About the CDRE
Welcome to the Center for Disaster Research & Education
The CDRE is currently comprised of 15 faculty members and several student research assistants. We conduct research into various issues related to disasters and terrorism. Our work includes, but is not limited to, investigation of behavioral and organizational issues related to mitigation, planning, and response to disasters and terrorism. While our work is primarily shared with stake holders, we seek to develop educational and training opportunities directed toward public policy makers, emergency personnel, the mass media, and average citizens.
The Center has previously completed work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Higher Education Project), Research Planning, Inc. (DOD Project), the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and various academic research centers. Contract and grant support currently come from FEMA and NSF.
The CDRE publishes the official newsletter of the International Research Committee on Disasters (RC 39, International Sociological Association). UnScheduled Events is published three times a year (January, May, September). The Center also publishes the Contemporary Disaster Review: An International Journal (CDR) three times a year: February, June, October. The CDR is the official online journal of reviews (books, websites, distance learning, CD-ROM materials) of the International Research Committee on Disasters. The Center is currently preparing to host the online version of the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters (IJMED), the official print journal of the International Research Committee on Disasters.
The Center engages in research and educational activities aimed at serving the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the region, the nation and beyond. The Center faculty members have been involved assisting in all of these geographical areas.
The Master of Science in Emergency Management is a new program for Fall 2007 consisting of a distance learning MS in EM for those, primarily currently holding an emergency management position, seeking advanced education.
Emergency Managers, Reporters & Citizens Need to Know . . .
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Dr. Fischer has appeared on CNN and MS-NBC. He is the winner of the 2003 Emerald Literati Award for "Outstanding Paper" Published in 2002 in the Journal of Disaster Prevention & Management. The article: "Terrorism & 11 September 2001: Does the Behavioral Response to Disaster Model Fit?"
Mission Statement
The mission of the Center for Disaster Research & Education (CDRE) is focused on the following four goals:
- Conduct research into the behavioral and organizational response to disasters and terrorism, including the media, as well as risk and hazards assessment, in order to contribute to the continually developing research literature;
- Disseminate research findings, including those already a part of the research literature, in a language and format that is useful to the general public, mass media personnel, and emergency management personnel-as well as researchers;
- Contribute to the education of the next generation of disaster researchers, emergency managers, and knowledgeable community members;
- Contribute to the education of current community members pursuant to developing, in the words of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a disaster resilient community.
