Teaching Improved Approaches for Teaching Improved Approaches for Better Outcomes for Better Outcomes for

Vulnerable PopulationsVulnerable Populations

Higher Ed Conference,Higher Ed Conference, June 3, 2008June 3, 2008Emily Bentley, J.D., and Deden Rukmana, Ph.D.Emily Bentley, J.D., and Deden Rukmana, Ph.D.

Homeland Security & Homeland Security & Emergency Management ProgramEmergency Management Program

Savannah State UniversitySavannah State University

Session ConceptSession Concept

Students need the ability to assimilate Students need the ability to assimilate comprehensive hazard and threat information comprehensive hazard and threat information and translate it into protective measures that and translate it into protective measures that effectively reach all segments of a community, effectively reach all segments of a community, particularly the most vulnerable populations. particularly the most vulnerable populations.

This session will explore approaches to teaching This session will explore approaches to teaching social vulnerability concepts and proposed social vulnerability concepts and proposed research work using those concepts, application research work using those concepts, application of geographic information systems, and the of geographic information systems, and the experiences of local emergency management experiences of local emergency management practitioners and vulnerable residents to distill practitioners and vulnerable residents to distill key practices, challenges, and areas for key practices, challenges, and areas for improvement. improvement.

Grant Project: Grant Project: Improving Outcomes Improving Outcomes

Research on socially vulnerable portions of Research on socially vulnerable portions of Chatham County, Ga., population’s knowledge Chatham County, Ga., population’s knowledge about hazards and protective measuresabout hazards and protective measures

Incorporate research into tools/model that local Incorporate research into tools/model that local governments can use to better serve their social governments can use to better serve their social vulnerable populationsvulnerable populations

Incorporate research into homeland security and Incorporate research into homeland security and emergency management curriculumemergency management curriculum

Support for student fellowships and internshipsSupport for student fellowships and internships

Research & Curriculum Development for Improved Policy Research & Curriculum Development for Improved Policy and Planning for Vulnerable Populations and Planning for Vulnerable Populations Savannah State UniversitySavannah State University

Project Objectives

Education: Content development for Social Diversity Issues in HSEM & Risk & Vulnerability Assessment courses; special topics courses as indicated by research

Research: Social vulnerability & disaster public education research in Chatham County, Ga.

Professors and Departments

Emily Bentley, J.D., Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Deden Rukmana, Ph.D., Urban Studies & Planning

Karla Sue Marriott, Ph.D., Chemistry

Activities and Courses Developed• Student internship & fellowship programs

• Beginning literature review & data gathering for research & course development

Anticipated Outcomes

• Info for local officials regarding social vulnerability & disaster public education approaches (GIS format)

•Methodology for other locations•Syllabi/course content to share• Increase student interest & enrollment (HSEM degree program & physical & social sciences)

Social VulnerabilitySocial Vulnerability

Look first at social vulnerability in Chatham Look first at social vulnerability in Chatham County, Ga., mapping demographics that County, Ga., mapping demographics that point toward reduced ability to plan for and point toward reduced ability to plan for and cope with disasterscope with disasters

Combine social vulnerability factors with Combine social vulnerability factors with information about physical vulnerability, information about physical vulnerability, including storm surge, flood zones, and including storm surge, flood zones, and proximity to hazardous materialsproximity to hazardous materials

Public Awareness & EducationPublic Awareness & Education

Examine the hazard and disaster Examine the hazard and disaster awareness level of residents in socially awareness level of residents in socially vulnerable areas of the county.vulnerable areas of the county.

What information do they have about What information do they have about hazards and what they mean to them and hazards and what they mean to them and their families? their families?

What do residents know about protective What do residents know about protective measures for hazards that might occur?measures for hazards that might occur?

Will coordinate with and provide results to Will coordinate with and provide results to local EMA.local EMA.

Public Awareness continuedPublic Awareness continued

Specifically, do they know how they would Specifically, do they know how they would evacuate in a hurricane warning? evacuate in a hurricane warning?

From where/whom do they get From where/whom do they get information? information?

What is a trusted source for What is a trusted source for communication about hazards/disasters?communication about hazards/disasters?

What community resources do they rely What community resources do they rely upon most often?upon most often?

Bachelor’s Degree ProgramBachelor’s Degree Program

Savannah State University opened the Savannah State University opened the doors on its doors on its Homeland Security & Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM)Emergency Management (HSEM) bachelor’s degree program in August 2007. bachelor’s degree program in August 2007.

The SSU Homeland Security and The SSU Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program (HSEM) Emergency Management Program (HSEM) is the only bachelor’sis the only bachelor’s degree program in degree program in emergency management or homeland emergency management or homeland security in the state of Georgia. security in the state of Georgia.

