1

8

Inside this issue:

PUCO 2

SOCIAL MEDIA

3

SWORD & SHIELD 5

STATEWIDE TRAINING 7

The American Fire Culture 9

LINKS of INTEREST 11

Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

Volume 1,

Issue 20

WINTER 2016

Our PUCO Grant

Funded Training classes are

FREE

to all public safety organizations!

Find out more at http://urban.csuohio.edu/cep

EARN A BACHELOR DEGREE

The Public Safety Management major is designed to equip public safety officials

with additional management and communication skills to address the needs of their

urban constituents. It provides an in-depth study of community safety needs and

problems, as well as analytical tools for addressing injustice for those living and working

in urban settings.

The Public Safety Management Major is designed to:

Prepare both pre-career and active public safety personnel for leadership roles in

public safety organizations.

Allow for in-depth study of community safety needs and introduce analytical tools

for developing response strategies for use in emergency situations.

Promote understanding of policy tools to protect the safety and well-being of our

communities.

Concentrations are offered in:

Fire and Emergency Services Administration

Management

For more information please contact:

Kristen Blazek, Coordinator of Student Recruitment

Office of Student Services

Telephone: (216) 687-4506 / E-mail: urbanprograms@csuohio.edu

2

This page is intentionally left blank.

3

How the PUCO works for you The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) affects every household in Ohio. That's because the PUCO regulates providers of all kinds of utility services, including electric and natural gas companies, local and long distance telephone companies, water and wastewater companies, rail and trucking companies. The PUCO was created to assure Ohioans adequate, safe and reliable public utility services at a fair price. More recently, the PUCO gained responsibility for facilitating competitive utility choices for Ohio consumers.

5 ways the PUCO works for you Protects you by monitoring and enforcing PUCO rules and state laws against unfair,

inadequate and unsafe public utility and transportation services.

Resolves your disputes either informally between you and the company or through our

formal complaint process where only the PUCO can order relief and corrective

action. The PUCO resolves disputes between utilities and residential, business, and

industrial customers, as well as between competing utilities.

Assures availability of adequate, safe and reliable services to all residential, business and

industrial consumers.

Provides you with information about your rights and responsibilities as a utility

customer and publishes the Apples to Apples cost comparisons for energy services where

you have a choice at www.energychoice.ohio.gov. You can turn to the PUCO for

answers to your questions and help with your utility and transportation problems.

Regulates your rates for utility services where you do not have choices. Even with

competition growing in the gas and electric industries, for example, the PUCO still

sets the rates for delivery of those services since that part is still controlled by one

company.

Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

4

In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

The Influence of Social Media on Emergency Management

Social media is more than just looking at pictures, “liking” my friends’ posts or commenting on news feeds on my page; it is partly how I get my news. Before going to CNN or MSNBC, I see what is trending. In today’s world, social media is how a majority of our society communicates and receives daily news.

According to a Pew Research Center study, when you take into account both the total reach of a site and the proportion of users who get news on the site, Facebook is the obvious news powerhouse among social media sites. Therefore, it is no surprise that social media has a strong and growing influence on emergency management. When disaster strikes, many look to social media for their initial source of information. It has become second nature to see what is trending. With that realization, disaster relief organizations now have a prominent presence on social media.

According to Rutrell Yasin, results from a Red Cross survey indicate 69 percent said emergency response agencies should regularly monitor their websites and social media networks so they can respond promptly to requests for help; 74 percent said they would expect help to arrive within an hour. The government is fully engaged in social media with the majority of disaster relief departments having a strong presence online. This makes it easier for these departments to respond to and communicate with other government agencies and the public.

On Aug. 27, 2015, Tropical Storm Erika devastated the island of Dominica. The storm wreaked havoc, causing extensive damage across the small island. The floods wiped out roads and swamped villages, with the costs of fixing homes, roads, bridges and other structures estimated to run into 10s of millions of dollars. With a large percentage of the infrastructure left in ruins, Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, took to Facebook to keep Dominicans living abroad, and on the island, stay updated on the well-being of the people, the damage done to the dwellings and or businesses and the status of relief efforts. Without social media, it would have been extremely challenging for the Prime Minister to provide information.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) issued almost daily Situation Reports about the tropical storm, which provided specific information about the widespread damage done to the island. These reports were just as prominent on Facebook, and was a great source of information to families and loved ones abroad who were desperate for almost minute-by-minute updates of the hap-penings back home.

