1. An Innovative Certificate Program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security for Educators, Researchers, Practitioners, and Students
Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D.
Course Developer and Instructor: Auburn University’s
Office of Professional and Continuing Education Emergency Management Certificate Program
Co-Presenter:
Steve Goldstein, M.S.
Emergency Response Meteorologist for the National Weather Service and
Participant in the Auburn University Emergency Management Certificate Program
FEMA Higher Education Symposium,
Emmitsburg, Maryland, June 9, 2016

2. An Innovative Emergency Management Certificate Program
The Certificate Program is now in its tenth year. This presentation includes a discussion of the innovative features of the Certificate Program and its courses, with a particular focus on one of the courses: Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina. Steve Goldstein, an Emergency Response Meteorologist for the National Weather Service and a participant in the course, will share some comments about the course.

3. Comments about the Emergency Management Certificate Program
In April of 2016, Eric Holdeman noted the following on his Disaster Zone Website about the Auburn University – Emergency Management Certificate Program and provided an overview. “I do like the classes they have established. All seem very relevant in today's world of emergency management”.

4. An Innovative Emergency Management Certificate Program
The Emergency Management Certificate program transitioned from the Center for Governmental Services in the winter of 2015 and now resides at its new home, under the guidance and direction of Auburn University’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education.
Quick Facts about the Program
Earn the Emergency Management certificate by completing a minimum of five (5) courses. Individuals enrolled in the Emergency Management Certificate program must complete all four specified core courses as well as one elective. Courses may be taken individually and independently from the Emergency Management Certificate.

5. 2017 Online Schedule for Specified Core Courses and Electives
April 10 through May 7, 2017: Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina (Core Course)
(TBD) Local Government Emergency Management Operations (Roles of Local Government in Recovery Process) (Core Course)
June 12 through July 9, 2017:  Key Elements of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Continuity Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina (Elective)

6. 2017 Online Schedule for Specified Core Courses and Electives (continued)
(TBD) Building an Effective Emergency Management Program (Elective)
(TBD) Defense Support of Civil Authorities (Elective)
(TBD) Planning and Preparedness for Health Care and Medical Professionals (Elective)
October 9 through November 5, 2017:  Unmet Needs and Challenges: Some Key Challenges Facing Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina (Core Course)
(TBD) Resource Management (Core Course)

7. Point of Contact for Information on the Certificate Program and the Courses
Auburn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor's, master's, educational specialist and doctoral degrees. For more information contact: Shavon Williams, MBA Senior Program Developer Office of Professional and Continuing Education (334) or (334) ,

8. Emergency Management Certificate Program and Course Information on Auburn University’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education Website
General Information: 
Course Offerings: 
Course Schedule:  
Registration:

9. Learning Objectives for Three Courses in the Certificate Program
April 11, 2016 through May 8, 2016 Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina (Core Course) (to be repeated in April of 2017)
June 13, 2016 through July 10, 2016 Key Elements of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Continuity Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina (Elective Course)
Oct. 3, 2016 through Oct. 30, 2016 Unmet Needs and Challenges: Some Key Challenges Facing Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina (Core Course)

10. Learning Objectives for Three Courses in the Certificate Program (Continued)
Develop a conceptual understanding of the need for an integrated all-hazards approach to homeland security and emergency management
Recognize the need to be proactive in creating disaster resilient communities and regions, and a disaster resilient nation.
Recognize the threat that terrorism poses for the nation and the future of civilization.
Recognize other threats including public health threats posed to the nation and the world.

11. Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina Overview of the Course
Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post 9/11 and Post Katrina is a 3 CEUs course that will be conducted online in asynchronous time over a four week period.
 This course is first in a series of five courses offered online through Auburn University's Office of Professional and Continuing Education as a part of the Office’s Emergency Management Certificate Program. (The Program began under the aegis of Auburn University’s Center for Governmental Services in 2006.)
The course is designed to help those currently in roles of public responsibility develop a deeper understanding of how to address some newly emerging challenges in homeland security and emergency management, challenges that have been unfolding since 2001 and continue to unfold in 2011 and beyond. The course will be of particular interest to those already in practitioner or policymaking roles, while also being of interest to those preparing for such roles. Those developing and teaching homeland security and emergency management courses in academia will also find the course of value.

12. Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management Post-9/11 and Post-Katrina Overview of the Course (continued)
The importance of recognizing, understanding, and bridging the cultural divide that can exist between those in the fields of homeland security and emergency management and the important of integrating a focus on public safety with a concern for homeland and national security;
The need to nurture a culture of preparedness that includes an emphasis on awareness and mitigation, along with the development of requisite skills and capabilities, including proactive contingency planning skills;
 The importance of focusing planning and preparedness efforts in ways that will help minimize impacts and help ensure community and societal resilience; and
The need to emphasis the development of disaster resistant and resilient communities and regions and the role that public/private partnerships have played and can play in achieving such goals.

13. Course Performance Evaluation
Posting of Self-Introduction 10
Learner Information Form
Reading and Viewing of all weekly assignments
4 X 40 = 160
Weekly Long Posting (approximately 100 – 150 words)
One long posting is due by Thursday of each week of the course.
Weekly Comments Posting (approximately 50 words)
One short posting is due by Friday of each week of the course.
4 X 20 = 80
Completion of Ungraded Assessment by the last day of Week 2 of the course (score for turning in the completed Assessment) 40
Completion of Two FEMA Independent Study Course Assignments or Alternative Assignments (with the alternative assignments posted on a designated Forum of the Discussion Board) Due by the end of Week 1 and Week 3 respectively.
2 X 50 = 100
Completion of the Graded Assessment by the last day of the Course (360 Points Possible)
360
Completion of all four Comments and Course Progress
Tracking Forms
4 X 20 = 80
Total Points Possible
1000

14. SOME BASICS AN ALL- HAZARDS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CYCLE
Identify, Assess, &
Characterize Hazards
Preparedness
Post-Event
Response
Remediation,
Protective
Measures, &
Mitigation
AN ALL-
HAZARDS
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
CYCLE
Crisis
Management
& Event Response
Contingency
Planning &
Continuity of
Operations Planning
Situational Awareness & Assessment
Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D,
4/20/2012
Modeled on an Adaptation of Todd Stewart’s Counter Terrorism Strategic Model

15. A Typology of Emergencies of Differing Levels of Severity
A typology that is pertinent to an all-hazards approach to emergency management as well as to a natural hazards approach to emergency management
A typology that helps clarify the differences in impacts of emergencies of differing levels of severity and the implications of those differences for the emergency management cycle

16. A Typology of Emergencies
Size of
Emergency
Number of Dead &
Injured
Roles of
Government
Approach
Characteristics
of Care
Skill &
Training
Needs
Small Scale
Scores
Local, State,
and Regional
Surge of
capa-
bilities
Manageable
Surge capa-
bility
Medium
Scale
Hundreds
All levels of
government
Modified
Normal to
minimal
Networked
surge capability
Large
Thousands
Modified to makeshift
surge
capability
Catastrophic
Millions
Mostly
makeshift
Minimal or
worse
Make do
Mega-
Catastrophe
Multi-millions to
billions
Remaining
vestiges of
Totally
Minimal if existent
Improvisa-tional
skills
Adapted from Paula D. Gordon " Comparative Scenario and Options Analysis: Important Tools for Agents of Change Post 9/11 and Post Hurricane Katrina," Homeland Security Review, Vol. 1 No. 2 , 2006 ( )

17. Homeland Security Impact Scale
0 -- No real impact on national security, economic security, or personal security
1 -- Local impact in areas directly affected
2 -- Significant impact in some areas that were not directly affected
3 -- Significant market adjustment (20% plus drop); some business and industries destabilized; some bankruptcies, including increasing number of personal bankruptcies and bankruptcies of small businesses, and waning of consumer confidence
4 -- Economic slowdown spreads; rise in unemployment and underemployment accompanied by possible isolated disruptive incidents and acts, increase in hunger and homelessness
5 -- Cascading impacts including mild recession; isolated supply problems; isolated infrastructure problems; accompanied by possible increase in disruptive incidents and acts, continuing societal impacts

18. Homeland Security Impact Scale (continued)
6 -- Moderate to strong recession or increased market volatility; regional supply problems; regional infrastructure problems accompanied by possible increase in disruptive incidents and acts; worsening societal impacts
7 -- Spreading supply problems and infrastructure problems accompanied by possible increase in disruptive incidents and acts, worsening societal impacts, and major challenges posed to elected and non-elected public officials
8 -- Depression; increased supply problems; elements of infrastructure crippled accompanied by likely increase in disruptive incidents and acts; worsening societal impacts; and national and global markets severely impacted
9 -- Widespread supply problems; infrastructure verging on collapse with both national and global consequences; worsening economic and societal impacts accompanied by likely widespread disruptions
10 -- Possible unraveling of the social fabric, nationally and globally, jeopardizing the ability of governments to govern and keep the peace

