They 麻豆精品 S檙e already renowned researchers and experts in emergency management. Now, professors and are expanding their impact to the federal level after being hand-selected for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship.

The fellowship, housed within FEMA 麻豆精品 S檚 National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU), brings together top crisis leaders from across the nation to strengthen the future of emergency and crisis management. Emrich was selected for the 11th cohort in New Orleans (May 11-15) and Washington D.C. (June 22-26), and Knox will join the 12th in Washington D.C. (July 20-24) and Houston (Aug. 17-21).

Researchers Sought Out by FEMA

Prior to joining the s Emergency Management and Homeland Security program, Emrich and Knox each worked with FEMA in separate capacities.

Emrich spent years working in the organization, from mapping hurricane impacts in Florida in 2004 to helping rebuild trust in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Knox has worked with FEMA through its Higher Education Program, which she has participated in since 2011, lead focus group initiatives, established an annual award, and aided in training curriculum development.

When assembling these new cohorts, FEMA sought out and hand-selected each of them. Typically, it is rare to include multiple academics in these groups, let alone two from one university in consecutive cohorts.

麻豆精品 S淭he fact that there’s two of us from UCF is a really big deal, 麻豆精品 S� Knox says.

麻豆精品 S淏y bringing together these multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral leaders, it will help us better prepare for uncertainty in future disasters. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Chris Emrich

FEMA formed the program 麻豆精品 S檚 cohort model knowing that the future of disaster response depends not on any single agency or sector but on the strength of connections between them. Each cohort brings together crisis leaders from government, academia, nonprofits and the private sector to build the kind of cross-sectoral networks that are nearly impossible to forge during an actual disaster.

麻豆精品 S淭his program is part of a more recent attempt to try to engage across sectors more efficiently, 麻豆精品 S� Emrich says. 麻豆精品 S淏y bringing together these multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral leaders, it will help us better prepare for uncertainty in future disasters. 麻豆精品 S�

Strengthening the Field, Benefiting Students

Emrich and Knox will participate in roundtable seminars, site visits and discussions with fellow experts to examine emerging risks and shifts in the emergency management landscape, explore leadership frameworks for navigating crises, and brainstorm strategies to strengthen the field, all while building this trusted, cross-sector network.

Knox sees the fellowship as a chance to build new partnerships and bring national insights back to UCF, ultimately benefiting students.

麻豆精品 S淓mergency management changes constantly, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淲e don 麻豆精品 S檛 have the luxury of rinse and repeat. This gives us another avenue to bring the latest thinking directly into our courses. I’m looking forward to exploring these issues through both the lens of researcher and the lens of program director. 麻豆精品 S�

Emrich also sees opportunities for expanding research and collaboration by learning where those in the field are currently struggling.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檇 love to be a fly on the wall to hear what people’s troubles are, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚n academia, we’re fortunate to have the time to think about these things and reflect on how to better support them. Those insights turn into grant proposals, student support and expanding the knowledge base. 麻豆精品 S�

Enhancing UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Cutting-Edge Research

The fellowship also aligns with emerging research areas that UCF is already exploring when it comes to cutting-edge innovations in crisis management.

For example, Emrich is currently using AI to build educational games that teach students about social vulnerability. What would once have taken years of programming work can now be produced from existing course materials and exercise content 麻豆精品 S� opening the door to educational tools that weren’t previously feasible.

麻豆精品 S淲hat AI has been able to produce from my knowledge is something I could not have produced on my own, 麻豆精品 S� Emrich says. 麻豆精品 S淥ne of the things emergency managers are grappling with now is how to use AI productively. I look forward to being part of the conversation. 麻豆精品 S�

Knox is interested in real-time digital replicas of communities, called 麻豆精品 S渄igital twins, 麻豆精品 S� that can be used to model disaster scenarios, as well as to test recovery and mitigation plans before they’re needed.

麻豆精品 S淎 lot of emergency management boots-on-the-ground work is to help make decisions with the incomplete information in a very timely manner, 麻豆精品 S� Knox says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e looking at how AI can complement critical thinking skills with new capabilities. I 麻豆精品 S檝e seen it take off in engineering and computer sciences disciplines using real-time social media data to understand evacuation patterns. 麻豆精品 S�

Beyond their individual research, both professors see the fellowship as a catalyst for something bigger within UCF and beyond. They hope it will help them identify new ways to connect expanded emergency management expertise across disciplines.

