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The MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management
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ResourceMCNY's Emergency and Disaster Management Blog Bo Mitchell Delivers at “Protect Your Brand” EventApril 8, 2013
By: Obiano Huntley On March 26, 2013 students, professors and emergency management practitioners from the public and private sectors were edified by a consummate professional about the importance of having an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Mr. Bo Mitchell, founder of 911 Consulting, delivered a three hour presentation which was packed with information, while at the same time dynamic because of his use of videos and humor. Mr. Mitchell managed to keep the audience engaged and through stressing the need for vigilance and proactivity, the mindset of persons in attendance changed for the better. The free event titled, “Plan to Protect Your Brand” was orchestrated by MCNY and Red Pyramid NYC . It proved to be great success. An all hazards approach was emphasized by Mr. Mitchell; this entails situation specific risk assessments and plans aimed at preventing and mitigating the effects of all types of natural and man-made disasters. For entities to maintain and build upon their reputation, protecting workers and persons who venture into their compound or jurisdiction is of preponderant importance. Not only is it ethically and morally correct, but it is also federally mandated. Being negligent or haphazardly approaching such an important aspect of safety endangers the survival and reputation of public and private entities. Mr. Mitchell brilliantly made this lucid and built upon this in the sessions that followed. These sessions focused on work place violence and active shooter situations. Referencing stipulations spelled out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mr. Mitchell was adamant that professionalism and experience are key in developing plans which are compliant with federal expectations and regulations. Figures were cited to show the alarming state of affairs in the US: 4.1 million workplace injuries, 2 million incidents of workplace violence and nearly 6,000 accidental workplace deaths, all within the past year. Mr. Mitchell believes that in order to be resilient entities need to plan, train, exercise and drill. For an individual who has decades of experience in security and emergency management consulting, and an individual who has worked in drafting plans for universities, high rise buildings and Fortune 500 companies, this proposition resonated and reiterated the need for repetition and redundancy in preparation. It seems almost a given that it would be easy for entities in the private and public sector to vehemently come on board. This however, as sadly pointed out by Mr. Mitchell, is not the case. Myths and fallacious reasoning such as “it wouldn’t happen here” and “we have done something” are not sufficient. Such wanton disregard of trends exemplifies nonchalance and can negatively affect your brand. Mr. Mitchell correctly views fear of change major impediment to effectively training and formulating plans by entities in the public and private sectors. Where change for the better is instituted, it can mean knowing how to react and how to correctly plan to mitigate the effects of a hurricane or recognizing signs in persons who are volatile and prone to becoming violent. “Protect Your Brand” proved to be informative and sensitized those in attendance as to why as emergency managers we should strive for perfection.
Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. Peter Gudaitis of NDIN sparking interest in Purpose 1 studentsMarch 27, 2013
By Obiano Huntley In the immediate aftermath of an emergency or a disaster many individuals usually turn to leaders of their faith for comfort and guidance. Such leaders should however be consulted and prepared not only for the recovery phase, but also in a more all-encompassing capacity which focuses on preparation, response and mitigation. This is partly the concern of the National Disaster Interfaith Network (NDIN) and the visit by its President, Peter B. Gudaitis made clear the importance of their role in fostering an inclusive approach, sensitive to the beliefs of the many faiths and religions. Mr. Gudaitis’ presentation to Purpose 1 students at MCNY was highly informative and purposeful, not only with regards to the history and the workings of NDIN, but also in terms of the strides being made on a national level to consciously involve the faith based organizations in matters related to emergency management. Founded in 2005, the organization has gained national notoriety for its commitment and success in advocating for an approach by local and federal government which emphasizes the importance of cohesively reaching out and embracing congregations nationwide. To accomplish this end, convincing religious leaders to not only come on board but also build partnerships, educate their congregation, encourage volunteerism and properly counsel followers, have served as foundational aspects which must be built upon. There were a few takeaways from the discourse which stood out and they are identified and expounded upon below. a) Religious competency: Being able to interface in a non-evasive and respectful manner results in increasing the