Emergency Services Turns Up the Heat!

Photo courtesy of sunews.net

The Institute of Emergency Services and Homeland Security turned up the heat this week to raise awareness on emergency preparedness and disaster response. This week on campus was emergency service week, each day featured different presentations from the law enforcement, fire and rescue service members, and emergency management personnel.

Emergency service week was held to help build anticipation and excitement for a two-day emergency preparedness and disaster response conference on April 5th and 6th in the Sorensen Student Center on UVU campus.

This is the first time that the Institute of Emergency Services and Homeland Security have held such an event on campus for students. “Our primary audience was our students,” said Dr. Fisher, organizer of the event, and faculty member in the emergency services bachelor’s program. “If we were to do it for the Orem-Provo communities the approach may be completely different.”

The conference will feature keynote speakers who will offer their variety of knowledge with emergency preparedness and disaster relief. From former FBI members, to psychologists, policemen, and firefighters, the conference will be well equipped with those ready to share their stories with their attendees.

Students specifically from the criminal justice and the Institute of the Emergency Services and Homeland Security are invited to attend the conference to hone their expertise. These departments on campus are bursting at the seams with students. Dr. Fisher mentioned that the emergency services program alone has over 1600 students.

Dr. Fisher also said that they are further developing their program as well, and that they are currently designing a course on community-family preparedness.

When asked how students should cope with stress in disaster Fisher responded, “The most important thing is to realize that there is a possiblity [of a disaster] and to be prepared.” He recommended that students should have 72-hour kits. “A lot of people go through the exercise of this but over several months, it’s spread all over the house,” said Fisher.

Some of the major concerns of disasters in Utah are, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and heavy snowfall. “We may be overdue for an earthquake,” said Fisher.

On April 17th, Utah will participate in, The Great Utah ShakeOut. This event is the largest earthquake drill in Utah history. The goal of the ShakeOut is to promote Utahns to be prepared for major earthquakes.

For emergency preparedness and disaster response suggestions, students are encouraged go to bereadyutah.gov.


CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, APRIL 5

10-11 a.m. Keynote Address, Dr. Mark Yang, “Spiritual and Existential Themes in Disaster Relief Work.” Introduced by Dr. Rodger Broome.

11:10-12 noon – Presentation: “Hero Construct,” Dr. Rodger Broome, Emergency Services Department.

1-1:50 p.m. – Presentation: “Terrorism Realities in America,” Ken Crook, JD, Criminal Justice faculty. Introduction by Eric Russell.

2- 2:50 p.m. – Presentation: “The LEAP Model of Leadership,” Dr. Jeff Maxfield, associate dean of the College of Technology & Computing.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6

10-11 a.m. Keynote Address, Dr. David McEntire, “Disasters & 2012: Modern Myth or Future Reality?” Introduction by Dr. John Fisher.

11:10-12 noon – Presentation: “Extreme Interrogation Methods,” Matt Duffin, JD, Criminal Justice Department; “Mass Media Coverage of Disasters: Help or Hindrance?” Dr. John Fisher, Emergency Services Department.

1-1:50 p.m. – Presentation: “What We Have Here Is a Failure to Communicate,” Gary Noll, chair of Emergency Services Department; “Leadership and Chaos,” Andy Byrnes, Emergency Services Department.