Introduction

This first lesson provides a basic introduction to the increasing vulnerability of people, property, and places to disasters, which are becoming more frequent and more destructive. The readings place emergency management within a social and political context and the emerging ways that all sectors—public, private, and nonprofit—work within the governance system. Distinctions are made among emergencies, disasters, catastrophes, and incidents of national significance.

This week’s readings put forth the “Principles of Emergency Management” that have been developed by practitioners and scholars of emergency management. These principles and the standards developed for handling crises by emergency managers help explain emergency management as a profession. Also presented are the major journals and websites useful to emergency managers and those studying emergency management.

Objectives

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Describe the increasing vulnerability of people and places to disaster
• Explain the social and political context of emergency management
• Describe the standards and core principles of emergency management and how they define practice
• Explain how the profession of emergency management defines itself
• Describe the multidisciplinary nature of emergency management
• Explain how lessons learned from past disasters have become general principles to guide future action
• Identify the major organizations related to emergency management: research centers, journals, Internet resources, and associations