comfort level of all congregations be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism or any other faiths. Educating all stakeholders about the traditions, meaning of emblems, titles of leaders and practices fosters collaboration and creates an atmosphere conducive to productive interactions. b) Needs increased: In the aftermath of a disaster or crisis, Mr. Gudaitis pointed out that Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) and their houses of worship have served as shelters, centers for crisis management and counseling and as places of refuge. To meet the increased needs, training and education is needed. c) Role of education: This was particularly stressed especially since emergency response plans, drills, and exercises are seen as important, but are rarely implemented. With houses of worship prone to coming under attack, increased vigilance is needed. d) Growth: For there to be resilient communities, partnerships need to be formed, volunteers need to be acquired and trained and the growth of the organization needs to be supplemented with the support of local, regional and national entities, many of which are directly involved with religious leaders and organizations. The incorporation of initiatives geared at preparing religious bodies is by no means an easy task; especially with many breakaways and sects and the sheer large number congregations to be reached and convinced about the merits of the approach NDIN promulgates. With leaders such as Mr. Gudaitis , his and like-minded organizations, and the increased interest and need for faith based groups to work together for the safety of the general populace, leaps have been made; leaps which will continuously make our communities and nations better prepared. For more details about the great job that is being done at NDIN, select the link below: Mr. Gudaitis also pointed out that there will be job openings soon, so it would be wise to check the website from time to time. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. Tunnel to Towers at MCNYMarch 18, 2013By: Obiano Huntley Disaster relief organizations distinguish themselves from contemporaries for a myriad of reason; some are exceedingly massive in the scale of their operations, some because of their meteoric rise, some because of the degree to which communities are actually aided and others because of the emotions they stimulate when relief efforts are being carried out. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, though not as large in its operations as other organizations, is growing rapidly and positively meets all of the aforementioned prerequisites. The presentation to Purpose 1 students by Battalion Chief FDNY (Ret.) Jack Oehm, who serves as Director of T2T runs nationwide and Volunteer Coordinator, made this clear and provided a unique perspective on how disaster relief efforts can be handled. The foundation is named after a New York City firefighter who valiantly ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers on 9/11 in hope of saving lives. The foundation was established in remembrance Stephen Siller and has two primary objectives: to build smart homes for US military personnel who are severely injured during combat and to provide disaster relief assistance on a wide scale in formats that are expanding yearly. In order to achieve these objectives the foundation started a fundraising run which retraces the steps of Stephen on that faithful day. The hugely successful run has raised millions, especially since it has become national in scale with other major cities simulating runs to raise funds with the goals of the organization in mind. Donations and grants also are valuable sources of funding and Chief Oehm emphasized that 99.9% of the funds raised are used for assistance of disaster survivors. Superstorm Sandy provided an opportunity for Tunnel to Towers to expand its role and capacity. Centers were established in Garrison Beach, Long Island and Staten Island which serve as hubs to disperse resources to communities adversely impacted by the storm. The present project embarked upon witnesses the foundation training volunteers and providing equipment to aid in mold remediation projects in homes flooded because of the storm. If done by homeowners, this undertaking would be costly (ranging from $5,000 to $10,000) but the service is provided by the foundation free of cost. For hundreds of homeowner presently strapped for cash, the provision of such services goes a far way in making communities more resilient. Efforts to insulate and sheetrock homes have begun with the goal of being able to take on more aspects of rebuilding damaged home is the future. Chief Oehm was adamant that partnerships such as those with the St. Bernard Project and the Gary Sinise Foundation are appreciated. In times of distress brought on by disasters, such collaborations are vital for the recovery of communities.
Through engaging and asking questions, students were clearly in awe as to how the foundation managed to swiftly and successfully expand. Selflessness and an unyielding commitment to realizing what Stephen Siller would have loved to see are the driving force behind the organization’s success. Volunteers and the leadership of Chairman, Frank Siller, and the memory of Stephen combine to make this foundation a major actor on the stage where disasters are the villain.