19. Homeland Security Impact Scale (continued)
"Disruptions" and "incidents" can include demonstrations, work stoppages, strikes, organized or spontaneous vandalism, looting, and riots. Also included are sabotage and terrorist acts and attacks. (The scale and these notations have been adapted by Paula D. Gordon from the Y2K Impact Scale developed by Bruce F. Webster of WDCY2K and sent by him to the membership of WDCY2K on March 4, 1998.)
"Supply problems" and "infrastructure problems" may include food shortages; availability of potable water; degradation of water purity, water distribution and/or waste management; fuel/heating oil shortages, disruptions in utilities (power, gas, telecommunications), disruption in the financial sector, disruptions in transportation (airlines, trains, trucking, ports, ships); pharmaceutical shortages; disruption of health care services or emergency medical services; disruption of fire and public safety services; disruptions or inadequacies, or overwhelming of public works operations and services.

20. The Public Safety/Homeland Security Grid
A way of seeing public safety and homeland security as being mutually inclusive
A balanced and integrated emphasis on
both public safety and homeland security,
not one over the other.

21. 9, ,9
Public Safety ,5
1, Homeland Security ,9

22. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments
Reading and Video Viewing:
Please skim read and view all of the following eight assignments and sets of assignments except for the assignments that are the basis for long and short postings. Those assignments should be read and viewed with great care:
1) Set of two:
"Hurricane Katrina Military Response," General Russel L. Honore, the Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, in a presentation before the Houston Forum on February 13, View online at minutes.
General Russel Honore has noted Eleven Quick Fixes mentioned in his February 13, 2006 presentation before the Houston Forum. These same quick fixes were noted in his testimony before a Senate Committee on 2/9/ See Course Documents Section for slides of General Honore’s Eleven Quick Fixes.

23. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments (continued)
2) Set of two:
Michael Brown Keynote Address before an annual meteorological conference at Mammoth Lakes, California, January 18, Video can be viewed online at (63 minutes.)
Michael Brown Deposition, March 16, 2006, Select Committee, February 11, 2006 See Course Documents Section for the transcript or see link at

24. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments (continued)
3) Set of two:
"Department's Mission Was Undermined From Start" by Susan B. Glasser and Michael Grunwald, Washington Post Staff Writers, December 22, See Washington Post Series in Course Documents Section or .
"Brown's Turf Wars Sapped FEMA's Strength: Director Who Came to Symbolize Incompetence in Katrina Predicted Agency Would Fail" by Michael Grunwald and Susan B. Glasser, Washington Post Staff Writers, December 23, See Washington Post Series in Course Documents Section or

25. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments (continued)
4) Set of two:
Hurricane Pam and Hurricane Katrina: Pre-Event “Lessons Learned” Transcript December 14, 2005, EIIP Virtual Forum now posted at .
"Thoughts about Katrina: Responses to Two Questions about
Hurricane Katrina and America's Resilience" December 1, (The Forum on Building America's Resilience to Hazards, held December 19-21, 2005, was sponsored by The American Meteorological Society in collaboration with The Space Enterprise Council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. All invited attendees were asked to submit responses to any or all of four questions prior to the Forum. These are the author's responses to two of the questions.) Accessible at .

26. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments (continued)
5) Set of two:
An excerpt from General Honore’s book entitled: Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family from Disasters. See . Click on “Read an Excerpt” “Read More”.
Taking Initiative: Building Disaster Resistant Communities (15 minute video)
6) Paula D. Gordon, " Comparative Scenario and Options Analysis: Important Tools for Agents of Change Post 9/11 and Post Hurricane Katrina," Homeland Security Review, Vol. 1 No. 2, See Course Documents Section. Also posted at or

27. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments (continued)
7) Set of four:
 Stephen Jordan, US Chamber of Commerce, speaking on Disaster Relief and Recovery, August 27, View online at
The FBI's InfraGard programs (See )
The Secret Services' Electronic Crimes Task Forces and Working Groups (established under the Patriot Act) (See .)
Wal-Mart at Forefront of Hurricane Relief by Michael Barbaro and Justin Gillis, Washington Post Staff Writers, Tuesday, September 6,

