cial aid during Hurricane Irma
practice based,” said Harris. “We want to give them
as much hands-on learning as we can, that will either
match or even not match our conceptual theoretical
framework.”
That framework is presented in programs such as a
Master of Public Health, Undergraduate Certificate
in Disaster Management and a Graduate Certificate
in Disaster Management. Students of the Institute
graduate with a toolkit of emergency management
skills including FEMA certifications, an amateur radio
license and the ability to create and conduct training
exercises.
When Elizabeth Hardister, a student at the Institute
volunteered to head to the state operations center
at GEMA/HS, she initially expected to only be
observing how the response worked. However, with
the skills she is learning, Hardister was able to work
closely with sheltering to assess Good Samaritan
Shelters and how American Red Cross shelters were
operating throughout the disaster.
“I stepped out of the student and observer role,
became a responder and assisted with survivor
response,” said Hardister. “Being able to study
incident command, emergency operations centers
and hurricane exercises and drills in class as much as
possible … it’s not the same as real life events. Being
there really reinforces this is something that I want to
do.”
The partnership between GEMA/HS and the
Institute for Disaster Management has been in place
for years, and has resulted in graduates being
hired at the agency, as well as a lasting knowledge
shared between students and current employees.
The cooperation demonstrated during Hurricane
Irma may be the result of years of work between two
organizations dedicated to making the state safer, but
students and professionals alike hope the partnership
will continue for years to come.
Professor Tawny Waltz (standing) put her knowledge of a statewide patient placement board to use while assisting ESF
8. During Hurricane Irma, the staff and students helped meet the needs of patients who could not be evacuated to a
traditional emergency shelter due to their functional needs.
DISPATCH