Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management
Course SyllabusCourse Description Explores the basic principles and terms of law in relation to the field of emergency management and various legal actionsagainst people or organizations charged with emergency services management duties. Contains court cases, statutes, andregulations that have an impact on emergency service organizations.Course Textbook(s)No physical textbook is required; resources are integrated within the course.Course Learning OutcomesUpon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Explain how the legal framework of the U.S. Government impacts state and local governments, including citizenry,during times of disaster.
2. Evaluate how public health laws and state laws interact with emergency management personnel.
3. Analyze the roles of the Stafford Act, National Response Framework (NRF), and National Incident ManagementSystem (NIMS) during times of emergencies.
4. Assess the separation of powers among the governors, legislature, courts, and local governments during anemergency.
5. Examine the legalities surrounding emergency services management operations for both natural and man-madedisasters and emergencies.Prerequisite(s)EMG 6305 – Emergency Management Leadership and Decision Making or equivalentCreditsUpon completion of this course, the students will earn 3.00 hours of college credit.
CSU Online LibraryThe CSU Online Library is available to support your courses and programs. You may be prompted to login with your CSUAccount. The online library includes databases, journals, e-books, and research guides.
These resources are alwaysMSE 5101, Legal Aspects ofEmergency ServicesManagementMSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management1
accessible and can be reached through the library webpage. The CSU Online Library can be accessed from the “MyLibrary” button on the course menu in Blackboard.
The CSU Online Library offers several reference services. E-mail (library@columbiasouthern.edu) and telephone(1.877.268.8046) assistance is available Monday-Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm.
The library’schat reference service, Ask a Librarian, is available 24/7; look for the chat box on the online library page.Librarians can help you develop your research plan or assist you in finding relevant, appropriate, and timely information.
Reference requests can include customized keyword search strategies, database help, and other services.LibGuidesThink of a LibGuide (a Library Guide) as a mini-website to help you with your assignments.
It has relevant information suchas databases, e-books, and websites specific to your courses. If you have any questions, please reach out to your friendlylibrary staff.
Click here for the LibGuide for this course.Unit AssignmentsUnit JournalHave you or someone you have known ever been in a situation where there was a major disaster declaration?
If not,imagine that you were involved in one. Give an example of a federal grant program made available in that situation and howit assisted with the recovery process.
Do you feel the resources were timely and adequate? Why, or why not?Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.Unit I EssayConsider the laws that have been passed after major disasters and the programs that have been initiated to improveemergency management by reviewing the following documents.Review the following documents by clicking the links provided.Federal Emergency Management Agency. (n.d.). Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013.
Retrieved fromhttps://www.fema.gov/disasters/sandy-recovery-improvement-act-2013Kennell, P. M., Nassi, S. P., & Westerfield, R. R. (2016). Four years after Sandy, storm resiliency lags. Risk Management,63(8), 4–6. Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tsh&AN=118506713&site=ehost-live&scope=siteThen, write an essay that addresses the following questions.
Identify and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the public and private sectors that collaborated during thepreparedness and response phases to the affected states.
Based on the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013, identify and discuss some of the legislative actions to improveemergency preparedness and response.In your opinion, did the changes identified in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 do enough to ensure strongerpreparation and response efforts in the event of a similar disaster in the future?
While not required, the following resource may assist you in your review of the efforts following Hurricane Sandy.Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2013). Hurricane Sandy FEMA after-action report. Retrieved fromhttps://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=741038Your submission should be a minimum of three pages, not including the title and reference pages.
Your essay shouldcontain an introduction and be well organized, with clear evidence of critical thinking. All sources used should be properlycited.
Your paper and all sources used should be formatted in APA style.MSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management2
Unit II JournalConsider a hazard that presents a risk in your own community. Describe an activity that you perform in your daily activitythat either prevents, protects, or mitigates this risk.