28. A Sampling of One Week’s Assignments (continued)
Set of four:
Project Impact Report from 1998 For an interesting report on Project Impact from 1998, see University of Delaware Disaster Research Center FINAL PROJECT IMPACT Report
The Megacommunity: Cross-sector Collaboration... EIIP Virtual Forum "The Megacommunity: A Group Discussion on Cross-sector Collaboration for Preparedness," Wednesday, February 27, URL for transcript:
A talk by Paulette Aniskoff (former Director of FEMA’s Office of Individual and Community Preparedness and now no longer with FEMA) can be found at   See for a letter from Paulette Aniskoff to supporters of the Citizen Corps For information about Citizen Corps:  
The Congressional Hazards Caucus Alliance Invites You to a Public Briefing: Faults in the East Thursday, March 22, See

29. Excerpts from an Ungraded Assessment
The following is a list of attributes that those in roles of responsibility in emergencies need to have:
The ability to generate trust and respect
The ability to communicate and instill vision
People skills
The ability to select high caliber people
Problem solving skills
The ability to plan and implement
The ability to maximize the effectiveness of projects and teams
The ability to network
A capacity for independent judgment
Common sense
Knowledge and understanding
Good judgment
Initiative
Ingenuity
A sense of responsibility
Tenacity
Humanity and compassion
A capacity to make decisions and act under extreme pressure
Courage/fearlessness
A capacity to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity
The ability to resolve conflicts
A readiness to work outside of normal channels when it is not possible to work within normal channels
Other? (Add to the list) 
a) Do you agree with all the attributes on the list? b) What attributes if any would you add or subtract from this list?

30. Excerpts from an Ungraded Assessment (continued)
Multiple Choice: Please mark the appropriate answer or answers with an "x". Which one or more of the following factors do you think made the response to Hurricane Katrina particularly challenging?
_____a) the catastrophic nature of the event
_____b) the lack of a preparedness plan for an event of such magnitude
_____c) the event overwhelmed, if only temporarily, the capabilities of the governments of most, if not all, of the states and locales involved
_____d) the National Response Plan had been in effect for a short time and had not been tested before Hurricane Katrina
_____e) the National Response Plan required that the Michael Brown, the Director of FEMA, report to Secretary Chertoff and that he not work directly with the White House as he had been used to doing in previous emergencies
_____f) evacuation plans were lacking
_____g) plans and preparedness measures for sheltering in place were lacking
_____h) transportation planning was lacking
_____i) short term preparedness measures had not been taken by the public
_____j) all of the essential elements of the critical infrastructure were in a state of failure in the immediate aftermath of Katrina
_____k) all of the above
_____l) none of the above
_____m) other (explain)

31. Excerpts from an Ungraded Assessment (continued)
An earthquake on the New Madrid Fault could impact a 300,000 square mile area and ten million people. How might the *Homeland Security Impact Scale be used to help develop a consensus concerning the nature and scope of the catastrophe among these key decision makers and stakeholders? Or how might comparative scenario or options analysis be used to aid in strategic planning efforts? (See “Comparative Scenario and Options Analysis” at or .)
(For additional background concerning the Homeland Security Impact Scale and its potential uses, you might also wish to see Part 6 of the report on “Improving Homeland Security and Critical Infrastructure Preparedness and Continuity” at . It is also described in “Integrating Homeland Security into Emergency Management Courses: Some Grounding Concepts and Some Suggested Materials and Approaches" An Expanded Version of a Presentation Given by Paula D. Gordon at the FEMA Higher Education Conference, Emmitsburg, Maryland, June 5, (Click on title or access at .)

32. Excerpts from an Ungraded Assessment (continued)
What is the significance of General Honore’s notion of a “culture of preparedness” for an all-hazards approach to homeland security and emergency management? (See the link to Chapter 1 from General Honore’s book in the Assignments for Week 2.)
What key factors impeded planning and preparedness efforts in Hurricane Katrina? What lessons have yet to be learned?
During Weeks 1 and 2 of the course, what are the most important things you have you learned about the kinds of capabilities and skills that those engaged in emergency management planning and preparedness need to have?