Comprehensive ProgramComprehensive ProgramThe HSEM program uses an integrated, The HSEM program uses an integrated, comprehensive approach, addressing both comprehensive approach, addressing both emergency management and homeland emergency management and homeland security. security.

Students gain knowledge and skills to Students gain knowledge and skills to improve communities’ capabilities to prepare improve communities’ capabilities to prepare for, prevent, mitigate effects of, respond to for, prevent, mitigate effects of, respond to and recover from all types of disasters, and recover from all types of disasters, whether natural or human caused. whether natural or human caused.

HSEM Program HighlightsHSEM Program Highlights Curriculum/instruction foci include:Curriculum/instruction foci include:

– All-hazards prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response & recovery

– Comprehensive risk assessment (natural & human-caused)

– Emergency operations planning, COOP/COG, & business continuity/resumption

– HSEM policy & legal issues– Effective communication & leadership in a variety of

settings & with diverse constituencies New DHS grant is funding research & student New DHS grant is funding research & student

support related to improving outcomes for support related to improving outcomes for vulnerable populationsvulnerable populations

How to Prepare Students?How to Prepare Students? The program is interdisciplinary in nature, The program is interdisciplinary in nature,

drawing on physical, social, & political drawing on physical, social, & political sciences, as well as communications & sciences, as well as communications & business.business.

The program offers students a mini-EOC The program offers students a mini-EOC training room (GIS, hazard analysis & training room (GIS, hazard analysis & tracking software, EOC & resource tracking software, EOC & resource management software,etc.) so that students management software,etc.) so that students have hands-on experience with have hands-on experience with technologies used in HSEM practice.technologies used in HSEM practice.

Degree RequirementsDegree Requirements

The major requires 125 credit hours to graduate The major requires 125 credit hours to graduate and includes 30 hours in HSEM required and includes 30 hours in HSEM required courses plus foreign language requirements (2 courses plus foreign language requirements (2 years); core curriculum and HSEM and general years); core curriculum and HSEM and general electives make up the remainder of the credit electives make up the remainder of the credit requirements. requirements.

The program also offers a 15-hour minor in The program also offers a 15-hour minor in HSEM.HSEM.

For more information, e-mail For more information, e-mail hsem@savstate.eduhsem@savstate.edu or call 912.356.2541. or call 912.356.2541.

Curriculum Context for Curriculum Context for Social VulnerabilitySocial Vulnerability

In the SSU HSEM curriculum, social In the SSU HSEM curriculum, social vulnerability is addressed in:vulnerability is addressed in:– Broad reference/overview in Intro to HSEM– Two class sessions in Risk and Vulnerability

Assessment– Course specifically focusing on Social

Diversity Issues in HSEM– (each is a required course for HSEM majors)

Social VulnerabilitySocial Vulnerability

Social vulnerability has been defined in Social vulnerability has been defined in terms of people’s “capacity to anticipate, terms of people’s “capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the cope with, resist and recover from the impacts of a …hazard”.impacts of a …hazard”.

Understanding of social vulnerability Understanding of social vulnerability provides insight into how to better prepare provides insight into how to better prepare communities and make them more communities and make them more resilient to hazards.resilient to hazards.

Factors in Social Vulnerability Factors in Social Vulnerability (Cutter model)(Cutter model)

• Personal wealth and poverty • Age structure• Development of the built environment• Single sector economic reliance• Housing stock and tenancy• Race and gender• Ethnic immigrants• Native American homelands• Ethnicity• Occupation• Economic resilience• Education

Trends Related to Trends Related to VulnerabilityVulnerability

– Population trends• Population increase• Children & elderly• Racial, ethnic & cultural diversity• Migration

– Economic disparity• Poverty• Access to resources

Migration Implications for Migration Implications for VulnerabilityVulnerability

Changing nature of communitiesChanging nature of communities– Social and family networks change– Shifting resources

As people move to new placesAs people move to new places– Often do not have understanding of

hazards in new location• Past experiences do not necessarily

correspond to changed geography• Limited knowledge about resources & hazards

About Chatham CountyAbout Chatham County On the Atlantic Coast, so susceptible to Atlantic On the Atlantic Coast, so susceptible to Atlantic

tropical systems/hurricanestropical systems/hurricanes Fourth largest container sea/riverport in the nationFourth largest container sea/riverport in the nation Significant industrial/chemical facilities along Significant industrial/chemical facilities along

Savannah RiverSavannah River Population of 248,469; 17 percent of residents Population of 248,469; 17 percent of residents

below poverty levelbelow poverty level Large numbers of tourists to historic Savannah and Large numbers of tourists to historic Savannah and

coastcoast Evacuated 90+ percent of residents in advance of Evacuated 90+ percent of residents in advance of

