WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Preparing for worst-case scenarios and attracting the next generation of emergency response leaders who will lead those efforts in our communities: That's the goal of a class being offered at Bloomsburg University.
The idea is to give those students real-life experience in real time. It's about keeping our communities safe now and in the future.
The Bloomsburg professor says there's only so much you can learn from a book, so the course takes her students to places like Luzerne County EMA where the heavy lifting is done life life-threatening events.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is no stranger to unusual life-threatening events like hurricanes, flooding, snowstorms, and the collateral damage caused by those events, like multi-vehicle crashes like we have seen in recent days because of snow squalls.
Pennsylvania's 67 counties have Emergency Management Agencies (EMA) that prepare and coordinate the community responses to those incidents.
The students worked with Luzerne County EMA. Their mission: Do a deep dive into those emergency hazard mitigation plans and give a critique, if you will.
LCTA buses running on snow routes due to storm
Dr. Jennifer Haney came up with the idea for the course. She is an associate professor of geography at Bloomsburg University and a certified emergency manager.
"These situations are complex. You can't just say we'll expect a hurricane and then have a response as we have done in years past. but now you have a hurricane then you may have an issue associated with a bridge collapse and then you really have to be able to figure out how you're going to manage your resources and understand what capabilities you have," Dr. Haney explained.
Students say the real-time work with EMA was an inspiration to them.
"Being able to collaborate with actual practitioners in the field and dive into that research on certain groups of people certain populations that are more vulnerable to disasters and then the climate change implications as well was really being able to dive into and give them more information about these things has been an honor," Bloomsburg University Student Sidney Springer said.
"So basically, it opened my eyes of like certain hazards that are like consistent in our area and basically understanding the importance how well the community has to be together not only in the community level but also with government," said Gavin McBride, a Bloomsburg University student.
Lucy Morgan is the director of emergency services for Luzerne County. She says she sees potential in these students as the next generation of EMA leaders.
"You don't always find people that are interested in that but public safety is humungous. So to have the next generation they're our future coming," Morgan explained.
Several of the students told 28/22 News they are now considering a career in emergency management because of this experience because they want to serve their community.
