Emergency and crisis situations

When an emergency of some kind happens, the people we usually see are the first responders - police, firefighters and paramedics. However, when a large event occurs, like a gas spill, a train derailment, a terrorist attack, a forest fire or an earthquake, there is a whole team of people running the show from behind the scenes. And that's where the emergency management profession comes in.

This field is one that very few people know about, so competition for jobs is low, and salaries tend to be high. The demand for qualified people to fill these positions is growing in an economy where many career fields are suffering. Why?

Population increases mean more and more people are living in areas where a disaster is likely to occur - like near forest fire, flood and earthquake hazard zones. Climate change is also affecting the incidence of and locations of emergencies and is bringing the importance of emergency planning and response to light. We're living in an age where domestic and international security concerns are high. And, there is a growing recognition of the need to implement solid business continuity practices to ensure businesses can weather emergencies and disasters.

Who Are Emergency Managers? For many years, first responders were the same people who fulfilled behind-the-scenes roles as emergency managers. They juggled both the responsibilities of emergency management and their main job duties. They didn't necessarily have specific training in the field, and because emergency management duties were "off the side of the desk," they didn't get the attention they deserved.

Today, emergency and disaster response departments are discovering the advantages of appointing positions to strictly oversee the emergency management function - someone whose attention isn't divided. This opens up a whole field of careers for people who aren't first responders, but who would thrive in a job where they are just as instrumental in saving lives, preserving our environment, and protecting people and assets from disaster.

What Are Some of the Jobs in this Field? Depending on your training, experience and education, there are several career paths you can take. The most common job titles include: 

• Emergency Program Coordinator
• Disaster Planning Specialist
• Director of Safety and Security
• Manager of Security
• Business Continuity Specialist
• Risk Management Specialist