Disaster Planning, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation
Disaster Management
Non-Credit Certificate Program
Program Description
This non-credit certificate program is designed to provide attendees with an
overview of existing public sector (emergency management) strategies and private
sector (business continuity management) strategies in planning and responding to
disasters. The attendees will gain knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in
their disaster planning and preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation roles.
The program will also cover the concepts of crisis communications and social media
in disaster management and will conclude with a hands-on simulation exercise.
Program Objectives
The Disaster Management Non-Credit Certificate Program will provide the
participant with an:
•understanding of the National Incident Management System and how it applies
at a local level.
•understanding of the use of crisis communications in relation to disasters.
•opportunity to participate in a disaster exercise.
•awareness of lessons learned from previous real world disasters through the use of
case studies.
DISASTER
Planning, Response,
Recovery, and Mitigation
THE CLASS IS INFORMATIVE,
thought-provoking, and relevant.
Elmira’s class model of employing
both academics and practitioners to
co-teach is the perfect blend of theory
and application. I highly recommend
this course to anyone responsible for an
emergency/business continuity plan.
Additionally, a certificate in Disaster
Management should be required of all
county and town supervisors.
Intended Audience
•Police/Fire/ EMS middle managers and leaders
•County fire service and emergency management personnel
•Elected, appointed and career civil service personnel at the village, town and county levels
•Private sector business continuity and disaster recovery management personnel
•Volunteers and NGO leaders who respond to disasters
•Interested citizens who want to learn about emergency management
­—Charlotte Wright Mosher
Assistant Director Academic Support,
Johnson at Cornell University
Disclaimer
This program is not an Emergency Services first responder course. Issues addressed in
the program will be at the County Emergency Operations Center level and above.
Past Participants from the following organizations:
•American Red Cross
•Cornell University
•Elmira Police Department
•Hilliard Corporation
•NYS DHSES OFPC
•Schuyler County Office for the Aging
•Schuyler Hospital
•Steuben County IDA
•Talisman Energy Inc.
•Town of Ashland
•Town of Chemung Emergency Management
•US Salt LLC
•Watkins Glen International Speedway
•Yates County Emergency Management
Office of Continuing Education and Graduate Studies
117 McGraw Hall • One Park Place • Elmira, NY 14901
(607) 735-1825 • www.elmira.edu
I APPLAUD ELMIRA COLLEGE for
offering the Disaster Management Program.
This will give people a clear undertanding of
how to handle the many emergency situations
that we as a community may encounter.
—Bill Yessman
Schuyler County Sheriff
Office of Continuing Education and Graduate Studies
Email: continuinged@elmira.edu • www.elmira.edu/continuinged
Distinctive | Convenient | Affordable
Program Modules
All Modules are three hours each unless otherwise indicated.
Module 1: Introduction to Disaster Response and Recovery: Public and Private Sector including Business Continuity Planning and Management
This module will acquaint attendees with the background and terminology to address disaster
planning/preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in the public sector (emergency
management) and the private sector (business continuity).
Module 2: Overview of Federal Documents Governing Public Sector Disaster Management and Private Sector Standards
This module will provide the attendees with an overview of relevant federal programs addressing
disaster management topics and issues for County and local level personnel and agencies. Private
sector topics will also be addressed.
Module 3: Example of County Emergency and Business Continuity Plans
The Role of Mitigation in Disasters
This module will provide attendees with an overview of the emergency management and business
continuity planning process and considerations. Mitigation considerations will be discussed.
Module 4: Crisis Communications and Public Information in Disasters
This module will provide attendees with an overview of the basic concepts and considerations in
formulating a crisis communications plan. Attendees will also be introduced to the role and function
of the Public Information Officer (Public Sector) and Communications Personnel (Private Sector).
Module 5: Social Media Use in Disaster Management
This module will provide attendees with an overview of social media including Twitter, Facebook
and other applications for use in the public and private sectors for communications in disaster
management.