The link below will allow for you to learn more about the great job being done by this entity: Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. John D. Solomon Fellowship POV: Alex TheranMarch 18, 2013
My time as a Solomon Fellow has been the most hands-on, practical and educational experience I have had in the course of my training in emergency and disaster management. Since beginning at the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR) within the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), I have been asked to contribute substantially to a number of projects across multiple divisions. For my first few months at OEPR, I worked directly for DOHMH planning staff, compiling research, notes and ideas about DOHMH’s objectives in planning for response to threats from biological agents and working with other agencies. I met weekly with senior planning staff, along with my mentor, Erich Giebelhaus, to discuss strategy and overlap between several related projects. When Hurricane Sandy was approaching New York City, DOHMH had a partial activation, and I stayed late that Friday night to receive just-in-time training and serve as a Desk Officer to the Planning Section Chief who oversaw many aspects of the DOHMH emergency response. Over the weekend and into the next week, my intern colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (also fellows) and I alternated shifts in the agency’s emergency operations center. I had the pleasure of working with the amazing women who run the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Well after the subways had been shut down and Zone A evacuation was ordered, we worked late into the evening helping to staff shelters with medical personnel. That night, the head of the MRC offered to drive me home in her personal car. She was incredibly sweet and encouraging, and played the latest album by her children’s rock band all the way back to Brooklyn. I was amazed and impressed at how dedicated and professional this group was throughout the response. In the weeks after the storm, I was invited into the field to hand out N-95 respirator masks to home owners gutting their houses in the Rockaways. I also acted as a note taker for many hot washes, where members of different ICS sections and working groups described their experiences responding during and after Sandy. At the time, I was just completing my Masters in emergency and disaster management, and it was an incredible opportunity to observe the entire life cycle of this disaster. Right now, I am working with the OEPR Evaluations group writing post-disaster survey questions and learning about how important data collection is for emergency management. While I don’t wish the devastation that this storm brought on so many people, many of whom are still recovering, I couldn’t have been happier to ride it out with the emergency managers and planners at DOHMH. I am grateful to the Solomon Family, FCNY, OEM and DOHMH for making these experiences possible for the other Fellows and me. Alex Theran is a Fellow at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She is enrolled in Metropolitan College’s MPA program for Emergency and Disaster Management, and also has taken FEMA independent study courses, and attended New York State training courses on operations of the New York State Emergency Operations Center. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. Visit by Comptroller John C. Liu and Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation to MCNYMarch 8, 2013
By Obiano Huntley – Students and faculty of the Emergency and Disaster Management program at MCNY had the pleasure of meeting and being presented with a wealth of information by an esteemed leader, and by representatives of the respected Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation on March 1, 2013 at the school. The rarefied presence of City Comptroller John C. Liu and presenters Austin Chi and Jennifer Yin of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, resulted in an insightful discourse, which left many in attendance wanting more. Comptroller Liu delivered an address which gave the audience an idea as to how his office is approaching the management of disasters, and more specifically what is being done in the aftermath of Sandy to make the city more resilient. Topics such as the Rapid Repairs program, improvements to infrastructure and the politics of disaster management were touched upon. His positive outlook for the future and personal endeavors to rebuild communities devastated by Sandy show that his resolve is unbending with regards to seeing that more attention is given to improving the city’s mitigation and recovery efforts. Of particular importance was his mention of the role of effective volunteering, an undertaking he noted the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation has nearly mastered. Though he was quick to not take praise for the success the organization has had in the city, Comptroller Liu’s role in promoting the positive impacts of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation cannot be denied. The presenters from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation combined to deliver an eye opening overview of the history, philosophy and efforts of this organization that has separated itself from other disaster relief organizations. Meaning “Compassionate Relief”, the words and actions of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation epitomize the drive for excellence in delivering assistance to areas around the globe which are afflicted by disasters. It is because of their selflessness and a separation of ulterior motives for assisting individuals, along with a culture which respects the rights and beliefs of the communities thy venture into, they have been successful. Founded by Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen in 1966, the organization has grown bountifully because of donations and volunteers, but more so because of the tenets which guide their approach. Mr. Chi pointed to fact that the driving force behind each task the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation undertakes is simply to help; a feature which results in them being welcomed and revered across nations and cultures. The effort to assist communities affected by Sandy witnessed the organization gathering funds and dispersing Visa debit cards worth $600 to families who could prove they resided in affected areas. Such drives are done in collaboration with city officials and volunteers, some from within the communities they served. The lack of red tape and bureaucracy, which impedes efforts to quickly provide assistance, is a feature Ms. Yin spoke about. Being effective, is in large part due to how quickly resources can be organized and mobilized, and this is one of the trademarks of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, along with their seriousness and commitment. This was amplified by the testimony of Sandy Survivor, John Reyes. His emotional account of the selfless service and professional conduct of the organization in helping him, resulted in him joining their relief efforts, capped off an evening, which left many in attendance eager to come on board. EDM Program Director Ali Gheith thanked Comptroller Liu, representatives of Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and Professor Lorraine Motola, who was instrumental in organizing the event. Other esteemed guests included President of MCNY, Dr. Vinton Thompson, Dean Humphrey Crookendale and other educators in the Emergency and Disaster Management program at MCNY. Nils Aucante and Niko Soo, represented the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, as videographers aiding in chronicling the development of this well regarded and evolving relief organization, whose model should be emulated.
