The George Washington University Institute for Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management (ICDRM) is celebrating its 13th anniversary as a Research Institute and 9th anniversary as a leading provider of graduate level education programs in the area of crisis, emergency and risk management. Located within the Department of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, the Institute conducts evening classes at the main GWU Foggy Bottom Campus, and at the Arlington, VA and Alexandria, VA Graduate Education Centers.

Course offerings lead to a Master of Science in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering with a concentration in Crisis, Emergency and Risk Management and Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response and Emergency Management and Public Health. ICDRM also supports student course work and research for a Doctor of Science in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering.

New:
Course Announcement: Geographic Information Systems for Emergency Management

Fall 2007 the ICDRM started to offer a new graduate-level course on Geographic Information Systems for Emergency Management. The course introduces the students to the theoretical principles of Geographic Information Systems and examines its potential for emergency management through case studies and hands-on training on various GIS products. This course will be offered only on campus and once a year during the fall semester. Because the course is held in the computer lab the enrollment is limited.

Course Number: EMSE 248.10
Course Title: GIS for Emergency Management
CRN: 55941
Day: Thursdays
Time: 06.10 pm – 08.40 pm
Location: 1776 G Str NW, DSS Lab (first class will be held at 1957 E Str, room 214)
Professor: Frank Fiedrich

For additional information and syllabus requests please contact Frank Fiedrich at fiedrich@gwu.edu.

Updated ICDRM / GWU Emergency Management Glossary of Terms

We recently updated the ICDRM / GWU Emergency Management Glossary of Terms. This glossary was established for purposes of emergency management and eduction. It was developed by ICDRM with support from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs. To download the updated PDF document click here.

New Project Developing Medical Emergency Management Competencies

In 2006 the ICDRM completed a large project for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of Veterans Affairs. A new VHA project is producing recommendations for a Certification Program for Healthcare System Leaders and Emergency Management Program Managers. Additional competencies are also being developed to support the certification program as well as to provide a basis for future training products in the VHA Emergency Management Academy. A certification program white paper was developed and used to guide discussions during an initial stakeholders’ meeting, which occurred April 5, 2007. For a report on that meeting and the white paper, click here.

National Academy Report on Humanitarian Relief

The National Academies made their new report "Tools and Methods for Estimating Populations at Risk from Natural Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Crises" available to the public. To read the press release and access the report click here.

Standardized Volunteer Management System

The ICDRM developed a Standardized Volunteer Management System which is specifically designed to address the screening, processing and support of volunteers who may be assigned to response and recovery positions across the range of public health and medical tasks required during an incident. A companion electronic Volunteer Management System (e-VMS) enhances the efficiency of operating the VMS.

This project was funded through the generous support of the de Beaumont Foundation.

For additional information and document download click here.

VHA Project

ICDRM has completed a contract for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Emergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group. The project produced several documents for use in the VHA Emergency Management Academy (EMA):

1. An emergency management curriculum/text for healthcare professionals: Emergency Management (EM) Principles and Practices for Healthcare Systems
2. A competency framework and emergency response and recovery competencies for key job groups in healthcare systems: The VHA-EMA Emergency Response & Recovery Competencies: Competency Survey, Analysis, and Report

For a more complete description of the project (including downloads) click here.

Hurricane Katrina: Recommendations for Reform

Prof. Harrald, director of ICDRM, was asked by the Senate Homeland Security Government Affairs Committee to submit a written statement on the response to Hurricane Katrina. His recommendations for a reform are now available for download. To download the PDF document click here.

Volunteer Management System

The Arlington County, Virginia Public Health Volunteer Management System (ACPH-VMS) was developed by the George Washington University Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management (ICDRM) under contract to the Arlington County Public Health Division of the Department of Human Services and with the generous financial support from the deBeaumont Foundation. For a complete description of the system and to access system documents click here.

Presently, more than 100 students are in the various graduate programs. Opportunities are available for current students to participate in relevant intern programs and many students hold part time or full time jobs in addition to their educational pursuits

Our graduates have found multiple employment opportunities in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. The Washington, DC location and the multiple professional functions hosted by the Institute provide important contacts and networking opportunities.

For questions about Academic and Program Information, please contact Mr. Greg Shaw at glshaw@gwu.edu or (202) 994-6736

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Rev. 3/27/08