5

In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

The Influence of Social Media on Emergency Management

Hurricane Katrina remains one of the worst natural disasters in our country’s history. When the hurricane destroyed parts of the Gulf Coast in 2005, Facebook was still a baby and Twitter wasn’t even born. We relied on network and cable news for news and updates about the hurricane; we also relied on the Internet for up-to-the-minute information. However, when Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast, Facebook, Twitter and other social media had become a valuable partner in disaster response and management. Social media allowed millions of Americans to stay informed, locate loved ones, notify authorities and express support. Researchers have now started publishing data on the use of social media in disasters and lawmakers and security experts have begun assessing how emergency management can best adapt. The emergence and reliance on social media has fundamentally changed the way we prepare for and manage disasters and emergencies. The old ways, such as the emergency broadcast system and other government programs, are not dead or abandoned; rather they have now been incorporated with social media. The Boston Marathon bombings were another example of the role social media played in the emergency management of this disaster. An amazing quarter of our nation’s population accessed Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites for information about the bombings. When the Boston Police Department posted its final “CAPTURED!” tweet, more than 140,000 people retweeted it. Social media has come to play a major role in emergency management. It has become an efficient way of sharing information between disaster relief and government organizations and citizens on the ground during times of emergencies. First, information generated and disseminated over social networks is incredibly valuable for disaster response. Second, the study of the relationships, behaviors, and interactions in social networks may provide important insights for gathering information, planning evacuations and sheltering, and other rescue efforts.

Author: Peter Lyn René is a master’s of law and public policy candidate with an extensive back-ground in nonprofit administration and manage-ment. He is a political consultant in Houston and has a bachelor’s degree in political science. You can email Peter at peter@renechronicles.com.

6

In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

ORDER OF THE SWORD AND SHIELD

The Academic and Professional Honor Society for Homeland Security, Intelligence, Emergency

Management, and all Protective Security

Disciplines.

Ex Scientia Pax -

"Out of Knowledge comes Peace"

About the Order of the Sword & Shield

The Order of the Sword and Shield is the first and only academic and professional honor society dedicated exclusively to homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, and all protective security disciplines. The mission of the Society shall be to promote critical thinking, high scholarship and professional development; to further enhance the ethical standards of the protective security professions; and to cultivate a high order of personal living. In addition to its academic purpose, the Society is strongly committed to helping communities prepare for safety and emergency condi-tions and sponsors many types of informational events throughout the year.

The Honor Society was established in 2010 on the campuses of St. John's University in New York. It inducted its first members in 2011 and has had an induction class every year since then. The Founding Director, Associate Professor Jeffrey P. Grossmann, serves as the current Executive National Director, and oversees the primary opera-tions of the Society. In an open letter to the industry, Professor Grossmann stated that "together with your support, we will position the Society as the leading resource in academic achievement recognition in the fields of homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, and all protective studies".

The Core Values of the Society are excellence, knowledge, ethics, and peace.

Our motto is ex scientia pax which means "out of knowledge comes peace". As an asso-ciation which represents homeland security, intelligence, and protective security aca-demic disciplines, this has special meaning. With an ultimate goal of peace and safety for all, the protective security profession must utilize knowledge as a primary tool for the accomplishment of this objective. The Society recognizes this commitment and the dedication of those individuals achieving academic and professional excellence.

7

8

Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years! Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

STATEWIDE TRAINING

Analysts from the Ohio Strategic Analysis and Information Center (SAIC) focus on analyzing and

sharing information, increasing awareness, reducing vulnerabilities, and developing strategies in order to

prevent, prepare for, and protect against terrorism and other threats

to public safety.