麻豆精品 S淢补苍测 faculty members in different departments are doing research that can actively support emergency management, 麻豆精品 S� Emrich says. 麻豆精品 S淚 think it might be incumbent upon us to come back to the university and say, 麻豆精品 S楾his is where we need to be. This is how we connect all of our different experts, stakeholders and partners to make our program even stronger. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF Professor Christopher Emrich, an expert in hazard science, social vulnerability, disaster recovery and community resiliency, has plenty of experience with hurricanes. He 麻豆精品 S檚 worked with FEMA and other federal agencies to identify vulnerabilities in communities affected by hurricanes and to develop resiliency strategies.

As part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, Emrich conducts studies into planning for and responding to disasters.

Here he offers some do’s and don 麻豆精品 S檛’s to help you get ready for hurricane season

The Do’s

1. Get flood insurance. If you do not live in a flood zone the average cost is $660 a year for $250,000 worth of coverage. One inch of flood water can cause more than $25,000 in damage.
2. Make sure you have enough supplies for seven days.
3. Start preparing as early as possible. Pick up an extra gallon of water every time you go to the grocery store until you have 7 gallons per person 麻豆精品 S� 1 gallon per day for seven days. Or buy a WaterBob or similar product that will turn your bathtub into a storage tank.
4. Buy non-perishable foods that are full of protein, like peanut butter. Two tablespoons provide enough energy to get through a meal time during an emergency.
5. Get 5-gallon buckets with fitted lids from Home Depot, Walmart or similar stores. These are great for storing electronics, batteries, chargers, important documents, medicines and food. Properly closing the lids on these buckets also allows them to float.
6. Establish a designated shelter area where you 麻豆精品 S檒l keep emergency supplies in your home so you 麻豆精品 S檙e not scrambling around to find them. Do not raid your supplies once you have them ready. You can use them and replenish after hurricane season.
7. Make an evacuation plan. Make sure you and everyone in your family knows where to meet in case anyone gets separated. Talk through the plan often so everyone is on the same page. DO NOT wait until an evacuation order is issued to create a plan. Failure to plan = planned failure.
8. Turn on emergency notifications on your mobile devices. Based on your location, new warning systems can send messages with weather updates, alerts and other useful information. These alerts can be more up-to-date than newscasts, so you should trust them for the most accurate information. Take shelter when instructed.
9. Keep an emergency escape tool in each of your vehicles. This may come in handy for cutting seatbelts or breaking glass in an emergency.
10. Check on neighbors, especially those who are elderly or need extra help before, during and after emergencies.

顿辞苍 麻豆精品 S檛’蝉

1. Don 麻豆精品 S檛 let your car 麻豆精品 S檚 gas tank get below half-full at any point during the summer.
2. Don 麻豆精品 S檛 think you know more than weather experts. Instead, listen to trained emergency management officials, meteorologists and other leaders whose job it is to keep you informed and safe.
3. 聽Don 麻豆精品 S檛 bother taping up your windows because it doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 reduce the risk of them blowing out. This is especially true for people living apartments. Plus, it will only cause problems when removing the tape.
4. 聽Don 麻豆精品 S檛 drive through flooded streets, even if you 麻豆精品 S檙e very familiar with the street. A few inches of water can move a vehicle. Sinkholes may also develop on flooded roads and you won 麻豆精品 S檛 be able to see them.

Resources

In the event of a storm, UCF will provide communication with instructions on closures, depending on the weather conditions pre-and post-hurricanes. Our priority it to keep you safe. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via聽. A parent, spouse or other secondary contact 麻豆精品 S檚 email address also can be added, allowing them to receive the updates.

In the meantime, here 麻豆精品 S檚 some information we hope you find useful to help you prepare at home.

Florida Hurricane Preparedness Tax Free Holiday: June 1-14

Floridians can purchase qualified hurricane preparedness related items such as batteries and generators and will not be required to pay sales tax. This year the holiday is earlier to encourage people to plan early. Click for a list of qualified items.

Families with special needs are encouraged to sign up with the , which is a part of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to get information about resources in preparation and during a storm emergency.

Personalized disaster plans are critical and .

Communicating with children about disasters can help alleviate stress. This website offers tips, games and age specific information for families.

Planning for pets is also important. Floridadisaster.org聽offers advice for pet and livestock management.

