March 5, 2024

9:00am - 5:00pm

The world’s first comprehensive disaster operations course designed specifically for the public safety communications professional!

This course serves to educate the public safety telecommunicator on a wide range of man-made and natural disasters, their effects on the community and its infrastructure, and the response and recovery needs of each. In addition, this course will provide telecommunicators with information on overall emergency management and homeland security and provide guidance on continuity of operations for the emergency communications center (ECC) in the face of a multitude of disaster situations.

The importance of educating today’s public safety communications professional on their role and the role of the ECC in disaster operations is greater than ever before. There is a defined role for public safety communications in every element of disaster response and recovery. As public safety’s ability and need to address disaster situations evolves, the telecommunicator needs to be familiar with all types of disasters – man-made and natural – and how those events can impact the communications function.

Attendees: 40

Cost: $100 + HST per person

Lunch and Coffee breaks included

Prerequisites: Although there is no pre-requisite for the course, it is recommended that registrants for this class have successfully completed a 40-hour formal basic instructor-led telecommunicator training program.

Attendees will receive a QR code at the end of the course, March 5th, to complete the online exam within 48 hours. Your certificate of completion will be emailed out after completion of the online exam.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management

• US Department of Homeland Security
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Emergency Management
• Emergency Management on the State, Local and Regional Levels

Natural Disasters

• Hurricanes and Typhoons
• Tornadoes
• Tsunamis
• Severe Weather and Temperatures
• Severe Heat
• Earthquakes
• Wildland and Forest Fires
• Volcanoes
• Landslides
• Pandemics

Man-made

• Types of Man-Made Disasters and Terrorist Acts

Instructor: Rhonda Braudis

Rhonda Braudis is currently the 911 Communications Director for the Marshall County Communications Center in Marshalltown, Iowa. Rhonda initially began her career with 911 Emergency Services in 2002 at the Salem Police Department, Salem Oregon as a 911 call taker. In 2003 Rhonda moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas to be closer to her family. She worked at the Fort Smith Police Department until 2013.

Rhonda has functioned in many capacities within her career, she began as a call-taker, became a 911 Dispatcher, CTO, Lead, created 911 Education programs, Tactical Dispatching programs, and served as the CALEA Communications Manager. While in Fort Smith Rhonda became an RPL (Registered Public Safety Leader) in 2009. Rhonda became an Adjunct Instructor, also in 2009, for APCO.

Rhonda completed her CPE (Certified Public Executive) certification in July, 2019 through the APCO Institute prior to beginning her new role as the 911 Communications Director in Marshall County, IA.