ready.gov/america/about/psa.html)

Palmer, Kimberly. \"FEMA\'s Makeover.\" Government Executive Magazine,
November 1, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.govexec.com/features/1106-01/1106-01na4.htm]{.underline}](http://www.govexec.com/features/1106-01/1106-01na4.htm)

\[Interview with FEMA Acquisition Chief Deidre Lee who notes that the
key to a successful response to a Hurricane Katrina level disaster is
\"to have many pre-positioned contracts\" (a preparedness activity).\]

Phillips, Zack. \"Disaster Drills - Practice Doesn\'t Make Perfect.\"
Government Executive, November 1, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.govexec.com/features/1106-01/1106-01s1.htm]{.underline}](http://www.govexec.com/features/1106-01/1106-01s1.htm)

\[Excerpt: \"Pam is one of scores of simulations, drills and exercises
that take place every year at all levels of government and in the
private sector with the intention of testing and preparing everyone from
first responders to senior-level decision-makers for crises. Critics say
real-life events often show the practices don\'t adequately prepare
these critical players. {Critics} say many preparedness exercises are
not nearly as valuable as advertised, or as they could be. Simply
holding them is not sufficient; the exercises must be evaluated to
ensure they are testing the system enough to expose vulnerabilities and
problems that must then be repaired\.... Disaster planning can be a big
business.

TOPOFF {Top Officials} critics speak with derision about the consulting
companies often contracted to run and evaluate disaster exercises,
saying the simulations and the resulting plans can be cookie-cutter
products from a central office, with little tailoring to a specific
location\.... {Critics} complain that TOPOFF and other simulations
don\'t seem to be designed to strenuously test the system. All but the
first TOPOFF have occurred with advance warning. Emergency responders
learn more valuable information for free from real-life false alarms -
for example, a nerve gas scare in the Senate in February 2006 or a
student pilot flying within three miles of the White House in May
2005\...\"\]

RAND Corp. Combating Terrorism: How Prepared Are State and Local
Response Organizations? Santa Monica, CA: RAND (By Lois Davis, et al.),
November 2006, 196 pages. Accessed at:
[[http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG309/]{.underline}](http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG309/)

\[This report, prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense,
\"presents the results of the third and final wave of a national survey
to elicit assessments of state and local response agencies of the
activities they have undertaken after 9/11 to respond to
terrorist-related incidents and of federal programs intended to improve
preparedness and readiness for terrorism. The survey also sought
information on how state and local agencies are resourcing these
activities.\" In addition to the book-length report, accessible from the
URL noted above is a press release and a 15-page summary.\]

\(5\) SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY (GA)\--BA IN HOMELAND SECURITY &
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT APPROVED:

Talked today with Dr. Shirley M. Geiger, Department of Political
Science, Public Administration & Urban Studies at Savannah State
University, who notes that the Georgia Board of Regents has recently
approved the SSU proposal to develop and implement a BA Degree in
Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Plans are to \"stand-up\"
the new BA this-coming Fall Semester.

Dr. Geiger has forwarded to us a copy of her 48-page proposal to develop
this program and we will soon post it to the \"Proposals Compendium\" on
the EM HiEd Project website.

Dr. Geiger also noted that two faculty positions are open in the
department and both will support the new degree. She forwarded the two
pasted in announcements:

\"Asst/Assoc/Full Professor Public Administration: Ph.D. in political
science, public administration or related discipline. ABDs may apply,
all degree requirements must be completed by August 2007. Evidence of
scholarly productivity, excellent teaching/research skills, and
grant-writing as principle investigator. Prefer applicants who can teach
evenings/weekends in one or more of the core areas covered in the NASPAA
standards for MPA programs, as well as one or more of the service
courses in American Government and Global Issues. Ability to teach
information management, nonprofit management, public budgeting and
finance, emergency management, or quantitative and qualitative research
methods a plus. Submit statement summarizing interests, skills and
relevant experience, vita, graduate transcript, evidence of teaching
ability, and a sample of scholarly writing (letters of recommendation
should be sent under separate cover) to Public Administration Search.\"

\"Asst/Assoc/Full Professor Homeland Security and Emergency Management:

Candidates from any disaster-related discipline encouraged to apply;
must have research interests and professional qualifications in

emergency management. Teaches primarily in undergraduate program, will

also teach graduate courses and lead development of graduate
specializations/certificates. Prefer candidates with research and
teaching interests in disaster policy, research methods, technology
applications, hazardous materials policy and management, public health
and disasters and homeland security. Earned doctorate required with
understanding of HBCU mission and values. Submit cover letter,
application, vita and three references with contact information. Review
of applications begins 11/27 and will continue until filled. Apply to
Chair HSEM Faculty Search.\" (Office of Human Resources, Savannah State
University, P. O. Box 20601, Savannah, GA 31404)

Currently a graduate Topics Course on \"Leadership in Disaster\" is
being team taught at SSU \-- by a PolSci faculty member and the local
Chatham County Emergency Manager, whom I am told is doing an outstanding
teaching job and is very well regarded by the students.

Amongst Core Courses planned:

\* Politics and Policies of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

\* Law and Ethics in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

\* Emergency Planning, Hazard Mitigation, and Incident Management

\* Social Diversity Issues in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

\* Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Homeland Security and Emergency
Management

\* Terrorism in the Modern World

\* Tools for Decision Making in Homeland Security and Emergency
Management

\* Internship

\* Capstone Seminar

Amongst Elective Courses planned:

\* Introduction to Planning/Applications of Geographic Information
Systems

\* Public Health Issues in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

\* Mediation and Consensus Building Skills for Homeland Security and
Emergency Management

We are in the process of acquiring sufficient information for the
drafting of a description to post in The College List on the EM HiEd
Project.

Dr. Geiger can be reached at: <geigers@savstate.edu>

\(6\) TERRORISM:

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terror -
A Center of Excellence of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Based at the University of Maryland. Website:

[[http://www.start.umd.edu/about/]{.underline}](http://www.start.umd.edu/about/)

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, K-011

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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