Explain your personal motivation for performing this activity (i.e., whetheryou are bound legally or by your own personal code).Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit II Case StudyFor this assignment, you will focus on how the National Response Framework (NRF) and the U.S. National PlanningFrameworks direct the nation’s response to incidents and disasters, specifically focusing on Hurricane Matthew.Review the unit’s reading on the preparedness and response efforts to Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and write an analysis ofthe federal response.
Your case study should address, at a minimum, the following questions.Discuss how the National Planning Frameworks core capabilities and guiding principles applied to the Hurricane Matthewresponse.
How did the federal government prepare in advance for the landfall of Hurricane Matthew under the National ResponseFramework (NRF)?How did communities apply the community approach to prepare and respond to Hurricane Matthew?
In your opinion, was the National Preparedness Goal achieved?Your submission should be a minimum of three pages, not including the title and reference pages. You should support youranalysis with strong arguments and evidence.
You may use the two sources listed above as a basis for your analysis, butyou must conduct additional research and use at least two additional sources. Your case study and all sources used shouldbe formatted in APA style.Unit III JournalConsider and identify a hazard that presents a major risk to your own community.
What are the responsibilities that youwould expect from your governor to prepare and respond to a disaster? Are you confident in your state’s response abilities?
You may refer to pages 13–14 of the National Response Framework from this unit’s reading to aid in your journal entry.Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit III Case StudyFor this unit’s assignment, you will prepare a case study on the preparedness and response efforts of the state of Florida toHurricane Matthew.Review the updates from Governor Rick Scott of Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management listed belowand write a case study that addresses, at a minimum, the following aspects of Florida’s efforts.Discuss how the state of Florida government and the Florida Division of Emergency Management prepared andresponded to Hurricane Matthew.
Did the state of Florida government and Florida Division of Emergency Management achieve the roles andresponsibilities outlined on pages 13–14 of the National Response Framework?
Provide examples.In your opinion, were the state preparedness and response efforts successful? Support your opinion with strongevidence.
The links to references that will assist you in this assignment are provided below.Florida Division of Emergency Management. (n.d.). Hurricane Matthew: Information updates concerning Hurricane Matthew.Retrieved from https://www.floridadisaster.org/info/matthew-recovery/matthew-news-archive/Executive Office of Governor Rick Scott. (2016, October
4). Gov. Scott: Cat 4 Hurricane Matthew approaching Florida; stayalert to possible life saving evacuations [Press release]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.floridadisaster.org/globalassets/importedpdfs/10-04-2016-matthew-approaching-florida-stay-alert-to-possible-life-saving-evacuations.pdfExecutive Office of Governor Rick Scott. (2016, October
6). Gov. Scott issues updates on Hurricane MatthewMSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management3
preparedness and response efforts as storm impacts Florida [Press release]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.floridadisaster.org/globalassets/importedpdfs/10-06-2016-updates-2-on-hurricane-matthew-preparedness-and-response-efforts.pdfExecutive Office of Governor Rick Scott. (2016, October
7). Gov. Scott issues updates on Hurricane Matthewpreparedness and response efforts as storm continues to impact Florida [Press release]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.floridadisaster.org/globalassets/importedpdfs/10-07-2016-updates-2-on-hurricane-matthew-preparedness-and-response-efforts-as-storm-continues-to-impact-florida-evening.pdfExecutive Office of Governor Rick Scott. (2016, October 9). Gov. Scott issues updates on Hurricane Matthew response andrecovery efforts [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.floridadisaster.org/globalassets/importedpdfs/10-9-2016-update-on-matthew-response-and-recovery-efforts.pdfYour case study should present an insightful and thorough analysis with strong arguments and evidence.
It should be aminimum of three pages, not including the title and reference pages. Your case study and all sources used should beformatted in APA style.
Unit IV JournalIn this unit, we explore the roles of the Stafford Act, National Response Framework (NRF) and National IncidentManagement System (NIMS) during times of emergencies. Together, their scope is broad, yet following any major disasterthere is usually public outcry that not enough assistance is being provided by the federal government or that there is toomuch red tape in the assistance process.