33. Example of a Weekly Course Progress Tracking Form
Course Comments and Progress Tracking Form for Week 1
Comments and/or questions:
  Completion of Assignments Due by the End of Week 1
 ~ Completion of Student Information Form Yes____ No____
~ Posting of Brief Bio and Statement of Interest in Yes____ No____
the Course Topic on Forum 3 of the Discussion Board (100 -
150 words) (due by the last day of Week 1)
~ Completion of one long posting (100 – 150 words in length) Yes___ No___
on the Discussion Board Forum for the current Week’s postings
~ Completion of one short posting (50 – 100 words in length) Yes___ No___
in the Discussion Board Forum for the current Week’s postings
~ Completion of reading of all postings on the Discussion Board to date, Yes___ No___
skim reading and/or viewing of all assignments for the week, and in depth
reading and/or viewing of two of the assignments for the week.
~ Completion of FEMA Independent Study Course or alternative assignment Yes___ No___
~ Completion and transmittal of Comments and Progressive Tracking Form Yes___ No___
(to be cut and pasted into an or attached to an as a regular
MS word doc and transmitted to the Instructor at
Please complete this form and transmit it via an in a regular MS doc file form or cut and pasted into an to Thanks!

34. Certificate Program Participant Endorsements
From a Federal official with responsibilities for emergency management and emergency planning: I think this is a great course. I would recommend for anyone involved in the emergency management field or involved with emergency planning. I would definitely want my staff to take this course.

35. Certificate Program Participant Endorsements (continued)
From an official of a large university with responsibilities for campus-wide Public Safety Information & Education:
This course has really helped me realize the impact on planning and preparedness of the differences in catastrophic and non-catastrophic events, and has helped me feel more equipped to address the planning challenges related to catastrophic events. In the past, I have focused mainly on technical and operational issues, but I can now see the importance of the broader perspective… It has also really emphasized to me the importance of understanding complex problems and the value of generalists, who can lead multi-disciplinary teams of experts in finding solutions to these complex problems that we face in emergency management today.

36. Certificate Program Participant Endorsements (continued)
From a Retired Military Officer currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management:
This course has shown me that there is so much information available if you simply look or ask for it. One of the main things I took away from this course is that flexibility is absolutely essential. There are so many variables that it is impossible to plan for every single situation. Even disasters that are classified the same, such as earthquakes, are very different as pointed out by Timothy Manning from a geologist perspective. I think if you understand that there is no “one size fits all” accompanied with a solid foundation of knowledge, flexibility will provide the necessary ingredient to be successful. Secondly, mitigation and preparedness are extremely critical when it comes to disasters/threats. Proper preparedness and mitigation starts with each individual and if everybody does their part, the end-result will be very different from those communities that lack mitigation practices and a preparedness plan.

37. Certificate Program Participant Endorsements (continued)
From a Police Department Official in California with responsibilities for Emergency Management and Homeland Security:
For me, my takeaway to studying these events has made me a better planner and advocate for education and being prepared. I have incorporated ideas and concepts into my planning and EOP. Furthermore, I have shared videos and readings of these events to educate others within my department to build a coalition of planners and preparers. This has been essential in getting buy-in from the rank and file as we incorporate new ideas and concepts.

38. List of Selected References
Gordon, P. D. Improving Homeland Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection and Continuity Efforts, March 23, (A report that I did for the Lexington Institute.) See or use link at .
Gordon, P. D. Terrorism subsection of Improving Homeland Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection and Continuity Efforts,: “The Different Nature of Terrorism and Terrorist Threats Post 9/11 and the Implications of These Differences . See or use link at

39. List of Selected References (continued)
Gordon, P. D. "Comparative Scenario and Options Analysis: Important Tools for Agents of Change Post 9/11 and Post Hurricane Katrina," Homeland Security Review, Vol. 1 No. 2, Also posted at or .
Gordon, P. D. “Key Challenges for the Future of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Education,” PA TIMES, Vol. 31, Issue 8, August (The PA TIMES is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration.) (Posted at .)
Gordon, P. D. “Pre- and Post-9/11 Perspectives: Understanding and Teaching about Differences in Perspectives Affecting Governance and Public Administration Post-9/11” (Ethics Today, Volume 11 Number 1 and 2, Spring and Summer 2009) URL: .

40. List of Selected References (Continued)
Gordon, P. D. "A Matrix Approach to Comparing and Contrasting Some Differing Perspectives on the Federal Government’s Role in Hurricane Katrina and in Potential Catastrophic Events in the Future," abridged in August 2010 from a June 13, 2007 presentation for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Executive Master of Science Program in Crisis and Emergency Management (August 5, 2010).
Gordon, P. D. (compiler), “List of Selected Homeland Security and Emergency Management References and Resources” (118 pages) (Updated July 28, 2011.) Access at See Files Section.

41. Contact Information & Websites
Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D.
Educator/Writer/Consultant
Course Developer and Instructor for Auburn University’s
Office of Professional and Continuing Education
Emergency Management Certificate Program
Phone:
Websites: