National Legal Preparedness Project, Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Legal Issues and Disasters: Things You Need to Know

This course is a survey of legal issues that typically arise during emergencies. The goal of the course is to enhance the ability of state , local, and and tribal governments, emergency managers and planners, first responders, and VOADs to identify potential legal issues.

The course:

•  Facilitates the ability of participants to identify issues and liabilities that can arise within their jurisdiction or agency responsibilities.

•  Provides information regarding practices which support inclusion of whole communities which may require policy development or revisions to operations and practices.

•  Examines the impact legal policies have on operations practice

Target Audience

•  State, local and tribal government key advisors and legal counsel

•  Operational Personnel such as emergency managers, planners, and first responders

•  Personnel with comparable roles in community and faith-based non-profit organizations that provide services in an emergency.

 •  It may be useful if 2-3 members from the same agency, organizations, or entity attend as a team. That way, when participants return to their workplace, they can more easily implement what they learned. Of course attending as a team is not required.

Legal Issues Covered

•  Emergency Operations Plans

•  Public Information and Warning

•  Evacuation

•  Transportation Issues

•  Shelters

Case Study

Using a case study approach, participants will examine legal issues surrounding selected emergency management challenges, be introduced to relevant legal guidance and emerging trends, and through discussion with other participants gain a sense of the larger operational and policy constraints faced by different actor involved in emergency planning, response and recovery

•  Social Distancing

•  Out-of-State Volunteers

•  Reimbursement and Federal Financial Assistance

•  Debris Management

Prerequisites

None

Course Length

Eight contact hours of instructor-led training (ILT)

Management & Planning Level Course

This course is geared to the Management and Planning Level and as such is designed for managers who develop plans and coordinate the response to a mass consequence terrorist or natural event.

Where Courses Will Be Offered

The course has been certified by FEMA and the course number is MGT366. Please contact drobinson@udc.edu for more information.

Conducting a Legal Needs Assessment

Conducting a Legal Needs Assessment is in Assessment.