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The MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management
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ResourcesMCNY's Emergency and Disaster Management Blog The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire - Another LookOctober 28th, 2008 On Tuesday, October 28, 2008, Kentucky governor Steve Beshear announced the formation of an independent panel of experts to “review assertions” that the third-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history – which had previously been attributed to the use of aluminum wiring – may have actually been a case of arson. (Article can be accessed here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/us/29kentucky.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) On the night of May 28, 1977, the Beverly Hills Supper Club, located in Southgate, Kentucky, caught fire. It was Memorial Day weekend, and the posh supper club (which had dubbed itself the “Showplace of the Nation”) was packed with some 3,000 guests, and nearly 200 employees. Like many swank entertainment venues that have through history been the scene of horrific – and yet preventable - tragedies, the Beverly Hills Supper Club was long on crystal chandeliers and plush carpets, but woefully short on fire prevention practices and safe building standards. Shortly after 9:00 pm, as fire and noxious smoke suddenly coursed through the supper club’s labyrinth of spiral staircases, corridors, and dining rooms, terrified patrons and staff commenced a desperate struggle to escape the hilltop inferno. Overcrowding, a lack of sprinklers, and obscured exit signs contributed to the deaths of 165 people. Another 200 or so were injured. (An excellent series of articles on the fire and its aftermath by the Cincinnati Enquirer can be accessed here: http://www.enquirer.com/beverlyhills/index2.html) Just over three decades later, the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire understandably remains a painful and controversial topic in Kentucky and neighboring Ohio. Governor Beshear’s decision to establish the panel followed meetings with several of the fire’s survivors, as well as an in-depth review by fire experts of the extensive documentary material connected with the case. According to an October 28, 2008, New York Times article by journalist Stacy L. Neitzel, several survivors prepared a report that expressed their concern that arson may have been the cause of the deadly blaze. Among those on the panel are two law professors from the University of Kentucky, and the former special prosecutor, Cecil F. Dunn, who had produced a report of his findings in February of 1979 for the Kentucky Attorney General’s office. While we wait to see the final results of the panel’s investigations into the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire, Disaster Central believes that Governor Beshear has made a wise decision in establishing the panel. Disaster Central realizes that a historical, political, social, or legal re-evaluation of a disaster is most often a painful exercise for those touched by the disaster. And yet, it also understands that because emergency management and homeland security are experiential (in that we learn from what has occurred) in nature, it is important to know as much about the mechanics of disaster as possible. As part of MCNY’s MPA program in Emergency and Disaster Management, students are given the opportunity to study fire disasters like the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire in Boston in 1942, and the Beverly Hills tragedy in 1977, to better understand not only what happened, and why, but what to do as emergency managers should it happen again. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Emergency Management Planning, MCNY EDM Program. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. Falling Windows are “Broken Windows” - Part IISeptember 22nd, 2008 In an excellent article by journalist William K. Rashbaum that was published in the September 19, 2008, edition of The New York Times, the City of New York indicated that it is getting tough on unsafe construction practices in the five boroughs. The administration is to be commended for taking the hazard that is unsafe construction seriously, and for implementing revised and re-invigorated regulations and practices that not only protect construction workers, but public safety responders and the general public. It is precisely the kind of proactive, serious leadership that sets the tone for a generation of safer New Yorkers in all walks of life. While Disaster Central’s primary mission is to provide a voice and forum to the Emergency Management, Homeland Security, and public safety communities, it recognizes the important - indeed, lifegiving - role that the construction industry plays in making New York City a more prosperous and livable place. While the recent Mayor’s Management Report (MMR) indicates that construction accidents have doubled during the past fiscal year, the total still remains a very small percentage when compared to all the safe and responsible construction that daily occurs in the City. New York City is made up of many types of people and things, so it’s not so difficult to balance the needs of the public safety communities with the needs of the construction and real estate industries. Perhaps there are additional costs in increased regulation of construction sites - but when has it ever been in the worst interests of any organization or community to safely build safe buildings? Disaster Central thanks the City of New York for taking action on this issue. It also thanks the construction and real estate communities for renewing their commitment to provide all New Yorkers with buildings we can run to, not flee from. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Emergency Management Planning. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. Falling Windows are “Broken Windows”September 17th, 2008 At shortly after 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, yet another window dropped from the as-yet-unfinished Bank of America building, located at 1111 Sixth Avenue, in New York City. The window, which fell from the 51st floor, shattered upon hitting the sidewalk, but fortunately, no one was injured. Disaster Central’s readers may recall that last month, this blog (under Financial Incentives - Part II) sounded the call for fines and other monetary penalities for construction accidents of this type to be significantly increased as a deterrent to future incidents of this type. (Please note that while Disaster Central frequently discusses New York City issues, construction accidents aren’t unique to this City, and all communities across the nation can benefit from ensuring that construction sites are safely operated.) But, perhaps, what is unique to New York City is how such acts seem to go unpunished. Perhaps not surprisingly, the City of New York has failed miserably to act in a responsible and effective way to address this all-too-frequent hazard. Indeed, according to an article in The New York Times, while a stop-work order has been issued for the Bank of America project, at this time no decision has been made as to whether or not a citation will be issued - let alone a sobering fine. In the City of New York, it is illegal to throw anything out of a window, to drop objects from high places, and to otherwise perform actions that endanger the public. If the average citizen threw something out of a window, chances are very good that such an individual would be caught and severely punished. It seems odd to Disaster Central that the New York City Police Department (NYPD), which is usually very effective at combating crime, seems unable to combat this crime - and yes, accident or not, it is activity that poses a very real risk to the people of New York. Moreover, if the City of New York can’t prevent or reduce the number of construction-related accidents in the City, then how on earth does it expect to convince its citizens, visitors, and businesses that it is fully prepared for those hazards that aren’t preventable? This is not to say that we aren’t prepared, but we’re obviously not doing all that needs to be done in order to protect the citizens of New York from legitimately-preventable hazards. I think of it as an offshoot of the famed “broken windows theory,” in which it’s argued that if you stamp out “small” crimes, you have a better chance of changing the circumstances under which “big” crimes can occur. If you can prepare for and prevent small hazards, you have a much better chance of effectively preparing for, responding to, and recovering from, large hazards. While the monied mandarins in New York City may seem to care less about the safety, security, and preparedness of New Yorkers and our visitors, Disaster Central does not. This is yet another example of that cultural horror known as “survivability and class,” or the idea that the wealthy, the well-connected, and the powerful will always have the means to survive a disaster, and to escape responsibility for aiding and abetting these hazards. Just as many people in New Orleans were essentially left behind as 2005’s Hurricane Katrina bore down on that city, the people of New York City are being ignored (and hence placed at greater risk for harm) by a refusal of the City Council and the administration to effectively address construction-site hazards in the Big Apple. Until such time, all New Yorkers are urged to add a “hard hat” to the list of items in their Go Bags! Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Emergency Management Planning. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. Financial Incentives - UpdateAugust 12th, 2008 On the morning of August 12, 2008, a large section of glass-cladding tumbled 51 stories from the new Bank of America Building near Times Square, sailed across 42nd Street, and shattered on the sidewalk shed in front of the former Verizon building. Thankfully, only one minor injury was reported. However, as the situation indicates, it could have been much worse. Since Emergency Management is often about prevention, the City of New York needs to take more strident steps toward mitigating the many hazards associated with construction sites in the City. Taking a page from New York City’s War on Big Tobacco, skyhigh fines levied against the property owners, construction companies, and others associated with these projects will go a long way toward reducing the threats to the public and our first responders from shoddy construction and safety practices. As the financial incentive argument contends, the City must make safety and responsibility a less expensive option than non-compliance. Therefore, fines on the order of several million dollars per violation are in order. Smoking is hazardous to your health - so are falling windows and debris, collapsing cranes, and improper construction practices. Hopefully, just as the City has led the way in stamping out smoking, it will now address another clear and present danger to the health and security of all New Yorkers. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Emergency Management Planning. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. Special Powers Legislation, Terrorism, and Emergency ManagementAugust 4th, 2008 Throughout history, governments have during times of crisis devised and/or enacted special powers legislation as part of their efforts to thwart acts of terrorism, the growth of insurgency movements, and to allow for a more effective response to emergency situations. In some instances, this special powers legislation has taken the form of martial law or curfews in the wake of a hydrological or seismological event, while in others it has resulted in significant changes to national law, protocol, and tradition. In the United States, many on both sides of the political aisle point to the USA PATRIOT ACT as an example of special powers legislation - there are, however, differing views as to its efficacy and Constitutional legitimacy, and each side has its respective strengths and weaknesses. There may also prove future instances where special powers legislation might be needed to enable a more robust response to, and recovery from, a catastrophic event. Emergency managers at all levels of government may want to consider those scenarios under which special powers legislation might be needed, and what form this legislation would take. In addition to curfews, special powers legislation might extend to containment and quarantine regulations and procedures, or to the handling of hundreds of thousands of decedent remains in an expeditious manner. As part of their respective preparedness matrices, Emergency Management planners and policymakers may wish to consider the value and appropriateness of special powers legislation in advance of a catastrophic event. What are your thoughts on the use of special or emergency powers legislation as a strategy and a tactic in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security communities? Should there be limits to special powers legislation, and should all legislation of this type contain “sunset” or “renewal” clauses? Is it possible that special powers legislation successfully prevents acts of terrorism? Disaster Central welcomes your thoughts and insights. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Anti-Terrorism, Homeland Security, Emergency Management Planning, Counter-Terrorism. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. McCain or Obama? Obama or McCain?August 3rd, 2008 The 2008 US presidential election cycle is well underway. Not surprisingly, the outcome of this election will have some (possibly major) effect on the Emergency Management and Homeland Security communities in the United States. Whether you’re a supporter of (in alphabetical order) Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama, from an EM/HLS viewpoint, who do you think will prove a more effective leader for the EM and HLS fields? Before responding, please consider those issues that impact the EM and HLS fields, including vision, funding, legislation, and loyalty. Please note that Disaster Central’s professional standards prohibit interference in the political process through the providing of direct endorsements. Disasters are non-partisan, and so is Disaster Central. That does not, however, preclude Disaster Central’s readers from sharing their respective opinions of EM and HLS, and their relation to the 2008 US presidential election, in this blog. We welcome your viewpoints. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Homeland Security, Emergency Management Planning. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. MPA Emergency Management and Homeland Security SymposiumJune 26th, 2008
The MPA program in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) was pleased to welcome Joseph F. Bruno, Commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM), as the keynote speaker for our first annual Emergency Management and Homeland Security Symposium. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Homeland Security, Emergency Management Planning, MCNY EDM Program. Post a Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. Welcome, Commissioner BrunoMay 15th, 2008 The MPA program in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is pleased to welcome Joseph F. Bruno, Commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM), as the keynote speaker for our first annual Emergency Management and Homeland Security Symposium, to be held June 18, 2008, at MCNY’s campus in lower Manhattan. In the time that he has served as Commissioner, Mr. Bruno and his team of professionals have worked to effectively educate the people and systems of New York City on how to be better prepared in the face of natural, human, and technological emergencies. Commissioner Bruno’s presentation is part of NYC OEM’s continuing mission to provide New York City with the finest in emergency management. MCNY is excited by this important educational opportunity. Thank you, Commissioner! Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Homeland Security, Emergency Management Planning, Emergency Preparedness. 1 Comment » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. Congratulations, Mr. or Mrs. President!April 29th, 2008 Congratulations, you’ve just been elected the next President of the United States (POTUS). Based upon your present knowledge of the emergency management and homeland security disciplines in the nation, what would your top policy or operational priorities be in terms of these fields? What would your second and third priorities be? Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Homeland Security, Emergency Management Planning. 5 Comments » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program. WelcomeMarch 20th, 2008 I’m Professor David Longshore, director of the MPA program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security at Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), and I cordially welcome you to our Emergency Management and Homeland Security blog, Disaster Central. It’s a catchy name, I know, but particularly so because of the vital subject matter it covers. Right now at Disaster Central, we’re discussing numerous general topics relating to Emergency Management and Homeland Security, such as:
Within each of these topics, Disaster Central features themed discussions that draw upon historical, operational, cultural, economic, philosophical, technological, political, and other sources and examples to create an on-line forum for the advancement of knowledge, insights, and wisdom relating to the Emergency Management and Homeland Security disciplines. Disaster Central also posts topics relating to past emergency management and homeland security events, including historic natural, human-made, and technological disasters. In these posts, participants can discuss the circumstances behind some of history’s catastrophes, both large and small, as well as the often-harsh lessons learned. Disaster Central is also a resource for information relating to MCNY’s MPA program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and on how you can apply for admission to this selective program. While one of the cardinal rules in politics is never make it personal, and never take it personally, Disaster Central respectfully requests that participants avoid engaging in personal attacks, threats, inflammatory language, and other unprofessional behaviors that can hinder an intelligent and relevant discourse on emergency management and homeland security topics. This includes the use of profanity. Thank you in advance for your professional cooperation, and welcome to Disaster Central, MCNY’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security blog. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by David Longshore in Natural Disasters, Anti-Terrorism, Homeland Security, Emergency Management Planning, Counter-Terrorism, Maritime Domain Protection, Intelligence and Information-Sharing, Airline Security, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Public Sector Continuity, Exercise Design, Human Services, Evacuation, Sheltering, Emergency Preparedness. 6 Comments » David Longshore is the Director of MCNY’s Emergency and Disaster Management MPA Program.
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