Emergency kits can make all the difference for riding out a storm. Do you have all the ?

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is estimated to be highly active. Projections suggest 24 named storms, with 11 anticipated to become hurricanes, according to The Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2. Six hurricanes are forecasted to become Category 3 or higher, presenting substantial threats to coastal and inland regions.

University and Personal Planning

At UCF, teams plan and train for hurricane season year-round. UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Emergency Management team works hard to prevent, prepare for, manage and recover from a variety of threats to UCF, including severe weather.

UCF is a designated StormReady university through the National Weather Service.

In addition to the work being done at the central level, led by the Department of Emergency Management, we encourage all departments to evaluate their own hurricane procedures and staffing plans at this time, in advance of an imminent storm.

When tropical weather systems are threatening, Emergency Management is in communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center. If a serious storm or hurricane threatens our region, Governor Ron DeSantis and UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright have the authority to cancel classes or close campuses. UCF often does so in consultation with other area colleges, school districts and government officials.

We encourage students and UCF employees to put together their own hurricane safety kits and to create a plan with their families and loved ones should a storm impact Central Florida.

Prepping a Hurricane Kit

Knights should assemble a hurricane kit, which should provide enough essentials to survive at least three days. Kits should include:

• Water
• Nonperishable food
• Weather radio
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Batteries
• Can opener
• Cash
• Cell phone charge
• Identification cards
• Any necessary prescription medications

This year 麻豆精品 S檚 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday extends June 1-14. This two-week tax holiday allows Floridians to prepare for hurricane season while saving money on essential disaster preparedness items.

How to Stay Informed

The UCF Alert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community notified of severe weather threats. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via . A parent, spouse or other secondary contact 麻豆精品 S檚 email address also can be added, allowing them to receive the updates.

In addition to UCF Alert messages, details about any class cancelations, impact to services or campus closures will be shared on the UCF homepage, and @UCF and @UCFPolice on social media. Faculty members also are encouraged to post any changes to class assignments due to campus closures on Webcourses.

UCF has been impacted by hurricanes before, and we have been able to weather those storms while maintaining our strong commitment to academic excellence and student success.

While we hope for a hurricane-free season, it is always best to prepare and educate yourself in advance of a storm, especially in time such as now that requires extra considerations and flexibility.

Let 麻豆精品 S檚 each do our part by staying aware and prepared, and together, we 麻豆精品 S檒l make UCF a safer place for all of us.

Often, it also means giving people a way to find closure. After the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people in Haiti, UCF Associate Professor Abdul-Akeem Sadiq worked with a team to figure out how to manage all the unidentified bodies recovered from the rubble.

麻豆精品 S淢y colleagues and I developed a new strategy that involves taking photographs of the deceased, burying the deceased in shallow graves, and creating a numbering system that matches pictures of the deceased to their respective graves where they were temporarily buried, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen a deceased individual is identified by their loved ones through the picture, his or her body can be exhumed from the corresponding grave and properly buried or cremated. This strategy helps to prevent burying unidentified bodies in mass graves and making it difficult for victims 麻豆精品 S� families to have closure. 麻豆精品 S�

It 麻豆精品 S檚 remembering that human beings are at the heart of disasters that motivates Sadiq, an emergency management expert who specializes in mass fatality incidents and in helping governments, companies, and nonprofits prepare for emergencies.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 fueled by wanting to make a difference in people 麻豆精品 S檚 lives, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢ost of my publications provide practical recommendations to public, nonprofit, and private organizations with the hope that if those recommendations are implemented, they will lead to a better society. 麻豆精品 S�

Sadiq recently published a study that looks at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program and why less than 5% of eligible communities participate. The voluntary program is aimed at reducing flood impacts.

麻豆精品 S淲e found that a major obstacle to participating in the CRS is a lack of resources, like the staff needed to fill out the paperwork and apply to join the CRS, 麻豆精品 S� Sadiq says. 麻豆精品 S淪o, we recommended that FEMA should provide free staff support to communities that are not participating to help them with their paperwork and application process. In doing so, we may be able to increase participation and reduce disaster impacts on communities. 麻豆精品 S�

Sadiq 麻豆精品 S檚 career in emergency management almost didn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen.

