The 2003 Cedar Fire burned more than 273,000 acres, destroyed more than 2,300 homes
and claimed 15 lives. The county’s 2007 firestorms, led by the Witch and Guejito fires,
burned more than 368,000 acres, killed 10 people, and destroyed more than 1,700 homes.
The Rose Canyon, Elsinore and San Jacinto faults are among the many ruptures in the earth placing the region in the heart of earthquake country. And extreme weather, as evidenced by impacts from Tropical Storm Hilary in August, is no longer a stranger to the region.
With the implications of climate change becoming more profound and the number and severity of natural disasters threatening our region, San Diego is in need of more well-trained emergency management professionals. This is why San Diego Miramar College is seeking state approval to offer a bachelor of science degree in public safety management. This industry-endorsed, faculty-driven initiative will allow students to meet the skills training and educational requirements needed to become an emergency manager at a fraction of what students must pay at four-year colleges and university.