If you or your home were to be impacted by a disaster, do you feel there is overlap or gaps in the federal assistancestrategies and resources that would be available to you or your state?
Explain your concern, and give an example of how itmight personally affect you.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.Unit IV BlogAfter reviewing this unit’s video, Module Two the Stafford Act, you will create a blog post that addresses the following.
Explain the disaster declaration process and role of the federal government in times of disaster.
Identify the individual programs available to disaster victims through the Stafford Act.Give your opinion regarding whether individual and public assistance programs provided through FEMA help fulfill thefederal government’s role and responsibilities during times of emergencies.
Make at least one recommendation for change, and give an example of the anticipated effect.
There are two essentials to good blogging. First, remember that a blog should be conversational and be an extension ofyour own thoughts and opinions, not merely a list of facts.
Your post should have a topic, have a purpose of presenting apoint of view, and indicate an openness to dialogue by inviting comments. Since this class is your audience, you canassume a basic understanding of homeland security terms, phrases, and acronyms.
Be creative, while still meeting the requirements of the blog’s content listed above. The Blackboard Blog Tool will allow youto include text, images, links, multimedia, mash-ups, and attachments to your blog entry.Second, responding to those who comment will foster dialogue. After your initial blog post, you must provide at least onecomment to another student’s blog. You should be sure to respond to everyone who comments on your blog.
It is best topost your initial entry early so that you have time to respond and can receive full credit.To create your blog, you will utilize the Blog Tool in Blackboard. This is accessed by clicking the Submit Unit IV Blog buttonbelow the instructions.Your blog post should be a minimum of 1,400 words, and you must reply to at least one other student with a minimum of100 words. While the format of your post is not required to be in APA style, keep in mind that you must provide strongevidence and/or references to support your opinions. References should appear at the bottom of your post.Unit V JournalThe BP Oil Spill in 2010 was met with public outcry and demand for change.
After reading this unit’s assigned reading,share your opinion regarding the need for revision to the Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) to prevent another catastrophic disasterMSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management4
like the Deepwater Horizon Spill.
Why do you feel it took such a catastrophe to prompt change?Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.Unit V Article CritiqueReview the following article located in the CSU Online Library by clicking on the link below.Kurtz, R. S. (2013). Oil spill causation and the Deepwater Horizon spill. Review of Policy Research, 30(4), 366-380.Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=88939672&site=ehost-live&scope=siteConduct a thorough, critical analysis of the article and its points.
Support your analysis with critical thinking that clearlydemonstrates an informed and substantiated opinion.
Your critique should address, at a minimum, the following points.Briefly summarize the article’s position on the causation of the spill.
What role did policy and legalities play in the disaster?
Does OPA 90 effectively ensure the industry’s adherence to best safety practices?
How can the human factor be mitigated in disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon spill?
Your article critique must be a minimum of three pages, not including the title or reference pages. In addition to the articleabove, you must use a minimum of two additional sources as evidence to support your analysis. All sources used should becited; your article critique and all references should be formatted in APA style.Unit VI JournalAfter viewing this unit’s video Top 10 Moments: Volunteering at 52 Different Nonprofits in a Single Year, identify which of thetop 10 moments list motivated or spoke to you and why. Share a volunteer opportunity in which you currently participate orwish to participate.
What is the mission of this organization you chose, and why is volunteering with them important to you?Because said would. (2015, January 5). Top 10 moments:
Volunteering at 52 different nonprofits in a single year [Videofile]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3TIgSJQGsoClick here for a transcript of the above video.Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit VI Case StudyFor this assignment, you will utilize the CSU Online Library to search for information about nonprofit organizations thatvolunteer during times of disaster.
You will choose one, and write a case study that contains a review and analysis of theorganization. Your paper should address, at a minimum, the following points.Include the mission of the organization and the sources of its funding.
Explain how the organization interacts with governments.Give examples of how the organization has assisted in disasters.Share your opinion on why people volunteer with this particular organization.
Explain the effect volunteering with this organization has on volunteers and the community.Your case study should be a minimum of three pages, not including your title and reference pages.