麻豆精品 S淚 actually stumbled onto the field of emergency management, 麻豆精品 S� Sadiq says. 麻豆精品 S淚nitially, my interest as a Ph.D. student was in environmental policy and health policy. Unfortunately, I could not find an assistantship in either area. One of my professors, who received a (U.S.) National Science Foundation grant to study earthquake preparedness among organizations in Memphis, Tennessee, interviewed me and offered me a graduate research assistantship. This was how I fell in love with emergency management.

Today, he and a team of students are working on research related to COVID-19. The researchers are looking at managing mass fatalities during COVID-19 and how to promote community resilience during these kinds of global pandemics.

Sadiq, of Nigeria, joined UCF in 2017. Previously he worked at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (a partnership between Indiana University and Purdue University) and as a research and policy analyst for various universities. He holds a doctorate in public policy from a program run jointly by Georgia State University and Georgia Tech. He also has master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in economics and business administration in addition to a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in agricultural economics and farm management. He has more than 40 published journal articles, is a reviewer for several academic journals and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. In 2021 he was elected Chair of American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Section on Crisis and Emergency Management. ASPA is the main professional association for the discipline.

Each year, the National Weather Service (NWS) WeatherReady Nation (WRN) requests each branch across the country to nominate a partner who has 麻豆精品 S渟hown exemplary efforts toward helping build a WeatherReady Nation. 麻豆精品 S�

This year, NWS Melbourne chose to recognize UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Emergency Management team for their efforts in promoting hazardous weather safety on campus, holding several weather-related exercises and participating and hosting several SKYWARN training classes annually.

麻豆精品 S淯CF Emergency Management is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with the NWS Melbourne, 麻豆精品 S� says UCF Emergency Management Director Joe Thalheimer. 麻豆精品 S淭he UCF Community and all of Central Florida are better prepared, safer and more resilient as a result of the collaboration between our emergency mangers and their meteorologists. Our team is really honored to be selected as this year 麻豆精品 S檚 Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador of Excellence. 麻豆精品 S�

The recognition includes being featured on the National Weather Service 麻豆精品 S檚 website and shoutouts on NWS Melbourne 麻豆精品 S檚 social media pages.

The Emergency Management team has a long, successful partnership with NWS Melbourne, including renewing its designation as a StormReady university in 2019. The recognition will remain in effect until May 28, 2022.

The Department of Emergency Management prepares UCF by enhancing partnerships and coordinating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the university 麻豆精品 S檚 ability to mitigate, protect, and prevent against; respond to; and recover from natural, technological, and human-caused threats and hazards.

Hurricane Isaias is forecast to move northward along or near the East Central Florida coastline Saturday and Sunday, bringing heavy rain and inland wind gusts of 35-55 miles per hour.

The Emergency Management team is in communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information.

It 麻豆精品 S檚 always a good idea to have a hurricane kit ready for the season, which lasts through November. Include enough food and water for three days, and don’t forget medications, identification and a weather radio.

The #UCFAlert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community notified of severe weather threats. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via .

Additionally, updates will be shared on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 official social media channels, primarily Facebook聽(听补苍诲听) and Twitter ( and ), and at ucf.edu

Let 麻豆精品 S檚 each do our part by staying aware and prepared, and together, we 麻豆精品 S檒l make UCF a safer place for all of us.

The announcement comes after an exhaustive search. Metzger is confident in Thalheimer, who has led the department in an interim role since July 2019.

麻豆精品 S淛oe has done an incredible job since stepping into the role of interim director, 麻豆精品 S� says Metzger. 麻豆精品 S淪ince then, he 麻豆精品 S檚 been handling his old job duties, along with leading the Emergency Management team during Hurricane Dorian, the coronavirus pandemic and preparing for the 2020 hurricane season. I 麻豆精品 S檓 extremely impressed by what he 麻豆精品 S檚 accomplished so far and can 麻豆精品 S檛 wait to see what ideas he has for the future. 麻豆精品 S�

Thalheimer, who graduated from UCF with a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in criminal justice, has been a part of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Emergency Management team since 2014, where he was hired as the first warning and communication coordinator. He was later promoted to the manager of Operations and Technology before assuming the role of interim director of Emergency Management.

He was a founding staff member and senior operations coordinator at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine prior to joining the Emergency Management team.

