Summary

The eight guiding principles of emergency management reviewed in Lesson One are developed within the legal framework established to prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from the wide spectrum of events that challenge communities and regions. First responders at the community level must work within a unified and coordinated national approach to planning for major crises and incidents. Details of the unified approach are the focus of Lesson Two, but you have already examined parts of our national unified and coordinated program. Your review of major associations and their websites, as well as emergency management journals has shown you a variety of tools for continuous improvement in emergency management.

In addition to the core principles of the emergency management profession—and introduction to the key associations and their websites, as well as key journals--Lesson One introduced the concept "vulnerability to" and made the point that major disasters are occurring more frequently than in the past. You were asked to think about why major disasters are occurring more frequently and to write an essay on that topic.  After you have submitted your writing assignment, see the instructor’s PowerPoint that comments on the increase in disaster vulnerability. (Note: You will only be able to access the PowerPoint after first submitting your paper to the Drop Box.) Use the PowerPoint to assess your essay. As the course progresses, think about what changes you’d make to your original comments.

Self-check Exercise:

Can you identify and explain the significance of each of these lesson topics?

• Vulnerability to disaster
• Social and political context of emergency management
• Core principles of emergency management
• The profession and standards of emergency management
• The multidisciplinary nature of emergency management
• Major emergency management resources