You must use at leastthree sources, two of which must be from the CSU Online Library.
All sources used should be cited. Your case study and allreferences should be formatted in APA style.Unit VII JournalCommunicable diseases are a potential concern for the local, state, and federal governments, as well as public healthofficials and the community.
Do you support or oppose laws such as California Senate Bill 277, a public health vaccinationlaw requiring all children to be vaccinated before attending school?
Do you feel rights are being protected or infringed uponby such laws?
Explain your viewpoint.Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Unit VII Case StudyMSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management5
As we have seen in this course, with each disaster, lessons are learned and better preparation and response practices areoften implemented. Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy both provided such outcomes.
For this assignment, you will choose two of the five National Planning Frameworks that relate to an emergency servicesfunction or recovery support function.
You will conduct research to identify examples where the frameworks were implemented for either Hurricane Katrina orHurricane Sandy.
For each of your two chosen frameworks, you will explain how state and federal public health laws interacted and whetherthey succeeded or failed in their implementations during that particular disaster.Your case study should present an insightful, thorough analysis and demonstration of course concepts, lessons learned,and laws affected.
Provide strong arguments and evidence to support your analysis.Your case study should be a minimum of four pages, not including the title and reference pages. A minimum of five sourcesmust be used and should be properly cited. Your case study and all references should be formatted in APA style.
Unit VIII JournalBased on what you have learned in this course and as a member of your community, what concerns you most about thepreparedness and readiness of the federal government and your local government and emergency management teamwhen it comes to a disaster or catastrophe?
How will you apply what you learned in this course to your personal orprofessional life?
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.Unit VIII Scholarly ActivityUsing the information in this unit’s lesson and readings, assume you are the local emergency manager for your community.You have conducted a risk analysis and identified a hazard that presents an imminent threat to your community.
Draft a proposal of an emergency operations plan for your mayor or commissioners that covers preparation, mitigation,response, and recovery for the identified hazard. Your plan should include, at a minimum, the following information:an overview of the hazard and your analysis of the threat;
the sequence of events, resources, and any participants that you and the planning committee would include in theemergency operations plan;how to share this plan with city/county officials, response organizations, and the public and if there be opportunity forfeedback;the identification of specific roles in the plan; andwhose buy-in and support you need to ensure the effectiveness of the plan and how you propose to secure it.
You should ensure your plan presents a clear argument based on your analysis of the situation. You should use a minimumof five sources of evidence to support your analysis and plan.
These sources may include applicable federal, state, or locallaws, as well as research or other sources relevant to your analysis and plan.
Your proposal should be a minimum of three pages, not including your title and reference pages. All sources used must beproperly cited. Your proposal, including all references, should be formatted in APA style.APA Guidelines
The application of the APA writing style shall be practical, functional, and appropriate to each academic level, with theprimary purpose being the documentation (citation) of sources. CSU requires that students use APA style for certain papersand projects. Students should always carefully read and follow assignment directions and review the associated gradingrubric when available. Students can find The CSU Citation Guide by clicking here.
This document includes examples andsample papers and provides information on how to contact the CSU Writing Center.Grading RubricsMSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management6
This course utilizes analytic grading rubrics as tools for your professor in assigning grades for all learning activities. Eachrubric serves as a guide that communicates the expectations of the learning activity and describes the criteria for each levelof achievement. In addition, a rubric is a reference tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts tomeet the requirements of that learning activity. It is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with these rubrics becausethese are the primary tools your professor uses for assessing learning activities.Rubric categories include (1) Journal, (2) Assessment (Written Response), and (3) Assignment. However, it is possible thatnot all of the listed rubric types will be used in a single course (e.g., some courses may not have Assessments).
The Journal rubric can be found within Unit I’s Journal submission instructions.
The Assessment (Written Response) rubric can be found embedded in a link within the directions for each UnitAssessment.
However, these rubrics will only be used when written-response questions appear within the Assessment.Each Assignment type (e.g., article critique, case study, research paper) will have its own rubric.
