Emergency and Disaster Management Commons^™

Using Student Case Study Research To Verify Twitter Usage In Disasters, John R. Fisher, Jared Pitcher, Gary Noll

Dr. John R. Fisher

In disaster situations, Twitter has become the preferred means of transmitting information to the news media and the public. This study examines the inter-relationship among the various parties who share and produce information in a disaster situation. Student case studies of disaster situations serve as the primary database for analysis. A preliminary examination of the case studies and the Twitter trails of information seem to support the view that Twitter can be a source of gathering and relaying information in a disaster situation and that first-responder agencies, the media, and the informed public can use Twitter for information they can …

Engaging Students In Disaster Relief Training Exercises, John Fisher, Muhaedin Bela

Dr. John R. Fisher

Training and exercises are commonly used among first responders to prepare them for disasters and other emergency situations. Emergency management students from Utah Valley University in the United States shared what they have learned about disaster preparedness and response with university students in the Balkans. The six students divided into teams of two and taught three groups of 15 students each. The Utah Valley University students trained 45 Macedonian students about disaster response principles, search and rescue, triage, and emergency medical care. The training was followed by three simulated exercises. The American students were interviewed about their experience. They reported …

The Leadership Leap: A New Approach For Homeland Security, Jeffery Maxfield, Rodger Broome, John Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

This uniquely composed textbook provides a cross-disciplinary introduction to the field of homeland and civil security. It unites U.S. and international scholars and practitioners in addressing both foundational topics and risk- informed priorities in fostering secure societies. The book examines research-related foundations of homeland and civil security across national boundaries, and how those apply to addressing real-world challenges of our time. Representing different disciplines, intellectual styles, and methodological choices in meeting those challenges, chapters provide a comprehensive perspective across different approaches and levels of governance within an all-hazards framework. The book covers international experiences in border management; intelligence for homeland …

The Impressions Of Emergency Services Students In A Homeland Security Course: The Benefits Of Reflective Thinking And Journaling, Eric Russell, John Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

This case study explored the impressions a homeland security course had on the emergency service student. The setting for the study was a state-sponsored university in the western United States. The 17 participants were declared, undergraduate emergency services majors that underwent a 7.5-week distance learning homeland security course. Grounded theory was used to analyze and develop themes from student reflections from the class. The findings of the study suggested that the most important impressions students took from the class were about global awareness, an understanding of the vulnerabilities of terrorism to the nation and the importance of a homeland security …

Media Impact On Disaster Public Policy, John R. Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

Decades of research suggest the media play a secondary role in the development of public policy. This appears to be equally true in media coverage of disasters. While the media may heighten awareness of an issue, individual public opinion leaders, particularly the wealthy and influential, have greater impact on the formation of public policy.

Engaging Students In Disaster Relief Training Exercises

Dr. John R. Fisher

Social Media And Disasters: Social Media Has Changed The Disaster Landscape, John Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

The use of social media has changed the way the public is informed about disasters and how to recover from them. While the traditional media continue to play a key role, social media has given citizens a means to inform and protect each other as well as to alter public policy and the official approach to dealing with emergencies. The Haiti earthquake was a watershed moment that changed how social media is used in disasters. While social media was independently evolving in the years leading up to 2010, the use of social media in the Haiti disaster made public officials …