EHS 320Disaster Management

Fall 2013Mondays

4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Jeffrey T. Mitchell, Ph.D, CTS

Course Title: Disaster Management

Course Description: This course describes the history and status of disaster management in the United States. The student learns basic concepts of disaster management and disaster management strategies and tactics. The federal government role in disaster response is described. By means of case reviews and tabletop exercises the students learn the most important steps disaster response personnel must keep in mind to manage effectively an overwhelming event.

Important: What if ???

The instructor reserves the right to alter the course schedule, requirements, and / or the method of course delivery. In all likelihood, should a situation significantly interfere with normal class schedules at UMBC, the Black Board system will be used to present a substantial portion of this course.

Course Objectives: At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

1. Discuss the history and status of disaster management in the United States.2. Describe the roles of the local, state and federal government in disaster

management.3. List the four main functional areas of disaster management.4. Perform a hazard assessment on a specific building on the UMBC campus.5. Define the terms “mitigation”, “preparedness”, “response” and “recovery”.6. Discuss the Incident Command System.7. Define the terms “staging”, “command post”, “IC”, “sector”, “perimeter”,

and “hot zone”.8. List the ten most important considerations for first arriving disaster response

personnel.9. Prepare a tabletop disaster drill for the final class project.10.Write a term paper on a specific disaster chosen by the student.11.Pass a final examination with a minimum score of 70%.12.Participate actively in the final tabletop model.

Course Regulations and Requirements:

A. Class Attendance is required. Three (3) points will be deducted from a student’s final grades for each unexcused absence.

B. In most cases, only medically related and documented excuses will be considered for excused absences.

C. Students must present, no less than one week prior to the potential absence, a written request in order to be excused from a specific future class. Documentation justifying an unexpected absence from class must be in the instructor’s university mailbox within 24 hours of the missed class session.

D. Unexcused absences occurring on quiz or test days, or on days when a major assignment is due, will result in a student losing five (5) points from the final grade score.

E. Late assignments are not acceptable unless the instructor authorizes a delay in advance of the deadline.

F. The classroom environment requires that interactions between the instructor and students, vice versa, and between students and each other should always be respectful. Inappropriate talking or reading in class, corresponding via email or using the worldwide web, working on assignments for other classes and sleeping in class are rude behaviors that indicate to the instructor that the student is not interested in taking responsibility for their education. Any student engaging in a behavior the instructor feels is disruptive to the learning environment will be asked to leave the class.

G. Laptop computers may not be used in class. Exceptions for learning disabilities may be made. Permission of the instructor is required.

H. Radios and cell phones must be in the “off” mode during class time.I. Pagers must be in the “silent” alert mode during class time.J. Cell phones may not be used in class to handle calls, pages or text

messages and must be turned off or in the silent mode during class time.

K. All cell phones, pagers and radios must be “off” during quizzes and exams.

L. Five (5) points will be deducted from the final grade score for students who are consistently late for class.

M. Term papers must be original and must not have been used in previous courses nor may they be for current courses. Term papers must use primary source material.

N. Talking, looking around or at another’s test paper or having open unauthorized books or notes open during a quiz or an examination is perceived as cheating and will be handled as such.

O. The principles of academic integrity are always in effect during this course (no cheating, no plagiarism, no fabrication of material, and no careless or shoddy work). Academic integrity means that people show up for and complete class sessions and that they actively participate in the class program, discussions, and activities. Academic integrity also means that assignments are completed on time and to the best of one’s abilities. One who has academic integrity will not participate in cheating activities or in the un-cited use of material that is some else’s. Academic integrity means that, if you know someone else is cheating, you would challenge that student first and come to the instructor with such information if the student does not correct the behavior.

Specific Course Requirements:

10% Individual Hazard Assessment – University Center. Due October 7, 201310% Class project – Create final tabletop exercise. (All class members participate and contribute to the rating.) Due December 2, 2013.25% Mid term examination. October 14, 2013.30% Term paper – In depth review of the literature on a specific disaster of your choosing (one disaster per person). Due November 19, 2013.25% Final examination and tabletop drill. December 10. (Failure to participate in the final drill costs a letter grade on the final course grade.) {Remember, the table top model was due on December 2, 2013}.

Grading System: An 8-point grading system is used in this course.

A = 92 to 100 - ExemplaryB = 84 to 91 - Above averageC = 76 to 83 - AverageD = 68 to 75 - Below averageF = below 67 - Failure

EHS 320Disaster Management

Fall 2012Jeffrey T. Mitchell, Ph.D., CTS

Schedule is subject to change to accommodate guest speakers or subject matter alterations.

Sept. 2 Labor day - UMBC Closed. No Class.

Sept. 9 Introduction, Key terms, background and historical perspectives on disaster management.Natural and technological disastersHazard Analysis

Sept. 16 National Incident Management System and Incident Command Search and Rescue in disasters.

Sept. 23 Tabletop exercise number 1. Situation review. Lessons learned.

Sept. 30 Four phases of emergency managementMitigationPreparednessResponseRecoveryHazard Assessment due today

Oct. 7 Designing the disaster response. Rehearsal for doom.

Oct. 14 Mid Term Examination todayHazardous materials

Oct. 21 Tabletop exercise number 2. Situation review. Lessons learned.

Oct. 28 Aviation disasters.

Nov. 4 Current issues in disaster. Managing a disaster critique.

Nov. 11 Emotional aftershocks of disaster – Victim Response

Term paper due today, November 11, 2013

Nov. 18 Preventable disasters in History

Nov. 25 Student Presentations

Dec. 2 Student PresentationsTabletop (Final tabletop model due today)

Dec. 9 Final Written Examination and tabletop model exercise