It’s a natural curiosity of sorts whether or not the majority of jobs in emergency management are dangerous. This is an understandable query, especially for those interested in possibly working in this particular field. To make matters a little clearer here, let’s get straight to the facts in answering this quite common question.
A Vast Field Explained
If a direct answer is what you desire, the answer to this common question is “no”, not all careers in emergency management are dangerous. In fact, in most cases and most of the time, working in this industry is not very dangerous at all. There are certainly exceptions, though.
The EM field itself could be explained like this. Emergency management is essentially the organized readiness of a community, business, or government to future disasters by way of preparation, response, and recovery functions. Emergency management is an endeavor, as opposed to a singular agency of some sort, that can be seen in local, state, federal, and even private institutions.
To work in emergency management, therefore, means that you may work in any of these sectors. Furthermore, it’s important to note that the management of potential emergencies has as much to do with office-born tactics, strategy, and planning, as it has to do with any sort of physical, on-the-ground action. In summary, emergency management takes place in all sorts of organizations, businesses, and government agencies, and is a rather vast industry. To get a better idea for the callings within this industry, let’s now take a look to some of the common careers found within it. This information can really take things a step further in answering the question regarding dangers in the industry.
Careers Within EM
Facilities Maintenance Supervisor
Just like in all other sectors of business and government, buildings and facilities are crucial in maintaining operations. In turn, maintaining all of these facilities is an important function to agencies such as FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The facilities maintenance supervisor is therefore an important supportive element to many EM endeavors.
Reports Specialist
Believe it or not, data is often a lifesaver. This is certainly true in the realm of emergency response and preparedness. The reports specialist is thus a common element to many EM operations. This professional uses research, databases, and data analyses of many types in order to ultimately provide the knowledge needed for the best preparedness in any circumstance.
Hazard Mitigation Planner
Hazard mitigation planners essentially work to plan for emergencies and how to quickly and efficiently manage their resolution. They do this with the help of data from reports specialists along with a wide array of other resources and tools. This office-based position is solely about planning.
Financial Analyst
As the name suggests, financial analysts work with finances. Every emergency readiness operation requires money, funding, the management of expenditures, and other financial oversights. Enter the professional that makes sure that money is supportive to the effort in all of these cases.
On-Call Emergency Responder
The on-call emergency responder takes on the most dangerous role of all listed here. While their actual service time may be very little or even none at all, they must be trained and always ready to step into the bowels of any emergency. These are the on-the-ground responders that carry out the necessary heroics of human rescue and recovery in the actual event of disasters.
Emergency management is an absolute necessity in the foreseeing and responsible facilitation of most companies and governments. While most jobs within this field are not typically dangerous, there are a few exceptions. To learn more about emergency management jobs as well as their potential to danger, you are encouraged to inquire with FEMA, the defacto head entity of US EM endeavors.
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