PLS 397-701/780-701 Managing Emergency Incidents
Dr David Johnson Strong 300 E-mail: davideajohnson@missouristate.edu Office: Strong 328 (Phone 6-5969) Office Hours: M-F 5:00 PM - 6:00PM or by appointment Winter Intercession 2012 Monday-Friday 6:00-9:00 PM
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The management of emergencies and disasters is critical to the positive outcome of these incidents. It not only applies resources appropriately minimizing damage done and injuries but also assures the safety of the responders. The purpose of this course is to examine the incident management systems in responding to domestic emergencies and disasters. The course examines the broad emergency management context of incident management, the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), how systems are structured and how to operate within them. The course includes simulations and exercises to supplement classroom lecture and discussion. We will examine how these ad hoc organizations are created, the role of command and general staff officers and how these incidents are managed. Through the course students will be familiarized with these roles and how the organization can change as conditions change along with incident demands. The following sections will be used as needed: 1) Operations 2) Planning/Intel 3) Logistics 4) Administration/Finance We will explore, via lectures, discussions, videos, readings and tabletop exercises the application of the principles in simulated incidents. This will be a blended course meaning that it will involve both in class work and the use of online materials for readings. We may be hosting some guest speakers from various agencies. They may discuss how they managed incidents or may assist with the exercises. This course helps support Missouri State University’s state-wide public affairs mission. The provision of public safety services is central to problems that affect society and the role of government. President Keiser has defined public affairs as applying knowledge to problems. That is the focus of this course. REQUIRED TEXTS: FEMA (2010). Introduction to Incident Command System (IS-100). FEMA Independent Study FEMA (2010). ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action (IS-200). FEMA Independent Study FEMA (2010). National Incident Management System (IS-700). FEMA Independent Study
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Completion of the online readings will be demonstrated by submitting FEMA certificates issued upon course completion. Completion of these exams will constitute the online readings grade for the course. Students will be expected to actively participate in the class discussions and exercises. A final exam will be given on January 7, 2011 during our regular class period. The final exam will be cumulative.
COURSE GRADING: Your course grade will be based upon your participation and the final exam. Attendance will be taken every day. Online Readings 30% Class Participation 30% Final 40%
Final grades will be based on total semester points and the following scale. A: 93-100% A-: 90-92% B+: 87-89% B: 83-86% B-: 80-82% C+: 77-79% C: 73-76% C-: 70-72% D+: 67-69% D: 60-66% F: below 60% No curve will be utilized. Only grades within 0.5 of the next higher grade will be considered for “rounding up” at the end of the course and only in the case of exceptional effort in class by the student. GENERAL CLASS POLICIES: 1) ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken every class period. You are expected to attend classes regularly. Class participation counts as part of the 10% participation toward your final grade and if you miss classes, you cannot participate. If you must miss class, advance notice to the instructor is strongly recommended. If that is not possible, talking with the instructor as soon as possible after the missed class is strongly recommended. Leaving class before the period is over while count as a missed class. If you must leave, then please notify the instructor before class. 2) LECTURE MATERIALS MAY DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM TEXT READINGS AND COVER ADDITIONAL TOPICS. The exams will cover both lectures and readings. It is your responsibility to find out what was covered, get notes from someone in class, etc. You are also expected to keep up with the readings. 3) DISCUSSIONS, PARTICIPATION AND QUESTIONS: If you have a question it is likely others do too so please speak up. If your question is of a more personal nature I will be happy to talk with you during my office hours or by appointment. If you have any problems (for example, shyness or a handicap), please come and talk with me. Participation in the discussions and exercises will be included in the computation of the student’s participation grade. 4) ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at www.missouristate.edu/policy/academicintegritystudents.htm. You are also responsible for understanding and following any additional academic integrity policies specific to this
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class (as outlined by the instructor). Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy. If you are accused of violating this policy and are in the appeals process, you should continue participating in the class. 5) NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/. 6) DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION POLICY: To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the Disability Resource Center, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc. 7) DROPPING THE CLASS: It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520. 8) SHOWING PROPER RESPECT FOR OTHERS IN THE CLASSROOM: Please do not arrive late for class or leave class early. If you talk, annoy your neighbors or engage in other disruptive activity during the lecture period, you will be asked to leave. If one of your classmates engages in disruptive activity, bring it to the attention of the instructor--do NOT wait until the end of the semester. And, if you are too tired to stay awake in class, you should be home in bed! What about cell phones, pagers and such? As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor. Similar behavior is expected during the field trips.
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9) EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATEMENT: Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Services. If you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. For additional information students should contact the Disability Resource Center, 836-4192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of Public Safety and Transportation at 836-6576. For further information on Missouri State University’s Emergency Response Plan, please refer to the following web site: http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm 10) DISCLAIMER: The instructor may change any course requirements as necessary if sufficient notice is given (usually one week). The dates for the paper (topics, proposal, etc.) and the final are firm and will not be changed. This also means that the instructor may miss office hours because of a meeting or appointment. COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS: Session 1: January 9– Course introduction and Incident Command Systems overview Reading: IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System IS- 200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents Session 2: January 10 – Incident Command System Exercises Session 3: January 11– Emergency Management System: Local, State and Federal Session 4: January 12 – HSPD-5 and the National Incident Management System Reading: IS-700.a NIMS An Introduction Session 5: January 13 - National Incident Management System Exercises Final Exam