The link below provides information about how individuals can volunteer with the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. http://www.us.tzuchi.org/us/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1139&Itemid=395&lang=en Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. MCNY/EDM Purpose 3 CA class presented to faith leaders in BrooklynMarch 8, 2013By Michelle Johnson – The group met at Wyckoff Hospital and discussed family, community, and organizational preparedness. The presentation was followed by an active discussion, where the community demonstrated their need for this information and desire to learn more. The class provided practical information and resources in the languages spoken in these communities. This presentation was the first step in a three-semester long project, with the goal of building community resilience. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. FEMA L363 course, “Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Higher Education.” Hosted at MCNYMarch 4, 2013From February 5-7 2013, Metropolitan College of New York hosted the three-day FEMA course, “Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Higher Education.” Nearly over a dozen colleges and universities from within the Tri-State area attended. The instructors used highly interactive presentations coupled with numerous individual and small-group practice activities and class exercises to ensure that participants developed a high level of mastery.  Group picture of the participants and instructors of the FEMA L363 course hosted at MCNY in February, 2013 The course was specifically designed to highlight the importance of an emergency plan that meets the unique needs of an Institution of Higher Education. In addition, the instructors guided attendees on how to identify hazards that presented risks for Institutions of Higher Education; provided suggestions on creating partnerships with stakeholders; the steps necessary to identifying and assembling a planning team; the process involved in developing or revising a multi-hazard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in addition to developing and implementing a strategy for training and testing the EOP and shared some lessons learned on how to engage the academic community in the essential elements of emergency planning. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Ali Gheith in Disaster Central. Comments Off Ali Gheith is the Director of MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. S.M.A.R.M.I.E and MHMT Presents: Social Media And Response Management Interfacing EventOctober 3, 2012UPDATE: Due to the severity of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, most of our participants are actively involved in Disaster Response efforts. As such, we have decided to postpone SMARMIE (Social Media and Response Management Interfacing Event) to a date in March 2013. We will provide more information when a formal date is selected. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
November 8th, 2012 11th Floor Conference Center Who should Attend? Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Disaster Central in Events, MCNY EDM Program. Comments Off Disaster Central is also a resource for information relating to MCNY’s MPA program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, as well as providing insight and commentary on the topics of Disaster Management, Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Third Annual Rutledge ScholarshipMay 3, 2011In June 2008, The School of Management, Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), initiated the annual Philip J. Rutledge Scholarship. The award goes to a MPA student (who exhibits both scholarship and leadership in the field of Public Administration). The late Phil Rutledge was an icon in Public Administration. Former (and first African American) ASPA President, Phil spent 32 years in academia as a professor and administrator. He was Professor-Emeritus of Political Science and Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University; Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Administration at Howard University’s School of Business and Public Administration. Phil also was a Presidential appointee and senior executive in the U.S. government under Presidents Johnson and Nixon. There are three MCNY Rutledge recipients since its inception. Ms. Linda Barnes, was the initial recipient of the Rutledge Scholarship. Mr. Michael Massiah, Director, Management and Budget Department, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (former member ASPA National Council and Committee on Minorities in Public Administration/COMPA, Past President) present the Rutledge award (a 2 credit stipend) at MCNY’2008l Pi Alpha Alpha ceremony. MCNY President Vinton Thompson agreed to issue the “annual credit waiver” in honor of the late Philip NJ. Rutledge. The 2009 recipient was Ms. Shirley Bryant and the 2010 recipient was Ms. Heidi Ledgister. Ms. Barnes is Executive Director NYC Managerial Employees Association. Ms. Bryant is an Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at the College of New Rochelle. Ms. Ledgister is a staff specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Individual