Spring 2026
Hazard Mitigation and Debris Management
Approved: TNS 1/9/26 Mitigation and Debris Management (EMAP 1345) CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: None COURSE DESCRIPTION This fully on-line course examines the establishment, role and function of volunteers within an emergency response setting. It will also provide an overview in the decision-making process utilized in emergency management. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. Understand the decision-making process as it applies to emergency management 2. Describe the role of volunteers in emergency response 3. Explain the process for developing and managing volunteers 4. Understand the problems associated with spontaneous volunteers, and how best to utilize them during an emergency response INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Tim Ocnaschek Email: twocnaschek@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-839-2967 Office Location: Technology Center (TC) – Room 116 Office Hours: By Appointment REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS 1. Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness (Anna K. Schwab, et al). All additional materials will either be provided in Blackboard, or a link will be listed where the materials are available free of charge. 2. All students must register with FEMA and obtain a Student Identification Number (SID; https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register ATTENDANCE POLICY 1. Except for the introductory week, weekly discussion assignments are due by Wednesday at midnight. Responses to classmate(s) are due by midnight Saturday. Tests are due by midnight Sunday. 2. Discussion assignments must be submitted in the following format: Course name, Student name, and date as a header. Answers must be in paragraph format and single spaced if done in Blackboard but double-spaced if attached. Either way, the response is limited to a 100-word minimum and 250 word maximum 3. The Final Project paper is due the week before Finals DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. COURSE CALENDAR DATE TOPIC READINGS (Due on this Date) ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) Week 1 Introductions • Initial Intro Discussion 1 • Final Intro Discussion 1 • Read Chapter 1: Hazards and Disasters • Chapter 1 - Discussion 1 • Chapter 1 Discussion Responses • Post by Mar 25 • Post by Mar 28 • Post by Mar 25 • Post by Mar 28 Week 2 Foundational • Read Chapter 2: Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation, and Climate Change Adaptation: An Overview • Chapter 2 – Discussion 1 • Chapter 2- Discussion 2 • Post by Apr 1 • Post by Apr 1 • Chapter 2 – Discussion 1 Responses • Chapter 2 – Discussion 2 Responses • Review IS-393.b Introduction to Hazard Mitigation • Test 1 covering Chapters 1, 2 and IS-393.b) • Post by Apr 4 • Post by Apr 4 • Post by Apr 5 Week 3 Foundational • Read Chapter 6: Role of the Federal Government in Disaster Management • Chapter 6 – Discussion 1 • Chapter 6 – Discussion 2 • Chapter 6 – Discussion 1 Responses • Chapter 6 – Discussion 2 Responses • Read Chapter 7: Mitigating Hazards at the State Level: Divergent Views and Outcomes • Chapter 7 – Discussion 1 • Chapter 7 – Discussion 2 • Chapter 7 - Discussion 1 Responses • Chapter 7 – Discussion 2 Responses • Post by Apr 8 • Post by Apr 8 • Post by Apr 11 • Post by Apr 11 • Post by Apr 8 • Post by Apr 8 • Post by Apr 11 • Post by Apr 11 Week 4 Resilience and Mitigation • Read Chapter 8: Local Government Powers: Building Resilience from the Ground Up • Chapter 8 – Discussion 1 • Chapter 8 – Discussion 2 • Chapter 8 – Discussion 1 Responses • Chapter 8 – Discussion 2 Responses • Read FEMA IS-2700: National Mitigation Framework, an Introduction • TEST 2 covering Chapters 6, 7, 8 and IS-2700) • Post by Apr 15 • Post by Apr 15 • Post by Apr 18 • Post by Apr 18 • Post by Apr 19 Week 5 Risk Assessment and hazard mitigation to reduce vulnerability • Read Chapter 10: Risk Assessment: Identifying Hazards and Assessing Vulnerability • Chapter 10 – Discussion 1 • Chapter 10 – Discussion 2 • Chapter 10 – Discussion 1 Responses • Chapter 10 – Discussion 2 Responses • Chapter 12: Hazard Mitigation Activities: Creating Strategies to Reduce Vulnerability • Chapter 12 – Discussion 1 • Chapter 12 – Discussion 2 • Chapter 12 – Discussion 1 Responses • Post by Apr 22 • Post by Apr 22 • Post by Apr 25 • Post by Apr 25 • Post by Apr 22 • Post by Apr 22 • Post by Apr 25 • Chapter 12 – Discussion 2 Responses • Post by Apr 25 Week 6 Mitigation Planning • Read IS-318: Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities • Initial Discussion 1 • Discussion 1 Responses • TEST 3 (over Chapters 10, 12 &IS-318) • Post by Apr 29 • Post by May 2 • Post by May 3 Week 7/8 Debris Operations And Debris Planning • Read FEMA IS-632.a (Introduction to Debris Operations) • Read FEMA IS- 633 (Debris Management Plan Development) • TEST 4 (over IS-632 AND IS-633) • Post by May 12 COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Unit Tests- 60% • Course Assignments- 40% • Discussion assignments must be submitted in the following format: Course name, Student name, and date as a header. Answers must be in paragraph format and double-spaced with a 100 word minimum and 250 word maximum. • After each assignment post, a feedback post is required to at least one fellow student. Lack of a feedback post will result in a 20 point reduction for the assignment grade. Repeated refusal to submit feedback will result in a 30 point reduction for the assignment grade. • Assignments will be graded up to 7 days after the due date with a 10 point penalty. Assignments later than 7 days will be assessed a 0. • I will drop the lowest two weekly assignment grades. • I will drop the lowest test grade. • There are several FEMA Independent Study courses covered in this class. Upon submission of a FEMA certificate indicating successful completion of the online course, I will add 5 points to the individual test score over that section of the course. • Tests will be automatically grade and recorded in Blackboard. • Your final grade will be the average of your weekly discussions, tests and the Final Project... • AI tools should not be used GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION 1. Students are expected to use proper net etiquette while participating in course emails, assignment submissions, and online discussions 2. Log onto Blackboard at least once per week. 3. Use of AI for assignment completion is NOT acceptable and tends to impede student performance since the discussion requirements are limited between 100 and 250 words. 4. Students must engage in weekly discussions and feedback to classmates 5. All students must register with FEMA and obtain a Student Identification Number (SID; https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/register). 6. Assignments’ grades may be accessed through My Grades in Blackboard. Each assignment shows your grade and any comments I make on your assignment. 7. There are five FEMA Independent Study courses covered in this class, IS-393.b, IS-2700, IS-318, IS-632.a and IS-633. Upon submission of a FEMA certificate indicating successful completion of the online course, I will add 5 points to the individual test score over that section of the course.