Emergency Management: A Guaranteed Path of Excitement

Disasters, from tornadoes and floods to hurricanes and terrorist attacks, are an unfortunate part of life that wreaks havoc on homes and families across the country. During these stressful moments, brave fire crews and police officers are on the ground helping usher people to safety. Behind the scenes, there is another group of highly trained individuals working to coordinate these efforts, and make sure that everyone receives the necessary medical attention required or implement a plan to ensure the disaster’s after effects are as minimal as possible. Those people earned their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Emergency Management, which after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, has become a necessary and highly important position in several companies, both in the private and public-sectors.

What Exactly is Emergency Management?

An emergency management coordinator works to ensure that the damage caused by disasters, whether man-made or natural, is minor in the sense of safety and devastation. They’re highly trained individuals that work within a variety of organizations, from the military and government to hospitals and universities. The EM coordinator is in charge of organizing and implementing a plan of action in the unfortunate case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. For the majority of organizations, this plan of attack contains four steps: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. It’s the job of an emergency management coordinator to see that all four of these steps are implemented quickly to ensure that fewer lives are lost, and perhaps even prevent certain disasters, including acts of terrorism, from occurring in the first place.

Obtaining Emergency Management Training

Several college and universities offer Bachelor’s degree programs in Emergency Management. This concentration falls under the category of public safety, and with the help of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has become a highly-recognized and sought after career path. FEMA developed and implemented the Emergency Management Higher Education Program, which works to promote opportunities for college students interested in working in this field. Many of the students that complete the Emergency Management Higher Education Program go on to work for FEMA or several other government organizations.

While working toward your Bachelor’s in Emergency Management, expect to encounter a wide variety of classes, including Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Hazardous and Radiological Materials Management, Toxicology, Terrorism, Disaster Response and Recovery, Emergency Techniques and Operations, Vulnerability Assessment and several other related areas of coursework.

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for individuals seeking careers in emergency management is very favorable, and there is above-average expected job growth in the field through 2020. The events on September 11, 2001 and the unfortunate number of lives lost during hurricane Katrina has prompted many organizations, including hospitals, universities and nonprofits, to retain the services of an emergency management consultant.  After obtaining the degree, expect to work in a variety of atmospheres as an emergency operations coordinator, director of security, technical training supervisor, risk management expert or hospital coordinator.

Masters in Emergency Management

As with any field, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management allows individuals to seek executive-level employment in the above mentioned fields. Several universities, both online and campus-based, are beginning to offer Public Safety Master’s degree in either Emergency Management or Disaster Management. If you’re interested in continuing your education in the field, and in turn demand a higher salary and strengthen your chances of advancement in your company, speak to an admissions counselor at any number of universities to learn about the rigors and rewards associated with their Master’s degree programs.

The Stress Factor

The day to day life of an emergency management coordinator consists of training and paperwork in an office setting. In the unfortunate likelihood of a disaster, this boring day job becomes a stress-fueled race that literally involves making life and death decisions on a moment-to-moment basis. If you are the type of individual with the ability to remain composed during intense situations, working in the field of emergency management is a viable career choice. If you have difficulty making tough decisions under pressure or handling stress, you may want to reconsider.

The day to day duties of an individual that possess an Emergency Management Master’s degree are varied, and although the potential stress levels are high, you can rest assured this rewarding field gives individuals the opportunity to truly make a difference in their community.

This guest post article was written and provided by Becky Whittman. Becky finished her Bachelor’s degree this last fall, and is now working towards her Masters in Public Administration.