Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for EM 203 archive revision 201401

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Effective Term:
Winter 2014 through Spring 2018

Course Number:
EM 203
Course Title:
Disaster Response I
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Covers principles that promote effective disaster response practices in operations and management. Examines the nature of disasters, the context of response operations, and the roles and responsibilities of individuals and organizations. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

The course will review the popular myths and realities of human behavior in catastrophic events as well as the divergent approaches to disaster response operations (e.g. command and control vs. networking/problem solving). The importance of providing an effective response for the affected population will be discussed, and will include a variety of important generic functions (e.g. implementing the emergency operations plan, warning, evacuation, search and rescue, emergency medical care/mass casualties, mass fatalities, sheltering and mass care, donations management, damage assessment, the disaster declaration process, media relations/public information, individual and public assistance, and critical incident stress debriefing.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Students will be able to:

  • Discuss the response operations from a historical perspective.
  • Discuss and apply theory of response operations
  • Identify best practices, common mistakes and application of various response strategies.
  • Develop critical thinking and analytical skills as they apply to response operations.

Course Activities and Design

  • Lecture and discussion on effective disaster response practices.
  • Exercises and evaluation measuring: Failed responses, adequate responses and best practices.
  • Create documentation of roles and responsibilities for individuals and organizations.
  • Practice critical thinking and decision making in various disaster scenarios.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

  • Written Assignments
  • Case Studies
  • Term Paper
  • Written Exams

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Nature of response operations and management.
  • Political context of response management
  • Role and responsibilities of various individuals and various organizations.
  • Failed response vs. adequate response vs. best practices.
  • Analysis of events, circumstances, content and the making of decisions that positively influence outcomes.

Related Instruction

Computation
Hours: 10

 Discuss and apply theory of response operations.

 Demonstrate how funding of disaster response has changed by comparing costs of
similar events over time.
 Design exercises and evaluation measuring: failed responses, adequate responses and
best practices, including financial assistance from the federal government, NGO’s and
non-profits.
 Prepare documentation to track resources, expenditures, equipment and personnel

Communication
Hours: 20

 Discuss the response operations from a historical perspective.
 Identify best practices, common mistakes and application of various response strategies.

 Create documentation of roles and responsibilities for individuals and organizations.
 Practice critical thinking and decision making in various disaster scenarios.
 Apply federal documents and forms to specific disaster management functions.

Human Relations
Hours: 10

 Discuss the response operations from a historical perspective.
 Identify best practices, common mistakes and application of various response strategies.

 Compare the level of response and resources allocated to various ethnic and
socio-economic groups in disaster events.
 Identify specific problems in response operations when dealing with vulnerable populations
 Discuss resources available to individuals based upon locale, city vs rural populations.