Module 6: Volunteers in Response and Recovery: Affiliated and Unaffiliated or Spontaneous Volunteers and Volunteer Organizations Assisting in Disasters (VOAD)
This module will provide attendees with an overview of the roles of affiliated and unaffiliated or
spontaneous volunteers and volunteer organizations during a disaster. Attendees will also be given
an overview of the roles of Volunteer Organizations Assisting in Disasters.
Module 7: Developing Public and Private Partnerships for Disaster Management
This module will provide attendees with an overview of considerations for the development and use
of public-private partnerships in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation for disasters.
Module 8: Case Studies of Disasters
This module will provide attendees with an overview of case studies and after action reports based
on real world incidents including the 2009 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 into
Clarence Center, NY, the 9/11 Pentagon attack and the 2009 active shooter at the American Civic
Association in Binghamton, NY.
Module 9: Future Trends in Emergency Management/Business Continuity Simulation Exercise Preparation Training
This module will provide attendees with overview of the future of emergency management and
business continuity. Attendees will also be trained on Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation
Program (HSEEP) concepts in preparation for the class simulator board exercise.
Module 10: Simulation Exercise, Hot Wash and After-Action Process (on Elmira College Campus on a Saturday) (5 hours)
This module will provide the attendees with the opportunity to apply their course learning through
the hands-on experience of conducting a simulation exercise. The attendees will also work through a
hot wash and develop an after action report for the exercise.
Outstanding Faculty for the Disaster Management
Non-Credit Certificate Program
Robert Williams
Emergency Disaster Preparedness Management Instructor at Elmira College, Criminal
Justice Instructor for Excelsior College, and Emergency Management and Homeland
Security Instructor for Empire State College; Tioga County Coroner, Project Manager in
disaster recovery in both the Town and Village of Owego, NY, and independent training
consultant for workplace violence awareness classes for the Village of Owego. Serves as
Deputy Fire Chief, Captain of the Fire Police Squad, and ambulance driver for the Owego
Fire Department EMS Squad. 30 years in law enforcement: including Tioga County
Deputy Sheriff, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office Investigator, and a Police
Officer with the Waverly, Newark Valley, and NYS Park Police Departments. Retired as the
Village of Owego, NY Chief of Police. Holds an Associate’s, a Bachelor’s, and two Master’s
degrees. Certified NYS Fire and Fire Police Instructor. Served in the U.S. Air Force and
the New York Air National Guard.
Paul A. Garten
Emergency and Disaster Management Instructor for American Public University
System and also instructs a Homeland Security course for SUNY Canton. Retired from
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after a 23 year career. Special Agent Bomb
Technician on the Washington, DC Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), worked as a
Special Mission Planner for WMD responses at Quantico, Virginia, and served as the
Chief of the Bomb Data Center. Prior to entering the FBI, he was a New York State
Trooper. Served as a commissioned Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army, working
physical security at a special weapons depot. Holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree.
Robert Barnes
Currently serves as Bradford County Director of Public Safety. Previously held the
position of City of Oneonta Fire Chief (19 years as Chief of Department/City Emergency
Manager), Bradford County Emergency Management Coordinator, and Otsego County
Emergency Services Coordinator. Also currently a NYS Fire Instructor, Adjunct Fire
Academy Instructor, NYS Emergency Management/Dept. of Homeland Security Instructor
Cadre, and Member of the NYS Incident Management Team. Holds an AS degree in
general education from SUNY Cobleskill, attended SUNY Brockport, and is a graduate of
the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program.
Maggie Barnes
Currently serves as a Marketing Representative for the Guthrie Clinic. Owns MB
Communications, a consulting firm that offers training and support in incident management
techniques. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in Political Science.
Certified by FEMA as a Public Information Officer. Resides in Waverly, NY.
Karyn Perestam
While completing her M.S. in Emergency Disaster Preparedness Management at Elmira
College, Karyn was hired to work as a communications consultant to work directly with
the Mayor of Owego, immediately following the September 2011 floods. As a result of
this work, Karyn was hired to work with H20 Partners, a group of experienced disaster
professionals who work with local communities, states, and federal programs as guides
and service providers. Holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Also works full-time as a
Facilitated Enroller and Marketing Representative for Fidelis Care NY.