Preparedness involves a careful balance between training and education. Successful homeland security enterprises are able to conceptualize this blend of training and education to adequately prepare their workforces and accomplish their missions. It is not enough to just know how to do something, it is equally important to know why.
The evolution of emergency management has necessitated an expansion of higher educational offerings. However, in this relatively new discipline, there is no comprehensive database of the many academic programs around the world. The International Association of Emergency Manager's Global Student Council seeks to fill this gap.
Modern emergency management agencies want more than education, more than training, and more than experience. They want it all, which makes it more difficult for an emergency management student to secure a job directly out of college. By collaborating with these agencies, universities can help their students gain the skills required for emergency management positions.
The Emergency Management Institute is conducting a virtual tabletop exercise series on active shooters. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated active shooter scenarios in an informal setting. This exercise series can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures.
The Emergency Management Institute is offering two courses for professionals and volunteers who are interested in being a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager.
Although recovery begins after disaster strikes, planning must begin well before community members realize the approach of any potential or impending threat. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers many tools and guides to assist communities in planning now for recovery that is more rapid after a devastating incident.
The constantly changing natural and societal environments create an ongoing challenge to design and maintain current and relevant emergency management plans. Exercises, in particular national level exercises, are an effective way to identify capability strengths and areas for improvement as well as to amend existing plans.
When a tornado touches down, a school is under fire, or another disaster strikes, patrol officers often are the first response personnel at the scene. In addition to their traditional crime-fighting roles, patrol officers must be able to manage an incident until more support arrives, which requires additional training for these officers and more collaboration within the community.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce a training opportunity on Residential Coastal Construction designed to train participants to effectively use the Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA P-55). Course E0386 provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment.
Two new guidance documents further integrate emergency management planning efforts at the regional and national levels. The Federal Emergency Management Agency sets the stage for integrated planning and builds a coherent planning system by integrating the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and providing valuable resources for national preparedness professionals.
