1. The Role of Colleges and Universities in Disaster Reduction Kocaeli ’99 Emergency Management Conference Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul Turkey 16-17 January 2003 B.Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., CEM Emergency Management Higher Education Project Manager Federal Emergency Management Agency National Emergency Training Center, Emergency Management Institute Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 wayne.blanchard@fema.govayne.blanchard@fema.gov http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu

2. 2 Disasters And The U.S. l Large and Growing Range of Hazards l Disaster Losses Are Enormous l Significantly Escalating Last Four Decades l Projected to Become Worse l U.S. Becoming More Vulnerable l No Light At The End Of The Tunnel

3. “The Time Has Come For A New National Approach To Natural Hazards” (Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus, Jan 2001)

4. 4 Implications l Hazards Produce Disaster Experience l Disaster Experience = Lessons Learned l Lessons Learned = Prescriptions l We Basically Know What To Do l Losses Nonetheless Escalating l Current Hazard Approaches Inadequate l Need Redesigned Approach

5. 5 Framework For Role of Colleges and Universities In Disaster Reduction l Generate New Knowledge l Transfer Knowledge l Advocacy l Community Service l Setting Positive Example

6. 6 Generate Knowledge l Conduct Research l Organize and Systematize Knowledge l Provide Critique, Evaluation, Analysis l Reach Out to Broad Range of Disciplines, i.e., Break Out of Disciplinary Straightjackets l Redefine Scholarship to Include Both Basic and Applied Research and Professional Service

7. 7 Conduct Research l Hazard/Disaster Technology l Risk Assessment l Risk Management l Cost-Effective Mitigation Measures l Communication of Disaster Risk l Hazards Public Policy Implementation

8. 8 Transfer Knowledge (Audiences) l Emergency/Disaster Managers l Hazard/Disaster Communities l Key Professions and Disciplines l Policy and Decision-Makers l The Public l K-12 l College Students (Grad and Undergrad)

9. Emergency Management College Programs by Year Wisc-------TESC------- RIT------- UNT------- Project Begins-------- UC- Berk------

10. 10 EM Degree Programs 2003 l 83 College Emergency Mgmt. Programs –35 Certificates, Minors or Diplomas –11 Associate Degrees – 8 Bachelor Degrees –22 Masters Programs – 7 Doctoral-Level Programs

11. 11 Projected Collegiate Program Growth l ~100 Programs Under Investigation –36 at Associate Degree Level –38 at Bachelor Level –22 at Graduate Level

12. 12 Transfer Knowledge (Tools) l Educational Courses and Programs l Training l Workshops l Conferences l Presentations l Consulting l Publications (Other Than Academic/Technical) l Internet l I.e., Become a Hazards Knowledge Hub – Venue for Reliable and Accessible Scientific Information

13. 13 Advocacy l Leader in Disaster Prevention Culture l Foster Change -- Create Infrastructure/Culture Necessary for Engagement l Develop Courses that Promote Engagement l Lend Credibility to Hazard Reduction Measures l Bring Practitioners and Researchers Together l Find Effective Ways to Phrase the Message l New Ways to Reach Policy/Decision Makers l Cultivate “Savvy” Media

14. 14 Community Service l Be Proactive Local, Regional, National, International Citizen l Partner and Network with Stakeholders l Engage With Local Community –Plan, Train and Exercise Together –Citizen Emergency Response Teams l Create Student Service Learning Opportunities l Develop Systems of Accountability for Engagement Activities

15. 15 Set Positive Example l Walk The Talk – Do What Is Advocated l Coordinate, Partner, Collaborate, Network, Share l Become a Disaster Resistant University –Conduct University Risk Assessment –Develop Hazards Risk Management Program –Network, Coordinate and Communicate –Disaster Resistant New Construction –Retrofit of Existing Structures –Soft (Non-Structural) Mitigation

16. 16 Results? l Enhanced Understanding of Hazards and Relationship to Political, Social, Cultural, Economic Environments l Enhanced Disaster Response and Management l Recognition that Disaster Reduction is Feasible l Enhanced Ability to Communicate Risk Effectively l Enhanced Commitment to Disaster Reduction l Reinforced Political Will l Disaster Reduction Integrated and Mainstreamed l Movement from Reactive Response to Proactive Prevention l Creation of Culture of Disaster Prevention

17. 17 Education is Key l “…although knowledge does not guarantee power over natural catastrophe, it is a prime requisite of disaster prevention.” (Alexander 2000, 249) l “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” (H.G. Wells)