Emergency Management Directors
Additional Information
Duties
They usually do the following:
- Reduce the impact of emergencies by analyzing risks and planning responses.
- Consult with emergency services, business, and the public to design an emergency response strategy.
- Prepare to train all team members, volunteers, and other helpers in emergency response.
- Aid in disaster response by arranging community resource and equipment pooling.
- After an incident or disaster, assess the damage and produce damage assessments.
- Examine the emergency plans of certain organizations, such as hospitals.
- Plan, respond, and recover from natural disasters by obtaining and tracking government funds.
- Examine and revise local emergency plans.
- Keep emergency operations centers running properly.
In the event of a disaster or other emergency, emergency management directors plan and execute plans. In the case of an emergency, incident management directors work with public and private organizations to minimize damage and disruption.
For emergency response plans, directors often investigate "best practices" from around the country and other disaster management organizations. Directors must also establish strategies and methods to assure state and federal compliance.
In an emergency, directors must examine available resources, equipment, and staff. If resources or equipment are scarce, the directors must adjust their plans or seek assistance from another town or state. Many directors cooperate with nearby fire, EMS, police, and public works departments to identify and swap equipment in an emergency. Managers must contact other organizations to acquire information about the situation, potential costs, and required employees or resources.
After developing strategies, emergency management directors often teach individuals and organizations the skills. Directors commonly use social media to connect with their supporters.
Directors of emergency management oversee training courses and disaster drills for local agencies, volunteers, and workers. Directors may also visit schools, hospitals, and other organizations to inform them on disaster preparedness.
During a crisis, a director's command center normally monitors and manages emergency efforts. Directors help direct the reaction and prioritize duties as needed. These may include evacuations, rescue activities, or the establishment of public shelters for displaced persons. Other public outreach initiatives, such as news conferences, may be required.
Following a disaster, directors are responsible for assessing the damage and coordinating the supply of needed help and supplies. Directors may need to seek state or federal support to carry out their emergency response plans and help those in need. Plans and procedures may be updated in advance of catastrophes or disasters.
Business continuity managers work at hospitals, colleges, and enterprises. Business continuity managers, like their public sector counterparts, develop strategies and processes to help businesses survive and recover from disasters.
Education
Graduate degrees in security and protective services, business, or emergency management are often necessary. Private sector directors in business continuity management may need a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems administration (BCM).
Small municipalities or local governments may hire applicants with a high school diploma. To be hired for these positions, candidates must have extensive emergency management experience.
A Related Experiment
Emergency management directors frequently have an extensive professional career. Candidates for this role often have prior expertise in emergency management or military service. Candidates who have worked in these industries have proven their capacity to make difficult decisions quickly. This training has improved their ability to collaborate with other organizations to allocate resources in an emergency.
More information about police and detectives, firefighters, dispatchers, EMTs and paramedics is available.
Certification and Licensure
Some states require directors to be certified within a certain time frame.
Several organizations and governments offer emergency management director certification. Several employers prefer or require staff to hold a CEM, CBCP, or comparable credential. DRI certifies emergency management directors as CEM or CBCP. The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) provides both titles (DRI).
Certification must be renewed every so many years. Both organizations require candidates to complete certain continuing education courses.
Considered Criteria
Interpersonal communication skills. Emergency management directors must be able to successfully convey their preparation strategies both vocally and in writing.
Critical thinking skills It is vital for emergency management directors to anticipate dangers and challenges.
Making good decisions. In a crisis, emergency management directors must make tough choices. They must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each plan.
Interaction with others. Emergency management directors must coordinate disaster response operations with various government agencies, police enforcement, and fire departments.
Capacity to lead. To properly respond to disasters, emergency managers must organize and train a diverse group of people.
Pay
Those in charge of emergency preparedness and response made an average yearly salary of $76,250 in May of that year. It is the pay at which half of the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The lowest tenth made less than $42,230, while the top tenth took in more than $142,870 per year.
Job Projections
Emergency management directors are expected to see a 6% increase in employment between 2020 and 2030, which is around the same rate as the national average for all jobs.