Hurricane Floyd in 1999Hurricane Floyd in 1999 Strong local emergency management programStrong local emergency management program

Poverty and Vulnerability Poverty and Vulnerability

Direct link between poverty and Direct link between poverty and vulnerabilityvulnerability

Affects access to monetary resources in Affects access to monetary resources in face of disasterface of disaster

Impacts ability to mitigate against Impacts ability to mitigate against hazardshazards

Must prioritize everyday needsMust prioritize everyday needs

Applied ResearchApplied Research

Project is about taking social vulnerability Project is about taking social vulnerability research and applying it to help local research and applying it to help local officials/EMAs better communicate with officials/EMAs better communicate with residents who have the least ability to residents who have the least ability to prepare for or cope with a disaster.prepare for or cope with a disaster.

How do we do a better job planning for our How do we do a better job planning for our most vulnerable residents and how do we most vulnerable residents and how do we communicate effectively with them? communicate effectively with them?

How do we teach the next generation of How do we teach the next generation of emergency managers these skills? emergency managers these skills?

Mapping Social VulnerabilityMapping Social Vulnerability

Our research will look at hazards that are Our research will look at hazards that are likely in Chatham County along with likely in Chatham County along with demographic data that tend to indicate demographic data that tend to indicate social vulnerability.social vulnerability.

Where higher hazard probability/likelihood Where higher hazard probability/likelihood overlap with high social vulnerability, we overlap with high social vulnerability, we will explore residents’ understanding of will explore residents’ understanding of and preparedness for relevant hazards.and preparedness for relevant hazards.

Proportion of people living below Proportion of people living below 75% of poverty level75% of poverty level

Proportion of households with public Proportion of households with public assistance incomeassistance income

Proportion of unemployed Proportion of unemployed residentsresidents

Proportion African AmericanProportion African American

Proportion of people without Proportion of people without high school diplomahigh school diploma

Proportion of people leaving for work Proportion of people leaving for work after 4:00 p.m.after 4:00 p.m.

Proportion of female-householder Proportion of female-householder families with children 6-17 years of agefamilies with children 6-17 years of age

Proportion of households Proportion of households without carswithout cars

Median Household IncomeMedian Household Income

Proportion of Rental UnitsProportion of Rental Units

Proportion of housing units with Proportion of housing units with more than two persons per roommore than two persons per room

Economic Plus Other FactorsEconomic Plus Other Factors

In addition to economic factors, research In addition to economic factors, research will also include, to the extent possible, will also include, to the extent possible, information on disabled individuals, information on disabled individuals, medical equipment dependent, non-medical equipment dependent, non-English speakers and other areas of English speakers and other areas of special need.special need.

Hazard InfoHazard Info

Project will utilize mapped hazard data Project will utilize mapped hazard data including:including:– hurricane storm surge– flood zones– hazardous materials

• fixed site• transportation-related

Other hazards also will be addressed in Other hazards also will be addressed in survey work with residents (e.g., tornado)survey work with residents (e.g., tornado)

MethodologyMethodology We will supervise students in conducting We will supervise students in conducting

surveys and follow up with residents and surveys and follow up with residents and community organizations in areas with community organizations in areas with high social vulnerability. high social vulnerability.

Survey results will be analyzed and Survey results will be analyzed and reported to help local officials identify gaps reported to help local officials identify gaps in residents’ understanding and possible in residents’ understanding and possible approaches to better communicate with approaches to better communicate with socially vulnerable populations.socially vulnerable populations.

Tools/ModelTools/Model

Throughout the project, we will capture the Throughout the project, we will capture the activities and challenges so that it can result activities and challenges so that it can result in a model or guidelines for other local in a model or guidelines for other local governments/EMAs to follow in looking at governments/EMAs to follow in looking at social vulnerability and related approaches social vulnerability and related approaches for planning and disaster public education for planning and disaster public education for their most vulnerable constituents. for their most vulnerable constituents.

Questions for YouQuestions for You

How does your program/curriculum How does your program/curriculum address social vulnerability?address social vulnerability?

Are you aware of research or course Are you aware of research or course content that we should make sure we content that we should make sure we review?review?

What focus does your program/curriculum What focus does your program/curriculum put on communicating with diverse put on communicating with diverse constituencies?constituencies?

??Questions?Questions?

Emily Bentley, J.D.Emily Bentley, J.D. Deden Rukmana, Ph.D.Deden Rukmana, Ph.D.

bentleye@savstate.edubentleye@savstate.edu rukmanad@savstate.edurukmanad@savstate.edu

912.356.2540912.356.2540 912.356-2982912.356-2982