Emergency Management

Emergency Management Career Overview

Emergency management professionals play very important roles when a disaster of any type strikes. These men and women are well-trained to handle emergency situations and to respond to the needs of the people and areas affected in a quick and efficient manner.

Some of the many duties that Emergency Management professionals might be expected to attend to include evacuating a town in danger, managing the distribution of food to people in crisis, or overseeing the provision of medical care to injured people. Emergency management professionals are needed in all types of emergencies, small and large, and not limited to:

• Hurricanes
• Terrorist attacks
• Chemical spills

Although a good number of careers in this field often fall under the umbrella of government jobs, there are also plenty of private sector careers available. Emergency managers typically work for governments, non-profit and volunteer organizations, schools, hospitals, and private businesses.

Emergency Management Training & Education

For students completing an emergency and disaster management degree, the most common types of courses are usually emergency planning and risk assessment. There are many degree and certificate programs to choose from, as well as many specializations, including public policy, business and emergency medical relief.

Specific subjects might include any of the following: emergency management, developing volunteer resources, leadership, decision making, crowd control, law enforcement and First Aid. Students pursuing a degree in this area can choose to complete certificate programs or choose to complete a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some schools offer training in this area which can be completed entirely online.

A combination of great experience and training can help students promote themselves into specialist and managerial positions such as emergency program manager or director, emergency operations center chief, director of security, risk management expert, emergency preparedness instructor, hospital coordinator, or technical training supervisors.

Emergency Management Career & Salary

Emergency Management professionals are the frontline of any emergency situation. They are in charge of distributing resources and manpower in the most efficient manner possible so that lives can be saved. Emergency Management is known to be a high-stress, high reward field.

A number of degrees and certifications are available in this field, and with the right experience and training, professionals can hold specialist positions like emergency program manager or director, emergency operations center chief, director of security, risk management expert, emergency preparedness instructor, hospital coordinator, or technical training supervisors.

Emergency management specialists earned an average of $49,350 per year in 2004, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need for workers in this field is expected to increase 28.2%. First line supervisors and managers earned $41,690 annually, and they expect to see an 18.3% increase in the number of jobs available between 2002 and 2012.

Career Fields/Specializations

Emergency Management Career

Emergency management professionals play very important roles when a disaster of any type strikes. These men and women are well-trained to handle emergency situations and to respond to the needs of the people and areas affected in a quick and efficient manner. Some of the many duties that emergency and disaster professionals might be expected to attend to include evacuating a town in danger, managing the distribution of food to people in crisis, or overseeing the provision of medical care to injured people.

Emergency management professionals are needed in all types of emergencies, small and large, and not limited to hurricanes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, and chemical spills. Although a good number of careers in this field often fall under the umbrella of government jobs, there are also plenty of private sector careers available. Emergency managers typically work for governments, non-profit and volunteer organizations, schools, hospitals, and private businesses.

Emergency Coordinator Career

Emergency Coordinators are responsible for the front-line management of the emergency, for tactical planning and execution, for determining whether assistance is required, and for relaying requests for outside assistance. The Emergency Coordinator will use the Critical Incident Management process, a process which is taught to students who take courses in this field.

Emergency Management Coordinators are specifically trained to organize people, information and resources so that every part of the emergency response is coordinated and efficient. These individuals are the head of a large team of people who serve under them and respond to directions. Emergency Coordinators are responsible for deciding if more help is needed and where to put other emergency professionals so that their skills and expertise can be best used.

Public Safety Compliance Career

Public Safety Compliance professionals are those who oversee investigations, audits or inspections of structures, facilities, operations, processes, records, equipment and devices, use of dangerous substances or fire safety. Employees enforce operational constraints, laws, policies, and regulations for the general welfare and safety of the public, or to reduce the incidence and impact of economic crime and to increase consumer awareness.

They have the authority to recommend corrective action or impose fines, censure, sanctions or abatement as required by law. Employees’ duties range from entry level to director and many of the roles are technical in nature. Some employees in Public Safety pursue careers as inspectors or as investigators. Although all of these occupations are compliance officers, each warrants a separate career track. Each of these career paths requires different knowledge, skills, and abilities and may not naturally lead to the other for career progression.

Emergency Management Planner Career

Emergency Management Planning is very similar to Emergency Management Coordinators. Emergency Management Planners are responsible for the front-line management of the emergency, for tactical planning and execution, for determining whether assistance is required, and for relaying requests for outside assistance. The Emergency Management Planners will use the Critical Incident Management process, a process which is taught to students who take courses in this field.

Emergency Management Planners are specifically trained to organize people, information and resources so that every part of the emergency response is coordinated and efficient. This individual is the head of a large team of people who serve under them and respond to directions. Emergency Management Planners are responsible for deciding if more help is needed and where to put other emergency professionals so that their skills and expertise can be best used.