Nowadays, emergencies are pretty usual in the world, and they happen quickly. Immediate action is needed to tackle catastrophes of any kind, for example, natural disasters, terrorism, etc.
Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and terrorism attacks cause a lot of infrastructure damage and affect the lives of several people. According to Statista, natural disasters kill 60,000 people per year globally. A report published in Informed Infrastructure states that the Dixie fire in California forced mass evacuations, destroyed more than 500 structures, and burnt the town of Greenville within 24 hours.
To cater to these disasters, the government has set up emergency management responses that help keep disasters in check and control them if they get out of control. Emergency management personnel mitigate risks, prepare for any catastrophes, respond to threats and disaster alerts and make plans for recovering from a disaster.
If you think you can handle catastrophes well and provide a quick solution to any emergencies or disasters: a career in emergency management is made for you.
If you are interested to know more, here are some career options you can look into:
Emergency Management Specialist:
Emergency management specialists oversee and check all disaster policies. Specialists manage disaster response and crisis activities. Moreover, they provide preparedness training and education to the staff and plan emergency plans for every type of crisis from natural, technological, war, and hostage circumstances.
Emergency Management Specialists work in a team environment, and they must communicate efficiently among different parties. According to PayScale, the average emergency management salary is $75,090.
Local and federal organizations like Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hire specialists in emergency management. To become a specialist in emergency management, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree in emergency management. Furthermore, to practice, you need accreditation as an Associate Emergency Manager or a Certified Emergency Manager from the International Association of Emergency Managers. The government requires emergency management specialists at every level and numerous geographical locations.
Homeland Security Officer
Homeland security is a large department of any country that focuses on national and international threats and natural disasters. Homeland security officers reduce the risk of security issues and respond to all security attacks. Officers cater to the nation when natural disasters happen and ensure that the country remains safe.
There are numerous job opportunities in homeland security, for example, air marshal, coast guard, or program analyst. According to PayScale, the average salary for homeland security officers is $79,000.
To become a homeland security officer, you must have a high school diploma, or degree in criminal law, or a related field and proficiency in communication, collaboration, thinking, and analytical skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of National Statistics, the job growth is 8% for all protective service occupations.
Program Manager for Disaster
Disaster program managers are part of a team that oversees all disaster operations and services and facilitates them. The Red Cross is an organization that provides managers with a specific response and recovery programs. Managers then manage a group of volunteers and teams that follow these protocols.
Disaster management teams maintain partnerships with the government, non-profit agencies, elected officials, and public safety officials.
Disaster managers conduct risk assessments to calculate the likelihood of a disaster. Moreover, they have to provide relief to crisis survivors and their communities by working with different organizations and providing help to the needy in an organized, collaborative, and systemic way.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of disaster managers are from local government, about 52%. The average salary for disaster managers is $47,900, according to PayScale.
Hazardous Materials Management
After a disaster happens, tons of hazardous materials are lying around that can cause numerous diseases in humans and animals and damage plant life. Hazardous material management is a crucial component of emergency management.
Hazardous material managers handle dangerous material safely and in compliance with the regulations. Managers handling hazardous material should know transportation, storage, recycling, and waste disposal strategies.
According to CHMM, you need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, like OSHA or EPA, and a minimum of four years of relevant experience in hazardous materials management to become a hazardous materials manager.
Antiterrorism Specialist
A particular class of Emergency Management Specialists, Antiterrorism specialists, also cater to man-made disasters, for example, terrorist attacks or cybercrimes. Antiterrorism specialists help protect people’s lives from bombings, airstrikes, or other harmful terrorism attacks and focus on disaster mitigation techniques.
Antiterrorism specialists execute risk management, training, resource management, interpret government regulations and advise the government on safety options and procedures. In addition to that, indeed states that antiterrorism specialists make around $60,000-$90,000 in the USA.
Specialists in antiterrorism work in government agencies, private intelligence, and security. Such individuals discover approaches and put forward solutions for tackling antiterrorism emergencies.
Control Room Operator
Control room operators work in centralized places in large buildings, facilities, and plants. Moreover, control room operators manage the workflow of the entire facility or plant. They are specific to the area where they work, for example, nuclear power plants.
Operators in the control room train for quick emergency management strategies to mitigate the risk, create plans and implement possible emergency solutions. According to Indeed, control room operators make an average of $44,983 per year.
Hence, the control room operators are vital to the emergency management system. Control room operators have a lot of demand, and it is a perfect career option.
Educator
Emergency management educators work in teaching professions and help people mitigate risks and respond to disaster situations. Such educators often hold public workshops and drills to inform the population about potential risks and skills for personal emergency management and workplace safety.
Naturally, a bachelor’s degree in emergency management with three years of experience can help you become an accredited emergency management educator. According to Indeed, the average median salary for emergency management educators is $64,383 per year.
Environmental Health and Safety Officer
Environmental health and safety officers plan and assess risk, create policies, and implement processes that explain the risks to health, safety, and the environment. Environmental officers discuss climate changes, natural disasters, and their impact on human health.
Moreover, the study of geographical areas and local disasters helps environmental officers and communities tackle them without causing harm to human health, infrastructure, or the environment. Furthermore, safety officers also ensure that communities have access to clean drinking water and necessities after disasters happen.
Environmental health and safety officers also look for occupational health, industrial management, and injury management systems. In addition to that, indeed states that the national average salary for environmental and safety officers is $84,700 per year.
Conclusion:
Emergency management is crucial for natural or artificial disasters, and it can save countless lives and protect infrastructure. It has promising career options that help you and your community live safely and tackle disasters efficiently.