Paul,
Do you think that the instructor is going to tell you that you wasted your time, your class fee and your not going to make a buck at all?
They got your money and you'll probably never see a disaster site unless it hits your own home. Everyone thinks that a disaster is a money making opportunity when business is slow. Just not the case.
As far as the looks of those people in the class, the govt. probably paid their fees for the class.
JMHO