What is Emergency Management

Emergency management (EM) staff prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters or other emergencies. They also help lead the response during and after emergencies. EM staff typically coordinates with other partner agencies including police, fire, elected officials, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and more.

Following an emergency, directors must assess the damage to their community and coordinate getting any needed assistance and supplies into the community like requesting state or federal assistance to help execute their emergency response plan and provide support to affected citizens, organizations, and communities.

Learn about the Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management

Basic Duties

• Assess hazards and prepare plans to respond to emergencies and disasters in order to minimize risk to people and property.
• Meet with public safety officials, private companies, and the public regarding emergency response plans.
• Organize emergency response training for staff, volunteers, and other responders.
• Coordinate the sharing of resources and equipment within and across communities to assist in responding to an emergency.
• Analyze and prepare damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.
• Review emergency plans of individual organizations, such as medical facilities, to ensure their adequacy.
• Apply for federal funding for emergency management planning, responses, and recovery, and report on the use of funds allocated.
• Review local emergency operations plans and revise them if necessary.
• Maintain facilities used during emergency operations.

Hiring Roadmap

Typical Entry-Level Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in emergency management, public administration, or other similar major.
• Candidates typically need one year of public safety experience or any equivalent combination of training and experience (with the military, law enforcement, fire safety, or related field).

Training

Entry-level positions in Emergency Management are typically not required to have any certifications before getting hired, although every agency will have their own requirements. Online training through FEMA’s Independent Study Program is free and can be completed by anyone. More info here: https://training.fema.gov/is/.

Further into a career, EM staff may work towards various certifications including Ohio Certified Emergency Manager (OCEM), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), or others.

Average Pay & Benefits

• National median average per US Bureau of Labor Statistics: $86,130 per year or $41.41 per hour.
• Cuyahoga County Pay for entry level EM staff: $26.81-$32.17 per hour.
• Benefits will vary but may include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, holiday pay, retirement plan.

Work Environment

Work in an office, and also may often meet with partner agencies, including government, community groups, and private companies. During disasters and emergencies, emergency management staff may work in stressful situations.

Work full time during normal business hours but may be on call at all times. May need to work overtime to respond to emergencies and to support emergency management operations.

Where Can You Work

All counties and most large cities have their own emergency management agencies. Other organizations may also maintain their own emergency management departments including hospitals, universities, and large corporations. See local emergency management agencies.