Emergency management is the creation of plans through which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and face disasters. Disaster management does not prevent or eliminate threats; Instead, it focuses on creating plans to reduce the impact of disasters. Failure to create a plan could lead to human mortality, loss of income and damage to assets. Events that include disaster management include acts of terrorism, industrial sabotage, fire, natural disasters (such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.), public disorder, industrial accidents and communication failures.
More and more emergency managers and government officials support the idea of emergency mitigation, which refers to proactive and collective actions taken by people to lessen the potential effects of disasters and emergencies. Mitigation is more than a theory because it translates into the best practices that emergency personnel and community leaders use every day. However, this requires valid experience and efficient community partnerships.
A common assignment is for students to write case studies that illustrate the best successful operating practices of exemplary private and government emergency systems. This can be a local fire station or a police agency that discovers effective solutions to common problems. It may also be lawmakers who figure out how to reduce the economic risks to businesses during emergencies. Either way, being able to demonstrate how mitigation planning increases local participation and grassroots support will translate into real-world awareness of new tools and technologies.
Other common projects for undergraduate students may include a study of science behind natural disasters, a review of public alert systems and an analysis of emerging technology solutions. Whatever the project, participating and completing one, or more, provides emergency management graduation opportunities to apply your learning to real-world issues.