Summary
Source: O*Net |
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In Demand!
Nature of the Work
Emergency management specialists coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations. They plan and coordinate emergency responses, analyze vulnerability, assess consequence management capability, develop budgets and strategic plans, understand Homeland Security and Emergency Management initiatives, and work with public and private organizations to develop and implement emergency response policies and procedures. Emergency management specialists also often have the duty of coordinating and conducting public education programs, and coordinating and developing training exercises for emergency response agencies.
 Watch this video to see how emergency management specialists coordinate responses to disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, or acts of terrorism. |
Work Environment
Emergency management specialists work overtime and irregular hours during crisis situations. Disaster situations are mentally and physically demanding.
Education and Training
The first step toward becoming an emergency management specialist is to earn a bachelor's degree. Local, state, federal, and private agency emergency management jobs will require at least a bachelor's degree in emergency management, environmental science, public safety, public administration, business management or a related field.
By researching emergency management and related job postings prior to graduation on the IAEM and FEMA websites, you can learn more about specific jobs and their requirements. Management level and director level jobs will require several years of related work experience in addition to education, but in some cases a master's degree will replace or reduce the the relevant work experience requirement.
The terror attacks on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the threat of future terrorist attacks and flu pandemic threats have created a high demand for professionals that are formally trained in emergency management, as well as an overall awareness of the need for such professionals at all levels. This demand has been met by a number of colleges and universities that are now offering emergency management degree programs.
Return to top of page...Other Qualifications
Because emergency management specialist must develop relationships with local, city, state, or national leaders, strong interpersonal and communications skills are critical. They must also display confidence, calmness, and decisiveness in an emergency.
Return to top of page...On the Job
- Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, as well as those that could affect response efforts and details of plan implementation.
- Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events.
- Propose alteration of emergency response procedures based on regulatory changes, technological changes, or knowledge gained from outcomes of previous emergency situations.
- Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
- Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
- Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
- Keep informed of federal, state, and local regulations affecting emergency plans and ensure that plans adhere to these regulations.
- Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
- Design and administer emergency or disaster preparedness training courses that teach people how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters.
- Inspect facilities and equipment, such as emergency management centers and communications equipment, to determine their operational and functional capabilities in emergency situations.
- Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
- Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
- Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops related to emergency management to learn new information and to develop working relationships with other emergency management specialists.
- Collaborate with other officials to prepare and analyze damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.
- Develop instructional materials for the public and make presentations to citizens´ groups to provide information on emergency plans and their implementation process.
- Train local groups in the preparation of long-term plans that are compatible with federal and state plans.
- Review emergency plans of individual organizations, such as medical facilities, to ensure their adequacy.
- Conduct surveys to determine the types of emergency-related needs to be addressed in disaster planning or provide technical support to others conducting such surveys.
- Study emergency plans used elsewhere to gather information for plan development.
- Apply for federal funding for emergency management related needs and administer and report on the progress of such grants.
- Develop and implement training procedures and strategies for radiological protection, detection, and decontamination.
- Inventory and distribute nuclear, biological, and chemical detection and contamination equipment, providing instruction in its maintenance and use.
- Provide communities with assistance in applying for federal funding for emergency management facilities, radiological instrumentation, and other related items.
Source: BLS
Companies That Hire Emergency Management Specialists
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Sources
- O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
- Iowa College Student Aid Commission. (n.d.). Emergency Management Specialist: What they do. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.ihaveaplaniowa.gov/Career_Planning/Career_Profile/Career_Profile.aspx?id=AN1za21DXPHRa1mzXBQRtgXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX
- Legal-Criminal-Justice-Schools.com. (n.d.). How to Become an Emergency Manager. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.legal-criminal-justice-schools.com/Criminal-Justice-Degrees/Emergency-Management.html
- USGS. (2008, November 4). The Great ShakeOut: Jim Featherstone Interview. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2keh8ZsgHaU
- Security Management. (2009). Interview: H. Doug Hoell, Director, North Carolina Division of Emergency Management. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.securitymanagement.com/archive/library/homelandsecurity_hoell0207.pdf
- The Sloan Consortium. (2009, July 2). Interview with Kathleen Henning: EM & Higher Ed. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.academiccontinuity.org/?q=node/339
- USA Today. (2009, May 29). Bomb disaster exercise at NTC. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://usat.gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-usatoday-206-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=immersiveproduction&maven_referralPlaylistId=8e268cb11203908ddaf61de8af24b4e3f6b392e8&maven_referralObject=1136590224&maven_referrer=staf
- YouTube. (2009, January 11). IIR Interview - Tony Pearce on emergency management Australia. Retrieved December 30, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAk1LYtEJtU
- Department of Labor and Workforce Development. (2007, April 6). Emergency Management Specialists Job Description. Retrieved December 30, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TupFGn-wvHE
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