The majority of all Emergency Management degree jobs available in AmeriCorps will be found in two specific branches, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Corps. Although the types of jobs available will vary depending on which branch you apply to and what emergencies are occurring at any given time in a region, jobs in either field will focus on disaster relief services if the threat is immediate, and more preventative measures if nothing pressing is happening, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.
NCCC vs. FEMA Corps
The National Civilian Community Corps track is a more traditional AmeriCorps program which deals not only with responding to disasters, but also with other preventative measures such as improving infrastructure, conserving energy and the environment, and developing rural areas; NCCC members work in direct cooperation with local non-profit groups. In contrast, FEMA Corps works within NCCC and in conjunction with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and FEMA, a Department of Homeland Security program, to provide immediate disaster relief response. FEMA Corps members will generally focus on their region, but will often relocate if the need is great, and they can work on other area of disaster preparedness as dictated by FEMA when disasters are not immediate.
NCCC Jobs Available
Emergency Management degree jobs available in AmeriCorps NCCC will obviously depend on the region, and if there is no immediate need NCCC members will work in conjunction with local non-profit organizations. These jobs might include tasks like working with the Parks and Rec Department to clear trails and remove invasive species, working with Habitat for Humanity to build or restore houses in damaged areas, working for the State Parks Service to remove brush and wildfire fuel, or even working with Native American organizations to gather field data, map landscapes, install signs, and fence off areas.
FEMA Corps Jobs Available
Emergency Management degree positions available through the FEMA Corps track, however, are entirely based on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. Members will work in conjunction with CNCS and FEMA with more direct involvement in emergency management and containment in ways that will vary from disaster to disaster. Some examples of possible jobs within FEMA Corps include educating the public on fire prevention and aiding those harmed by wildfires, assisting in risk assessment and hazard mediation for high-flood areas, working with areas greatly affected by hurricane Sandy, conducting home safety checklists with residents, gathering information about regional disaster relief shelters, and working with distribution centers to ensure that emergency supplies are stocked and easy to deploy.
Related Resource: Become an Emergency Services Dispatcher
How to Decide
The type of AmeriCorps job available will greatly depend on the specific region and service program, as well as the immediate nature of the emergency or threat of disaster. An AmeriCorps member’s daily activities will vary depending on if they are working to prevent a serious emergency situation, if they are providing immediate relief to an emergency, or if they are providing relief after a disaster has already occurred, and each region and community will have its own specific needs and problems. Working within either NCCC or FEMA Corps program will provide members with the opportunity to help many people, and there is certainly no shortage of Emergency Management degree jobs available in AmeriCorps, just as there is never a shortage of disasters or emergencies.