The Assignment rubricsare built into Blackboard, allowing students to review them prior to beginning the Assignment and again once theAssignment has been scored.
This rubric can be accessed via the Assignment link located within the unit where it is to besubmitted.
Students may also access the rubric through the course menu by selecting “Tools” and then “My Grades.”Again, it is vitally important for you to become familiar with these rubrics because their application to yourJournals, Assessments, and Assignments is the method by which your instructor assigns all grades.Communication ForumsThese are non-graded discussion forums that allow you to communicate with your professor and other students.Participation in these discussion forums is encouraged but not required. You can access these forums with the buttons inthe Course Menu. Instructions for subscribing/unsubscribing to these forums are provided belowOnce you have completed Unit VIII, you MUST unsubscribe from the forum; otherwise, you will continue toreceive e-mail updates from the forum. You will not be able to unsubscribe after your course end date.Click here for instructions on how to subscribe/unsubscribe and post to the Communication Forums.Ask the ProfessorThis communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content questions.Questions may focus on Blackboard locations of online course components, textbook or course content elaboration,additional guidance on assessment requirements, or general advice from other students.Questions that are specific in nature, such as inquiries regarding assessment/assignment grades or personalaccommodation requests, are NOT to be posted on this forum. If you have questions, comments, or concerns of a non-public nature, please feel free to e-mail your professor.Responses to your post will be addressed or e-mailed by theprofessor within 48 hours.Before posting, please ensure that you have read all relevant course documentation, including the syllabus,assessment/assignment instructions, faculty feedback, and other important information.Student Break RoomThis communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Communication on this forum shouldalways maintain a standard of appropriateness and respect for your fellow classmates.This forum should NOT be used toshare assessment answers.Schedule/GradingThe following pages contain a printable Course Schedule to assist you through this course. By following this schedule, youwill be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted.MSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management7
Unit IThe Legal Framework of Emergency Management[ Weight: 11% ]Read/View:UnitStudy GuideReading Assignments (6 Articles): See Study GuideUnit I Video: See Study GuideSubmit:Unit JournalUnit I Essay2%9%Unit IINational Planning Frameworks[ Weight: 13% ]Read/View: Unit II Study GuideReading Assignments (3 Articles): See Study GuideUnit II Video: See Study GuideSubmit:Unit II JournalUnit II Case Study2%11%Unit IIIThe Separation of Powers in an Emergency[ Weight: 13% ]Read/View:Unit III Study GuideReading Assignments (6 Articles): See Study GuideSubmit:Unit III JournalUnit III Case Study2%11%Unit IVThe Role of the Federal Government in an Emergency[ Weight: 11% ]Read/View:Unit IV Study GuideReading Assignments (3 Articles): See Study GuideUnit IV Videos (2 Videos):
See Study GuideSubmit:Unit IV JournalUnit IV Blog2%9%Unit VThe Legal Aspects of the Emergency Response[ Weight: 12% ]Read/View:Unit V Study GuideReading Assignment (1 Article): See Study GuideSubmit:Unit V JournalUnit V Article Critique2%10%MSE 5101,
Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management8
Unit VIVolunteer Resources in Disaster Response[ Weight: 13% ]Read/View:
Unit VI Study GuideReading Assignments (2 Articles): See Study GuideUnit VI Video
: See Study GuideSubmit:Unit VI JournalUnit VI Case Study2%11%Unit VIIPublic Health, State Law, and Emergency Management
Interaction[ Weight: 15% ]Read/View:Unit VII Study GuideReading Assignments (3 Articles):
See Study GuideSubmit:Unit VII JournalUnit VII Case Study2%13%Unit VIIIEmergency Management at the Local Level[ Weight: 12% ]Read/View:
Unit VIII Study GuideReading Assignments (2 Articles): See Study GuideSubmit:
Unit VIII JournalUnit VIII Scholarly Activity2%10%MSE 5101, Legal Aspects of Emergency Services Management9