From 2005 to 2012, he also served as the assistant security supervisor for the Orange County Convention Center, where he was responsible for physical security, transportation planning and emergency preparedness. While in this role, he represented the convention center at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center, which is where his love of Emergency Management started.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 very excited and honored to be chosen for this role, 麻豆精品 S� says Thalheimer. 麻豆精品 S淲orking at UCF has been enjoyable, thanks in large part to the people I work with. They make what can be a very stressful job fun, and there 麻豆精品 S檚 no where else I 麻豆精品 S檇 rather be. 麻豆精品 S�

Thalheimer is the first in his family to graduate from college, and his oldest daughter is a second-generation Knight. When he 麻豆精品 S檚 not in the Emergency Operations Center, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids in their RV, watching any UCF sport, and cheering on the New York Mets.

麻豆精品 S淓mergency management is essential in the aviation world, 麻豆精品 S� says Keila Walker-Denis 麻豆精品 S�07, assistant director of airport operations in emergency management for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. 麻豆精品 S淲e demonstrated that we have a sound foundation for an emergency-management program. 麻豆精品 S�

Walker-Denis, whose background is in emergency management, says the process was an opportunity to take the airport where it needed to be, especially now in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 麻豆精品 S淭his event has further highlighted the importance of communication, cooperation, coordination and collaboration, 麻豆精品 S� she says. The accreditation program used 64 industry standards to determine the top rating.

Her industry contacts 麻豆精品 S� such as Osceola County Emergency Management, Orlando Health, Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 State Medical Response Team, the Central Florida Intelligence Exchange, and the Incident Management Team for Central Florida 麻豆精品 S� have proven valuable in her current role.

‘We may not be the experts in any one area, but we know a lot about everything and where to get resources.’ 麻豆精品 S� Keila Walker-Denis

麻豆精品 S淲e may not be the experts in any one area, but we know a lot about everything and where to get resources, 麻豆精品 S� Walker-Denis says.

The airport authority 麻豆精品 S檚 emergency management team has been assigned with tasks such as collecting and analyzing information related to COVID-19; ensuring personal protective equipment is provided to necessary employees; supporting local, state and federal executive orders; and a host of other responsibilities to maintain the safety, health and wellbeing of employees and passengers, Walker-Denis says.

Beyond the coronavirus, her role always includes a lot of planning and preparing, ensuring all teams and decision-makers at the airports work together effectively and communicate the same message.

麻豆精品 S淥nce we identify what hazards we are prone to, the goal first is to try and prevent them. And if we can 麻豆精品 S檛 prevent them, the next step is to identify how to mitigate or lessen the impact to our operations, 麻豆精品 S� Walker-Denis says. 麻豆精品 S淥f course, our ultimate goal is to keep flying. 麻豆精品 S�

Before her career in emergency management, Walker-Denis started at UCF in the business program but switched to major in public administration because she was intrigued by the process that went into decision making during emergencies, such as for hurricanes when she was a child in Miami.

During an internship with the Osceola County Emergency Management Department, she participated in emergency operations during tropical storm Ernesto in 2006. Witnessing the controlled chaos of agencies, community stakeholders and departments coming together 麻豆精品 S渋gnited that passion, that flame, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

麻豆精品 S淚t all opened my eyes and ignited the fire I had back then to do what I do today. It 麻豆精品 S檚 truly a passion. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the best thing. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a very rewarding career field, mentally and emotionally, knowing that you 麻豆精品 S檙e able to make a change. 麻豆精品 S�

Walker-Denis also serves on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 emergency-management advisory board, which helps ensure UCF courses teach up-to-date content and expose students to the realities of the emergency management world beyond the classroom.

麻豆精品 S淪omeone did it for me when I was in college, as far as that internship, 麻豆精品 S� says Walker-Denis. 麻豆精品 S淚t opened my eyes, and I want to do the same. It feels right to do the same, to pay that forward. 麻豆精品 S�

He began in the middle of hurricane season, just as the emergency operation center was activated in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. Now, he 麻豆精品 S檚 working full-time as a manager in charge of a team of 10, who spend their workdays contacting all the households in the county with confirmed COVID-19 cases and with individuals who are awaiting test results.

麻豆精品 S淥nce COVID-19 started, everyone 麻豆精品 S檚 day-to-day roles and responsibilities changed into specific roles that were needed in order to respond to and mitigate the impact of the virus on the community, 麻豆精品 S� says Acosta, who graduates this May with his 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in emergency management.

