Emergency Management Director
Quick Facts
Median Salary$94,192
Most Common EducationBachelor's degree
Projected 10-Year Growth+14.02%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
An Emergency Management Director plans and directs disaster response or crisis management activities, primarily for state and local governments. Directs preparation of emergency plans and disaster preparedness training. Surveys community resources available for emergencies, provides outreach to community groups and businesses on disaster and/or emergency response plans and procedures.
Core Tasks:
- Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
- Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
- Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
- Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
- Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
- Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events.
- Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
- Design and administer emergency or disaster preparedness training courses that teach people how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters.
- Collaborate with other officials to prepare and analyze damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.
- Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, response efforts, or plan implementation.
- Inspect facilities and equipment, such as emergency management centers and communications equipment, to determine their operational and functional capabilities in emergency situations.
- Keep informed of federal, state, and local regulations affecting emergency plans, and ensure that plans adhere to those regulations.
- Review emergency plans of individual organizations, such as medical facilities, to ensure their adequacy.
- Conduct surveys to determine the types of emergency-related needs to be addressed in disaster planning, or provide technical support to others conducting such surveys.
- Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops related to emergency management to learn new information and to develop working relationships with other emergency management specialists.
- Propose alteration of emergency response procedures, based on regulatory changes, technological changes, or knowledge gained from outcomes of previous emergency situations.
- Develop instructional materials for the public and make presentations to citizens' groups to provide information on emergency plans and their implementation processes.
- Apply for federal funding for emergency-management-related needs, and administer and report on the progress of such grants.
- Train local groups in the preparation of long-term plans that are compatible with federal and state plans.
- Provide communities with assistance in applying for federal funding for emergency management facilities, radiological instrumentation, and related items.
- Study emergency plans used elsewhere to gather information for plan development.
What to expect as an Emergency Management Director
1Earn a Bachelor's degree
61% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Emergency Management Director related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
591 openings for Emergency Management Directors
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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