With people regularly attending services each week at faith-based organizations around the world, these organizations must have plans in place to provide safe egress of large crowds of attendees from their buildings on a regular basis. Much can be learned from and implemented into such organizations to provide greater community resilience.
Culture profoundly affects human behavior. Disasters also profoundly affect human behavior. From the beginning stages of a crisis situation - planning and preparations through execution of operations - emergency management decision makers from government agencies and private sector organizations must be able to view their jurisdictions through various cultural lenses.
At 8:16 a.m. on 16 September 2013, a shot was fired (the first of many) in Building 197 of the Washington Navy Yard. During the next 69 minutes, while at least 117 officers from eight law enforcement agencies attempt to neutralize the threat, two U.S. Park Police tactical medics and a Navy surgeon triage and treat the wounded.
One responder sits in a classroom listening to an instructor and discussing key concepts and issues with other participants. Another responder sits at a computer during odd hours going through tutorials and posting on discussion groups. Although both types of trainings are effective, the deciding factors between instructor-led, web-based, or a combination of both trainings are personal.
As conflicts arise between law enforcement agencies and the communities in which they serve, police cadet leadership programs could reduce crime, increase community relations, and change lives. Through education, community service, and public safety, these programs promote highly trained police departments and break down socioeconomic barriers.
Emergency service fields traditionally have relied on hands-on educational strategies. However, online options are becoming more attractive because of their flexibility, availability, and cost. By matching a person's learning style with an educational environment that is conducive to that style, professionals can continue their educational journey in new and exciting ways.
Preparedness involves a careful balance between training and education. Successful homeland security enterprises are able to conceptualize this blend of training and education to adequately prepare their workforces and accomplish their missions. It is not enough to just know how to do something, it is equally important to know why.
Modern emergency management agencies want more than education, more than training, and more than experience. They want it all, which makes it more difficult for an emergency management student to secure a job directly out of college. By collaborating with these agencies, universities can help their students gain the skills required for emergency management positions.
The evolution of emergency management has necessitated an expansion of higher educational offerings. However, in this relatively new discipline, there is no comprehensive database of the many academic programs around the world. The International Association of Emergency Manager's Global Student Council seeks to fill this gap.
The Emergency Management Institute is conducting a virtual tabletop exercise series on active shooters. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated active shooter scenarios in an informal setting. This exercise series can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures.