Acosta was promoted to emergency management associate in February, moving him from unpaid to paid intern. Not even a month later, after finishing an active shooter exercise at a local elementary school, the department learned of Seminole County 麻豆精品 S檚 first confirmed positive case of the new coronavirus, so the emergency operations center was activated again.

麻豆精品 S淚 think the impact this experience will have on my career will be massive. 麻豆精品 S� – Andres Acosta, UCF student

The activation means that everyone is assigned additional duties, some quite different than their normal roles, in an effort to cover all the needed areas for whatever the hazard or emergency might be. In Acosta 麻豆精品 S檚 case, the team realized they needed to set up a call center. Quickly adapting to the new position, Acosta was promoted to a managerial position after only a couple days; he now oversees the Well Check Unit and will continue to work for the department after graduation.

麻豆精品 S淚 wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 planning to have him keep that position, 麻豆精品 S� says Alan Harris, chief administrator of Seminole County 麻豆精品 S檚 Office of Emergency Management. 麻豆精品 S淏ut he has done so well, we are keeping him. 麻豆精品 S�

Every morning, Acosta arrives at the office by 7:30 a.m. He then organizes the call logs for the day, dividing up all the households by jurisdiction. The team calls all the households in Seminole County with confirmed cases of the coronavirus, households where an individual has been tested or has reported coronavirus-like symptoms to the Department of Health, and households where individuals may have been in contact with COVID-19 positive cases, explains Acosta. They call to collect temperatures, make sure the people in the household are okay and ask about their needs.

Thanks to partnerships with local nonprofits, the emergency management department is able to provide a box of goods to people who can 麻豆精品 S檛 leave their homes. The boxes are filled with nonperishable foods, gloves, masks and toilet paper. Through the Florida Department of Health, quarantined individuals are also able to get their medications delivered. In both of these instances, the packages are delivered to the household without any direct, physical contact.

In addition to these deliveries, the county offers animal care and childcare; county services will care for the animals and children until the person recovers from COVID-19. The team has even helped people find temporary housing, which helped protect the area 麻豆精品 S檚 homeless population.

麻豆精品 S淚f there 麻豆精品 S檚 a person who is being affected by COVID-19 and they give us a call, we 麻豆精品 S檒l try to help out as best we can. 麻豆精品 S� – Andres Acosta, UCF student

麻豆精品 S淲e say food, water, medication, animal care, and childcare, but really, if there 麻豆精品 S檚 a person who is being affected by COVID-19 and they give us a call, we 麻豆精品 S檒l try to help out as best we can, 麻豆精品 S� says Acosta, referencing delivering live crickets to one woman for her pet.

If the team doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 make contact with a household after three attempts on three consecutive days, a law enforcement officer is dispatched to conduct a wellness check, explains Acosta.

By the end of the day, Acosta double checks the team 麻豆精品 S檚 work to confirm that their system is displaying accurate information and the collected temperatures are sent to the Department of Health.

The team 麻豆精品 S檚 job is a mix of customer service and enforcing the guidelines of both Seminole County and the Department of Health. Although staying at home has been tough on many individuals, especially those who have been laid off, Acosta reiterates in his phone calls that these rules are for the benefit of the community.

麻豆精品 S淎 lot of the phone calls aren 麻豆精品 S檛 easy. You just have to be very understanding. You just have to try to come from a position where they might be and understand that it 麻豆精品 S檚 human or normal for them to be really frustrated and stressed out, 麻豆精品 S� says Acosta.

For some, the calls Acosta 麻豆精品 S檚 teams make might be the only human interaction they have that day.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 very awesome to see that we 麻豆精品 S檙e impacting the community and giving people hope, 麻豆精品 S� Acosta says.

Acosta says he 麻豆精品 S檚 always been passionate about helping others and making an impact.

麻豆精品 S淚 want to help people, and I want to help my community. … It feels good to know what you 麻豆精品 S檙e doing has real purpose. 麻豆精品 S� – Andres Acosta, UCF student

麻豆精品 S淚 like being hands on. I like being in the field, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

When a degree in civil engineering wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 panning out the way he thought it would, an advisor at UCF pointed him in the direction of the emergency management program.

