This course provides the participants with an overview of scientific principles and concepts that shape our increasingly dangerous world. The contents of the course include the following:

• Introduction to Science of Disaster provides a definition and benefits of science.
• Earth Science describes how the Earth’s design sets the stage for the world’s natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and landslides/sinkholes.
• Climatology describes the scientific basis of common atmospheric hazards including convective storms, tropical cyclones, and other hazardous weather.
• Chemical and biological basics identifies the scientific basis of chemical and biological threats.
• Explosive, radiological, and nuclear fundamentals identifies the scientific basis of those threats.

Selection Criteria: This course is intended for newly appointed emergency managers from Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies, and prospective professionals transferring from another discipline to emergency management.

ACE: Level: Lower Division/Associate

ACE: Credit Hours: 2

CECs: 12

• Indicate how earth science principles and processes influence natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, ground failures, and floods.
• Indicate how climatological principles and processes influence natural hazards, including convective storms, tropical cyclones, nor’easters, winter storms, temperature extremes, and droughts.
• Indicate how chemical and biological principles and processes influence natural and human-caused hazards and impact society.
• Indicate the scientific basis for explosive, radiological, and nuclear hazards and their impact on society.
• Indicate how scientific understanding can improve emergency preparedness.

• Mitigation

• Emergency Management

Threats and Hazard Identification