Giving in the Office of Development and is Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Metropolitan College of New York. Michael Massiah said, “I was honored to be asked by MCNY to present their Rutledge Scholarship to such deserving students and to witness their pride for being acknowledged with an award named in tribute to Phil Rutledge. One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony were the comments of the recipients after receiving their awards. Each of the honorees indicated how much they were inspired by Phil’s numerous accomplishments and motivated to be the best public servants possible because of Phil’s commitment to helping to improve the quality of life for all both here and abroad.” For more information on the Rutledge scholarship please contact: Dr. Philip M. Dodd-Nufrio (Pnufrio@mcny.edu) Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Disaster Central in Scholarship. Comments Off Disaster Central is also a resource for information relating to MCNY’s MPA program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, as well as providing insight and commentary on the topics of Disaster Management, Emergency Management and Homeland Security. A Conversation with KayDecember 30, 2010By Matthew Ricci- MCNY President Vinton Thompson, Dean Humphrey Crookendale, and Program Director Ali Gheith, welcomed a small number of students and faculty members from the MPA in Emergency & Disaster Management (EDM) program, who had the pleasure of being part of an intimate conversation with Kay Goss, CEM—the former Associate Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ms. Goss made herself available to members of the program to give the opportunity to share the work of our faculty and students, and give some feedback to how we can further develop our program. Those in attendance included Professors Chuck Frank, Mick Maurer, Lorraine Motola, and Johnny Velez. The students in attendance were Bibi Leslie, Matthew Ricci, and Dilshad Jafarly, who were joined by alum Matthew Khaled, CEM. All were very grateful, not only for her having taken the time, but in her approachable demeanor and thoughtful advice – backed by years of pioneering the professionalization of the field. At FEMA Kay Goss was in-charge of the National Preparedness, Training and Exercises Directorate, a position she held from 1994, when appointed by President Clinton, until 2001. She is currently the Senior Advisor for Emergency Management and Continuity Programs at SRT International, and has served as an adjunct professor at many institutions, including the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Ms. Goss who is very enthused about international programs also teaches at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) in person and via distance learning. Additionally, Ms. Goss is the Chair of the Education and Training Committee and member of the CEM Commission of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). The conversation started with an explanation of MCNY’s history as a program, starting with the creation of the curriculum after the 9/11 attacks, up to present day. Faculty and students discussed the program’s long term aspirations, history of overseas class projects in Israel, and future projects in Chile, England, and other countries. Ms. Goss shared the enthusiasm in further developing the program, and offered her own anecdotes about the history of education and professionalization in emergency management. The discussion was also about the successes of our six (6) international students that were brought over from Haiti to obtain an advanced degree in emergency management to implement academic concepts and theories in a practical setting once they return (to Haiti) with new skills and tools to help in the recovery effort and other phases of Comprehensive Emergency Management. Ms. Goss also took the time to connect with each student in the room, beginning with very helpful advice of how to approach our Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credentialing. She gave excellent advice to one student who had recently found success in creating a Business Continuity program at her organization. This author personally benefited from her generous support with advice concerning documenting and publishing an upcoming trip to Hospital Bernard Mevs, a trauma/critical care hospital in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. With the program’s leadership constantly looking to stay current and find new approaches for ongoing development of the EDM program, the take away from such an accomplished and helpful woman as Ms. Goss was an extremely beneficial experience. Email this · Subscribe to this Feed · Bookmark This! Posted by Disaster Central in Emergency Management Planning, Emergency Preparedness, Government, Homeland Security, Interview, MCNY EDM Program. Comments Off Disaster Central is also a resource for information relating to MCNY’s MPA program in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, as well as providing insight and commentary on the topics of Disaster Management, Emergency Management and Homeland Security. | |
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