Tag: Robert Morris

Proactive NOT Reactive by Robert Morris

Posted on by Admin

Proactive NOT Reactive by Robert Morris

Natural disasters are always unpredictable, and can cause significant damage to communities. Proactive planning is necessary to mitigate the impact of hazards and can reduce loss of life and property from natural hazard events. Natural Hazard Planning is a formalized approach designed to reduce the risk of natural hazards as they impact communities.

The Community Planning Workshop provides students the opportunity to further enhance their knowledge in community-integrated projects, networking and professional development. This term, I have been working with a student team responsible for updating a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP) for Jefferson County, Oregon to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In order for local jurisdictions to receive funding from FEMA, they are required to maintain and update a National Hazards Mitigation Plan every five years.

For the last two terms, I have had the opportunity to meet with various city officials through stakeholder interviews and by leading three steering committee meetings. This experience has taught me the importance of understanding working within a community, as well as the attention to detail that is required to engage in a successful public involvement process.

This project has given me pride in my ability to contribute to a collaborative process that produces a tangible document, which will be used by the community as a reference and guideline for mitigating community risk to hazard. By undertaking and implementing mitigation plan actions, and working closely with knowledgeable professionals (steering committee members), the hazard mitigation plan will reduce the potential threat to people and property from future hazardous events.

Robert Morris Bio: 1st Year Community and Regional Planning Masters candidate. I am from Pennants, Jamaica. My background is in architecture and I am now interested in what solutions can recycling opportunities offer with regards to the growing problem of homelessness.

Meet our Students: Robert Morris / Community and Regional Planning

More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)

Meet our Students: Robert Morris / Community and Regional Planning

Posted on by Admin

Meet our Students: Robert Morris / Community and Regional Planning

What city, region, state do you call home?

Kingston, Jamaica

In which graduate program are you enrolled?

Community and Regional Planning

What is your area of concentration?

Sustainability and maybe Transportation

What will you be doing for the Community Service Center (CSC)?

Updating Jefferson County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and creating a National Hazard Mitigation Plan training program.

How does your involvement with the Community Service Center relate to or inform your graduate studies?

At the moment it does not relate to what I want to pursue as my concentration. But it will help me to be knowledgeable of a plan of action if I decide to return to Jamaica. Maybe after the project is complete, I may switch my concentration. The structure of this program is geared towards becoming more knowledge of planning goals and initiatives and enhancing my professional/ career development. I am extremely grateful for this exposure.

What can you say about the value of your Community Service Center experience?

It has been great, entertaining and refreshing. Bob, Bethany and all the Project Managers have been great and flexible thus far. Bethany has excellent teaching methods and she would fit in any teaching environment. She makes learning and coming to class fun. I think the structure is extremely professional and I absolutely feel like I am learning and gaining valuable information from each class session, and group/Pods meeting.

What outcome are you hoping for when your project ends?

I would hope my team of 6 including Project Adviser Mike Howard , Project Manager Jennifer Self, the Jefferson County local jurisdictions (Steering Committee) are pleased with our final deliverable of a NHMP and training program. I also hope I will be a more confident presenter and a more knowledgeable graduate student.

More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)