9

Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

FEMA EMI Emergency Management Higher Education Program

A goal of FEMA is to encourage and support the dissemination of hazard, disaster, and emergency

management-related information in colleges and universities across the U.S. We believe that in the future

more and more emergency managers in government as well as in business and industry will come to the

job with college education that includes a degree in emergency management.

We also believe that in order to build disaster resistant and resilient communities a broad range of

college students and professionals need courses that introduce them to hazards, risk, vulnerability,

disasters, and what to do about them.

In support of this effort, the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1994

developed the Emergency Management Higher Education Program with the aim of promoting college-

based emergency management education for future emergency managers and other interested personnel.

The primary goal of the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Program is to work with

colleges and universities, emergency management professionals, and stakeholder organizations to help

create an emergency management system of sustained, replicable capability and disaster loss reduction

through formal education, experiential learning, practice, and experience centered on mitigation,

preparedness, response and recovery from the full range of natural, technological and intentional hazards

which confront communities, States and the Nation.

For a listing of colleges and universities offering emergency management courses, certificates or degree

programs, go to The College List. The description of the school's programs and points of contact

information is found in the “College List” link.

10

In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

The American Fire Culture

This book is used in the Ohio Fire Executive Program

11

In EMERGENCIES, people do what they are TRAINED TO DO!

THE NATIONAL NEX-GEN 911 UPDATE

The National 911 Program was created to provide Federal leadership and coordination in promoting optimal 911 services. The Program is housed within the Office of Emergency Medical Services at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The National 911 Program is responsible for developing, collecting, and disseminating information concerning practices, procedures, and technology used in the implementation of 911 services.

The Program operates and maintains a “National 911 Profile Database” (Profile Database) for collecting and analyzing data that can be used to characterize the status of the statewide 911 systems that comprise the National 911 system. The Profile Database contains information that can be used to characterize the status and basic functions of state 911 agencies as well as to measure and report on their progress of implementing advanced 911 systems using innovative technology and operations. These data are useful to States and 911 stakeholders in the development of effective policies, planning, and implementation strategies at all levels of government. The Program has worked with the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) to encourage States to voluntarily share their State data to provide an updated picture of Next Generation 911 (NG911) progress across the country.

12

Contact Information

Bernard W. Becker III, DBA(c), Director Cleveland State University

Center for Emergency Preparedness

1717 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115

b.becker64@csuohio.edu

(Office) 216-875-9860 (Fax) 216-687-2225

http://urban.csuohio.edu/cep

LIN

KS

OF

IN

TE

RE

ST

Cleveland State University / Center for Emergency Preparedness Leaders in Ohio’s Emergency Preparedness for over 30 years!

Please visit our web site at www.urban@csuohio.edu/cep to find the class and programs you and your organization desires.

We employ over 40 subject matter experts in all fields of Emergency

Service throughout Ohio.

Securing Emergency Response Equipment http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSFACIR/2015/12/01/

file_attachments/455480/Emergency%2BResponse%2BVehicle%2Band%2BEquipment%

2BSecurity%2BFact%2BSheet_October%2B2015_FINAL.pdf

Office of Health Affairs http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSFACIR/2015/12/09/

file_attachments/460049/OHA%2BChemical%2BResources%2B1-Pager.pdf

Mass Casualty Checklist http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/tools/5.8%20Mass%20Casualty%20disasterplan.pdf

Chemical Agents Webinar http://www.acmt.net/Chemical_Agents_of_Opportunity-webinars.html

USFA Professional Development https://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/prodev/

Emergency Service Information Sharing http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USDHSFACIR/2015/11/10/

file_attachments/446593/Emergency%2BServices%2BSector%2BInformation%2BSharing%

2BInitiative%2BFact%2BSheet_October%2B2015_FINAL.pdf

National Volunteer Fire Council http://www.nvfc.org/news-and-events/news/4135-nvfc-health-and-safety-courses-now-free-for-a

-limited-time

OSHA SEEKS NOMINATIONS https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-01-22/html/2016-01281.htm

Zika Virus http://news.yahoo.com/sees-zika-outbreak-spreading-americas-091850107.html

NEW CAMEO SOFTWARE http://www.epa.gov/cameo/aloha-software