Introduction to Disaster and Emergency and Risk Planning - HMY4040

Assessment 1: Oral presentation/assessment

The first formative assessment will be a group presentation, on vulnerability factors and differential impact associated with different types of emergencies

Oral presentation/assessment

Assessment 2: In-Class Test

Students will complete a mock exam (1 hour) that draws on separate questions to the summative exam to test students’ understanding of the above four learning outcomes. Feedback will be offered following each formative assessment.  

Written practice exercise

Assessment 1: Exam

The exam will consist of differently weighted questions that assess students’ knowledge on different forms of disasters, their understanding of key theories and procedural frameworks underpinning disaster and emergency risk planning, as well as their ability to think and write critically. The exam will be completed under timed conditions on the course virtual learning environment (online).

Exam

This module will examine the fundamental concepts, theories, and practice of multi-agency responses to all types of disasters and emergencies.  Students will familiarise themselves with the fundamental models and theoretical background to risk, hazard, vulnerability, crisis, and disasters covering definitions, categorisations, trends, and drivers of disaster risk. Students will examine key theories and models from various disciplines to understand the complexities of emergency management and disaster risk reduction. The module covers various types of emergencies, including hazards, technological accidents, public health emergencies, and human-made crises as well as how to identify, assess, and respond to different types of emergencies, understanding their unique characteristics, impacts, and challenges for emergency planning. In addition, students will examine the key concept of risk, risk perception, and examine various methods and techniques for assessing and identifying risks and analysing hazards associated with technological accidents, and other emergencies. The module will provide students with the theoretical foundations and practical skills necessary for conducting risk, hazard and vulnerability assessments and applying risk analysis methodologies in various contexts. Critical infrastructure will be explored, and the ways risks associated with it can be mitigated and planned for. Lastly, students will examine the principles, and processes of disaster risk governance at various levels, including local, national, and international contexts. The roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, policy coherence, and accountability in enhancing resilience and reducing disaster risk will also be explored. Through critical analysis and reflection, students will gain insight into the complexities of disaster phenomena, including their social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions. The module emphasizes learning from past disasters to inform future disaster risk reduction strategies.

School of Human and Health Sciences

Alexander, D. E. (2015). Disaster and emergency planning for preparedness, response, and recovery. Oxford University Press.
Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., &amp; Coppola, D. P. (2020). Introduction to Emergency Management (7th edition.). Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817139-4.01001-0
Chan, E. Y. Y., Lam, H. C. Y., Chan, E. Y. Y., &amp; Lam, H. C. Y. (2021). 2nd Edition of Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM). MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
Coetzee, C., &amp; Van Niekirk, D. (2012). Tracking the evolution of the disaster management cycle: A general system theory approach. Jamba: Journal of Risk Studies, 4(1), 208–216
Coppola, D. P. (2020). Introduction to International Disaster Management (Fourth edition). Butterworth-Heinemann.
Kelman, I., &amp; EBSCOhost. (2020). Disaster by choice : how our actions turn natural hazards into catastrophes (First edition.).
Laugé, A., Hernantes, J., &amp; Sarriegi, J. M. (2013, May). Disaster impact assessment: A holistic framework. In ISCRAM.
Merz, B., Kuhlicke, C., Kunz, M., Pittore, M., Babeyko, A., Bresch, D. N., ... &amp; Wurpts, A. (2020). Impact forecasting to support emergency management of natural hazards. Reviews of Geophysics, 58(4), e2020RG000704.
Wisner, B. (2014). At risk : natural hazards, people’s vulnerability, and disasters (2nd edition.).
Yeager, K., &amp; Roberts, A. R. (Eds.). (2015). Crisis intervention handbook : assessment, treatment, and research (Fourth edition.). Oxford University Press.

HMY4040 - Introduction to Disaster and Emergency and Risk Planning

Introduction to Disaster and Emergency and Risk Planning

Comprehensively identify the impact of different types of emergencies on human populations, infrastructure, the environment, and socio-economic systems.

Assess the risk, hazard and vulnerability factors associated with different types of emergencies, including geographic location, population density, socio-economic disparities, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. 

Comprehend and compare the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and communities, in disaster risk governance.

Systematically understand and critique foundational theories underpinning disaster and emergency risk planning.