emergency and disaster management degree

emergency and disaster management degree

The Importance of Emergency and Disaster Management Degree Programs

1. Introduction to Emergency and Disaster Management

In the wake of the disastrous events such as those occurring on September 11th and subsequent factors affecting the world, which demonstrate the importance of being prepared for emergencies and disasters, degree program options focused on these phenomena are becoming increasingly important. The need for education and training presented through formal degree programs becomes more apparent among individuals working in governmental, community, and corporate sector capacities for becoming better prepared and at maintaining greater resilience in the face of catastrophic events. The need is echoed by the recommendations to improve education and training at both the national and international level, particularly as contrasted with the currently diffuse system offering such educational experiences. This need is followed by the findings by researchers who suggest that there is a proliferation of certificates, workshops, courses, and degrees in emergency and disaster management, but that they are provided by programs that have disparate quality and focus. The form of the degree program is defined, yet the emphasis of the training varies, academics are often not formally educated in a scholarly discipline emphasizing disaster studies, and the learning experience offered is often comprised of personnel with a variety of levels of disaster and emergency management experience.

2. Key Components of Emergency and Disaster Management Degree Programs

Emergency and disaster management deserves quality control. The pioneers of the emergency management industry encompass many different silo concentrations within other disciplines. Community colleges provided the primary instruction in the 1970s through the 1990s. During this time, government – federal, state, and local – gave significant attention to improving their emergency management programs. There is evidence that spending too much time on any one of the three foundational silos can negatively impact emergency management commercial resiliency. In 2018, the National Research Council roundtable published an article that identifies a need for a collaborative and comprehensive effort to address public health responsibilities across the government and industry. There is also emerging a need to prepare for governance challenges as government agencies evolve out of crisis mode and begin the tasks of mitigating future disasters, addressing long-term recovery, and developing a stronger and more resilient response infrastructure.

Graduates of emergency and disaster management degree programs have a wide variety of career opportunities, and they all understand the fundamentals of managing complex events. This paper has explained the key components of an emergency and disaster management degree program. Topics covered include an assortment of core topics such as hazard geography, research issues, case studies, special themes such as public health responsibilities, climate change and emergency management, a practicum or field exercises in a disaster management situation, professional writing, and more. The paper has also suggested unique applications that will be topical in this decade such as intergenerational management, management of through-community services, as well as the unique differences in emergency events that occur in an electronic age.

3. Career Opportunities for Graduates of Emergency and Disaster Management Programs

Authors, D.H. Hoover and C.E. Palen, are quick to point out that many professionals in the emergency management field were recruited based after disasters based on other job skills other than their emergency manager where in some cases they did not even want this role but simply excelled and caring for the stumbling block responsibilities. If this is so, this degree program is even more imperative as many of these people are entering these dynamic positions without any real training in how to do so. At the same time, people are entering this field based on both a strong sense of duty and an awareness of career opportunities. With an almost certain chance that disasters will continue to occur, it appears that the opportunity for a stable career path in this arena is a viable one.

Other Opportunities: – Law enforcement – Fire service – Hospitals and health – Public health – Municipal government

For-Profit and International: – Emergency management specialist for businesses – Government agencies working outside the US – Emergency planners – Emergency preparedness consultants

Non-Profit Work: – American Red Cross – Relief International – International Medical Corps – Armenia Relief Society – CONCERN

Local and Federal Government: – Emergency management specialist – Emergency management directors – Federal aid program from the Small Business Administration

Programs focused on emergency and disaster management are now seen as critical pathways into this area. With the increase in human-created and natural emergencies in the news, there has been a corresponding rise in hiring people with degrees focused on emergency-related areas. You can generally expect to be in demand and to be able to command a competitive salary. The following is a selection of some positions that either require or prefer applicants to hold a degree in emergency and disaster management or a closely related field.

4. The Role of Technology in Emergency and Disaster Management

In remote, mountainous, or heavily wooded areas, victims or infrastructure can be located quickly by combining information from the GPS with satellite imaging information (Geographical Information Systems – GIS) that is capable of producing maps in the form of mosaics of collected data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) specializes in the assessment of weather conditions and seawater temperatures rapidly, and provides valuable meteorological data through satellite technology. The importance of satellite technology is demonstrated by studies of the world’s largest insurance company, which concluded that the economic losses due to satellite communications technology failure are 3-4 times greater during disasters, since this technology supports financial systems, all modes of transportation, and safety and rescue operations.

Material science is a vital component of technological responses to natural and man-made disasters, which range from structural failures like the 2007 Mississippi River Bridge, Hurricane Katrina, and the breach of the New Orleans levees, to satellite imagery for the prediction of monsoons and acts of terrorism. Advancements in space science and satellite technology have been very useful in emergency response efforts. The Global Positioning System (GPS), a US Department of Defense system, and the Russian Global Satellite Navigation System (GLONASS) have a significant advantage in rescue and emergency operations, especially in remote areas. These satellite-based systems are used extensively in cell phones, car navigation systems, and mapping devices, and are also used to locate victims or vehicles. Witnesses, when calling the emergency services, can also be located using GPS.

5. Conclusion and Future Trends in the Field

The future of emergency and disaster management is deeply rooted in the concepts of education and training, and the development of university programs that specialize in these important areas. The idea of offering such programs also has attracted the need for more research into curriculum evaluation and the identification of C/D/E competencies. There is also a need for additional C/D/E faculty to teach and conduct research, and many of them will also be required to manage the additional capacity of students in these programs. Emergency and disaster management instructors will remain perhaps the best catalyst for further development of the field as they impress and instruct the students who eventually will be charged with the responsibilities for C/D/E program creation and oversight. Many positive potential future trends in our field are eagerly anticipated and should continue as the higher education community increasingly becomes involved in the solving of C/D/E problems.

The field of emergency and disaster management continues to advance with the progression of new trends and the development of new theories and practices. Experiencing the disaster and the follow-up rescue and reconstruction processes means that you have had a direct response as opposed to attending a class and reading about the potential structural improvements or the application of a new type of search dog technique. Professionals and the public are more engaged in the field because the consequences of not becoming involved in this serious and important field of study are severe. As the Earth’s population increases and becomes more mobile, the inevitable complex environment of the new disaster type must be seriously evaluated and analyzed. If we do not continue to analyze and report on these new and different disaster and emergency situations, we may miss the opportunity to save lives and the environment as the next natural or human-made disasters occur.

5.0. Conclusion