Hesston College Mission Statement
Hesston College, the two-year college of the Mennonite Church USA, educates and nurtures each student within Christ-centered community, integrating thought, life, and faith for service to others in the church and the world.
Hesston College Outcomes
Hesston College strives to help each student become:
- A Competent Communicator
- A Critical Thinker
- An Integrative Thinker
- A Socially Responsible Person
- A Person of Biblical Understanding and Faith
Disaster Management mission statement
The Hesston College Disaster Management Program exists to develop leadership abilities in managing disaster response, emphasizing Christ-like service to socially vulnerable people.
General Information
| Credits: | 3 |
| Instructor: | Russ Gaeddert |
| Contact information: | E-mail: russg@hesston.edu Office phone: (620) 327-8294 Home phone: (620) 663-1240 |
| Schedule: | Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
Course Description
This course is the first in the Disaster Management program. It introduces and explores the field of disaster management. It provides background for dealing with disasters, victimization, and economic losses from disasters in organized ways. It examines how organizations serve communities and individuals from a service perspective.
Course Objectives
The students will:
- Develop understanding about the nature of disaster;
- Recognize the importance of history in disaster response;
- Examine the roles of voluntary and government organizations in disaster;
- Recognize the cycles of recovery, and the physical aspects of recovery;
- Develop understanding of the politics of recovery;
- Examine how to build sustainability into a community holistically after disaster;
- Explore careers in disaster management.
Primary Sources
The primary textbooks for this class are Disaster Response and Recovery by David A. McEntire and Holistic Disaster Recovery, produced by the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center. Handouts, articles, online discussions, guest speakers, and videos/DVD's will be used in the class.
Course Requirements
- Attendance:Each student is expected to attend class unless there are special circumstances. If an absence is necessary, the learner is expected to let the instructor know before class, and be responsible for any material covered that day. Unexcused absences may result in the lowering of a grade.
- Class participation: Participation in discussions is key to having successful class sessions.
- Exams:There will be four exams throughout the semester, including the final exam.
- Written assignments: There will be one major research paper due, and shorter assignments will be assigned throughout the semester. Along with content, all assignments will include evaluation of neatness, grammar, punctuation, and organization. Online assignments will be due over an eight-week period of time and will not be accepted after the due date. Other assignments that are handed in late will be lowered ten percentage points, and will be accepted up to one week after the due date.
Grading Policy
| Approximate point values: | ||
| Exams (four, including the final) | 30% | |
| Miscellaneous assignments | 25% | |
| Research paper | 20% | |
| Online assignments | 15% | |
| Participation/attendence/notes | 10% | |
| A = | 90 – 100% |
| B = | 80 – 89% |
| C = | 70 – 79% |
| D = | 60 – 69% |
| NC = | 0 – 59% |
Course Topics
I. Overview of course
II. Hazards
A. Natural hazards
B. Technological hazards
C. Civil/conflict hazards
D. Impact of hazards on disaster response and recovery
III. Disaster Participants
A. Public sector
B. Private sector
C. Non-profit sector
B. Emergent groups
IV. Human Behavior
A. Media
B. Myths
C. Realities in response and recovery
V. Disaster Management Theories
A. Traditional model
B. Professional model
C. Comparison of models
VI. Preparedness and Early Response
A. Preparedness tips for different hazards
B. Issuing warnings
C. Evacuation
D. Sheltering
E. Search and rescue
F. Emergency medical care
G. Stress management
VII. Moving beyond immediate need in response
A. Dealing with donations
B. Dealing with volunteers
C. Assessing damages
D. Dealing with debris
E. Dealing with regulations
VIII. Facilitating recovery
A. Individual assistance
B. Public assistance
C. Participatory process
D. Economic vitality
E. Promoting social and intergenerational equity
F. Protecting environmental quality
G. Incorporating disaster resiliance
IX. Overcoming challenges
A. Transportation issues
B. Politics
C. Special populations
D. Communications
E. Legal concerns
F. Record keeping
X. Tools for recovery
A. Technological equipment
B. Managing disasters at a local level
C. Managing disasters at a state level
D. Managing disasters at a federal level
XI. Dealing with future disasters
A. Disasters on the rise
B. Insufficiently recognized hazards
C. Increased vulnerability
XII. Promoting Effective Disaster Response and Recovery
A. Preparing the community
B. Acquiring financial resources
C. Establishing an EOC
D. Training and exercises
E. Public education
F. Mitigation
XIII. Careers in Disaster Management
A. Public sector
B. Private sector
C. Non-profit sector
Special Needs
Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent full demonstration of abilities should contact the instructor to discuss any needed accommodations.
Disclaimer
The dynamics of this course may necessitate the contents of the syllabus to change. Thus, the syllabus is subject to change with the approval of the instructor.