Emergency Preparedness

Do you enjoy helping people, especially people in crisis?

Whether in natural disasters or manmade crises from terrorism, the winds of trouble are blowing.  If you are a proactive person, oriented to serving others, you are invited to consider a career in EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

Summer 2009 Emphasis Courses Available

SOCI408/SOWK408-999 Intro to Emergency Preparedness 
Arranged (online delivery) 
Instructors:  Dr. Patricia Mutch

BHSC438/648-002   Disaster Preparedness Workshop
May 8,  8a - 5 p   NH001   (1-2 credits)
Instructors:  Dr. Mioara Diaconu and Mrs. Derri Hanson                  

Employment Opportunities

An Emerging Field:
Prior to 2001, most employment in emergency management was part of responsibilities for another discipline, such as law enforcement, fire management, emergency medicine, or public health. After the World Trade Center disaster in 2001 the need for more attention to preparing professionals was identified by Homeland Security and FEMA. Colleges who would undertake professional education were sought.   Today the field of Emergency Management is emerging as a comprehensive, all-hazards discipline which works with all first responders, governmental organizations, businesses, and volunteer agencies.  See The Principles of Emergency Management for an Overview of this emerging discipline.

In 2002, there were 10,948 employees listed as Emergency Management Specialists. A 2002 FEMA study done with U.S. Department of Labor statistics, projects that by 2012 there will be 14,040 persons with this title. This is a 28% increase over 10 years. Since Katrina, the attention of state and county officials on preparing for domestic terrorism and natural crisis has grown, so this may be a conservative estimate. For more information go to www.fema.gov.

Career Center page for positions in federal and regional FEMA offices
Comprehensive posting of employment opportunities in U.S.A
Provides access to bulletin boards with job postings  

Types of Career Opportunities:

Emergency Management Coordinators.   Employed in municipalities, counties, state and tribal governments, and FEMA.   Give oversight to emergency preparedness functions including planning, educating, responding, and evaluating emergency operations.
 
Directors of Business Continuity Management.  In corporations and health care.
 
Regional Sales Representatives.   Sell products used in emergency management.
 
Emergency Communications Manager.   Responsible to design, maintain, and dispatch messages and information to the public and to organizations & businesses.
 
Emergency Management Logistics Specialist.  Assures, through planning and organization, that resources and infrastructure are available in disasters and other emergency situations.
 
Specialization in Emergency Management within other professions: 
  a. Law Enforcement and Security
  b. Firefighters and Fire Safety
  c. Engineering and Facilities Management
  d. Environmental Health
  e. Emergency Medical Technology
  f.  HazMat Technology

Curriculum  Information

Andrews is listed with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for its Emergency Preparedness degrees and courses.

Choose a course:
Andrews University can prepare you to respond quickly and effectively to a crisis, regardless of your career interests.

Many students are choosing to take BHSC/SOWK 408 Introduction to Community Preparedness as an elective course. Whatever your major, having this course on your transcript will demonstrate to prospective employers that you have background to offer their organization as well as evidence of a FEMA Certificate of Professional Development Series Completion. So even as a volunteer, your time and energy can fit immediately into the emergency response.

If potential employment in the field of Emergency Management interests you, professional preparation can be obtained in several ways:

• Emergency Preparedness undergraduate emphasis in BS Behavioral Sciences and BSW in Social Work.
• Graduate emphases in the MSA in Community Development or MSW in Social Work.
  
  A Certificate in Emergency Preparedness, given for those students who complete 18 credits of coursework provides the greatest readiness for work or volunteer service in this emerging field.
  

Opportunities To Serve

Links

FEMA
NAD ACS
Wecaremissions at   http://www.wecaremissions.org/  Contact:  Jeff Boyd