麻豆精品 S淓mergency management just became natural, 麻豆精品 S� says Acosta. 麻豆精品 S淚 want to help people, and I want to help my community. I think the impact this experience will have on my career will be massive. I 麻豆精品 S檝e been put in a real-life situation that none of us have gone through before. I 麻豆精品 S檓 super grateful for the opportunity I 麻豆精品 S檝e been given, and it feels good to know what you 麻豆精品 S檙e doing has real purpose. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淏ecause the program is so young, we can adjust the lessons to reflect whatever is going on in real time. 麻豆精品 S� – Claire Connolly Knox, director of the program.

麻豆精品 S淪tudents are attracted to the program because they 麻豆精品 S檝e been directly impacted by recent disasters 麻豆精品 S� , the BP oil spill, the Pulse Nightclub massacre, and now the pandemic, 麻豆精品 S� says Claire Connolly Knox, director of the program. 麻豆精品 S淚nterest has taken off almost exponentially. 麻豆精品 S�

Both the 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 programs in emergency management launched in Fall 2018. Initial projections of 20 students taking up the major by 2020 has been raised to 150 for the coming fall. And U.S. News and World Report聽ranked UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 MECM program No. 2 in the nation.

The first three graduates, and Knox, provide a wide-lens picture of who is at the heart of emergency and crisis management.

The Director

It takes only a few seconds before Knox 麻豆精品 S檚 passion for the environment can be heard clearly. A minute later, the Louisiana Cajun accent also sneaks in.

麻豆精品 S淕rowing up in the coastal wetlands, I understood how fragile our relationship is with nature, and the impact it can have when it breaks down. The wetlands are the first line of defense against hurricanes. 麻豆精品 S�

Still, she had no idea how bad it could be. While studying for her master 麻豆精品 S檚 in public administration at Florida State University in 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated her beloved Bayou State. The scrambled response became a series of tragic lessons learned 麻豆精品 S� communication, collaboration, basic preparedness. The aftermath also kick-started Knox on a path that drew her to UCF, in a region with more than its share of crises and at a school willing to adopt new ideas.

麻豆精品 S淏ecause the program is so young, we can adjust the lessons to reflect whatever is going on in real time. That 麻豆精品 S檚 essential in this dynamic and complex profession, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

At the moment, she and other program faculty are literally creating new teaching modules derived from the ongoing COVID-19 experience. The team in the MECM curriculum includes some of the most published and cited scholars in this discipline, as well as an advisory board of practitioners from every sector. Knox also points to a group just as valuable: the students.

麻豆精品 S淪omething other than fancy titles and hats is driving them, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 their hearts. They make the program real because of their own experiences. 麻豆精品 S�

The Security Specialist

Jaime Garcia first recognized a whole new world opening in his field of expertise, ironically the same day he had to close himself off.

On March 16, Garcia was thinking about graduation, job prospects, and finishing up his internship with the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management. At the door of the county building, he was asked if he 麻豆精品 S檇 been in any crowds the previous weekend. As a then part-time security guard at the Magic Kingdom, Garcia had. He spent the next 14 days in quarantine watching the news. What he saw and heard from Ecuador, where he was born and raised, only emboldened his reasons for pursuing his MECM.

麻豆精品 S淧eople were dying, the morgues were full, and they didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what to do because there had been no planning, 麻豆精品 S� says Garcia. 麻豆精品 S淗ere, even though I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 like being quarantined, I knew there was a good reason. The contrast proves why we need good people making decisions before and during a crisis. 麻豆精品 S�

Garcia 麻豆精品 S檚 first lessons came from his father, a doctor. While many people in authority, including doctors, used their positions in Ecuador to hoard essentials and profit from them, Garcia 麻豆精品 S檚 father would drive into rural areas and distribute vaccines and treatments for free.

麻豆精品 S淗e said helping people was always the right thing to do. 麻豆精品 S�

As a teenager, Garcia coordinated a group of classmates to collect food and clothes for families following a mudslide. After moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, he took a group of security colleagues to deliver water to evacuees in the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina.

麻豆精品 S淲e have so many blessings in the U.S., but that made me realize we can never take them for granted. 麻豆精品 S�

All of these experiences led Garcia to enter the MECM program when it launched in 2018. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a continuation of what I love doing, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e discuss how things are always changing and how to prepare for anything. 麻豆精品 S�

At work he 麻豆精品 S檚 been in discussions about crises like water contamination or a second outbreak of COVID-19.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e also preparing for the possibility of severe weather later this week. 麻豆精品 S�

The Meteorologist

It 麻豆精品 S檚 8:30 a.m. and Maureen McCann is in full stride. A meteorologist for Spectrum News 13, she 麻豆精品 S檚 already been on the air 20 times this morning to give weather updates. In the midst of Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 singular focus on COVID-19, McCann needs to find a way to alert us that, yes, a severe storm is a distinct possibility in the next 72 hours. Weather events pay no attention to lockdown orders.

麻豆精品 S淥ur motto is, 麻豆精品 S楧on 麻豆精品 S檛 be scared, be prepared, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� 聽she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 true in any emergency situation 麻豆精品 S� the virus, the weather, a severe storm. The more I know about crisis management, the better I can communicate preparedness to viewers. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淲atching the meteorologists on TV made me less scared, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 decided that 麻豆精品 S檚 what I wanted to do 麻豆精品 S� warn people and calm them at the same time. 麻豆精品 S�

After earning a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree from Cornell University, McCann 麻豆精品 S檚 television career led her around the country. Whether she was in Austin or Denver, something about Central Florida intrigued her. Specifically, the storms. When she moved here in 2013, she also had an unfinished master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree. The launch of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 MECM in 2018 seemed fortuitous.

麻豆精品 S淚 liked that it 麻豆精品 S檚 a fresh program and the instructors are willing to adjust so we can collaborate on real-time events. 麻豆精品 S�

She and her cohorts have gleaned lessons from hurricanes Irma, Maria, Michael and Dorian. Even the meteorologist has had her light-bulb moments.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 a scientist with an opportunity to communicate directly with people who will be impacted by an event. That 麻豆精品 S檚 a form of emergency management in itself.

麻豆精品 S淎nother big takeaway is the need to network before a disaster, not during. My network has expanded through the program to include security, conservation, a first responder. The boots on the ground 麻豆精品 S� that 麻豆精品 S檚 an interesting perspective. 麻豆精品 S�

The Paramedic

Chris Goodson is catching his breath. He 麻豆精品 S檚 just finished a workout near his neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, and now he 麻豆精品 S檚 foraging for what we 麻豆精品 S檝e all come to know in recent weeks as a PPE kit. A risk and safety specialist for Superior Ambulance, he 麻豆精品 S檚 waiting to find out where he 麻豆精品 S檚 needed next.

麻豆精品 S淚 like to be on the move, 麻豆精品 S� Goodson says.

He 麻豆精品 S檒l transfer COVID-19 patients to rehab facilities or to McCormick Place, which FEMA has set up as a field hospital downtown. 麻豆精品 S淭he situation we 麻豆精品 S檙e facing isn 麻豆精品 S檛 one that I enjoy, but the chaos is putting my education into practice. 麻豆精品 S�

His winding route involved uprooting from his home to enter a brand-new graduate program 1,200 miles away at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 glad I took the chance, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淟eaders in Central Florida have been at the forefront of disasters in terms of coordination, action, protocols, leadership. I 麻豆精品 S檇 like to use those lessons here at home. 麻豆精品 S�

Goodson grew up in 麻豆精品 S淭he Hole, 麻豆精品 S� the most oppressive section of Chicago 麻豆精品 S檚 notorious Robert Taylor Homes public housing project. Gunshots became everyday noise. 麻豆精品 S淧olice might come or they might not. At some point I thought, 麻豆精品 S楥hris, you could provide the help. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

After high school, he completed two years at Eastern Illinois University before enlisting in the Army, spent time in Afghanistan, delivered aid to Haiti, helped the recovery following Hurricane Sandy, and eventually moved to Roseland in the south-side of Chicago as a paramedic. At UCF he learned about cultural competency as a central concept in crisis management. Back home, it 麻豆精品 S檚 more than a concept.

麻豆精品 S淗ospitals near my neighborhood are underfunded and understaffed. More black people are dying because of underlying health conditions, a lack of resources, and slow response. You have to know how things work at the local level to effectively help. 麻豆精品 S�

Goodson plans to take a grant writing class to round out his credentials. In five years, he sees himself in a role with FEMA or a local governing body. But for now, he 麻豆精品 S檚 checking his gloves and mask. He doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 know where he 麻豆精品 S檒l be 20 minutes from now. And that 麻豆精品 S檚 just fine with Goodson. He 麻豆精品 S檚 ready for anything.