FEMA reports that in 2023, slightly more than half of Americans surveyed believe they are prepared for a disaster. This survey also showed an increase in the percentage of people who assembled or updated supplies, including non-perishable food, water, batteries and first-aid kits. However, it also indicated a decrease in the rate of people who signed up for alerts and warnings.
How does a community prepare for an emergency? Disasters come in many varieties, including natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, blizzards and earthquakes. Manufactured disasters include explosions, fires, and chemical and biological attacks and accidents. There is more to preparedness than just purchasing and storing supplies, and emergency managers are needed to help educate their communities and ensure they can address and recover from all types of potential disasters.
If you’re interested in building your credentials in disaster and emergency preparation, Millersville University offers a fully online Master of Science (M.S.) in Emergency Management program. This program also helps students prepare for the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) exam.
The Five Mission Areas of Emergency Management
Although terminology may vary slightly, all organizations that deal with emergency preparedness and disaster management agree that there are five overriding mission areas. Within these areas, activities called core capabilities address the greatest risks to a nation and its citizens.
In addition to the five mission areas, we have some basic core competencies that are included within each mission area, none more important than Preparedness, but there is also Alerts and Warnings and Operational Planning. Preparedness involves stocking supplies and creating evacuation and communication plans. Emergency managers should continuously engage in planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action. These activities help ensure readiness to respond to all incidents and emergencies:
- Prevention
SafetyCulture lists prevention as the first mission area, since the purpose is to prevent emergencies from happening whenever possible. Keeping safety in mind, communities can take several preventative actions, including maintaining equipment, repairing infrastructure and conducting risk assessments. Bexar County OEM focuses on preventing human hazards from potential natural disasters or terrorist attacks. Not all disasters can be prevented, which is where preparedness and mitigation come in.
- Mitigation
Reducing the damage that could occur in a disaster includes activities like building flood barriers, creating evacuation routes and stocking supplies. Reducing loss of life and property can involve structural and non-structural measures like raising building elevations and adopting building codes. Mitigation can occur before or after an event.
- Protection
Protect citizens from the imminent and greatest threats and hazards in a manner that allows us to thrive while preventing heinous acts of terrorism and manmade disasters.
- Response
Responding to emergencies includes quick and effective notification and communication as well as providing aid and rescue. Coordinating personnel, equipment and supplies are measures taken to protect people, property and the environment. This mission area is the initial reaction to a catastrophic disaster or emergency.
- Recovery
Recovery happens after the initial crisis is resolved. Once the threat to human life has subsided, recovery returns the affected area to some degree of normalcy. Critical community functions are restored, and stabilization efforts help people return to normal as quickly as possible. Recovery is the direct result of good resiliency planning.
Re-evaluating Crisis Management
The authors of an article published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine discuss the importance of lessons learned and future directions following any type of disaster. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency preparedness and disaster management (EPDM) were brought to the forefront. “Successful EPDM depends heavily on the level of planning, education and training, and research done in anticipation of disasters and emergencies,” the authors explain. “However, over the past few decades, the United States (US) has spent less than 3% of its health expenditures on public health prevention programs.”
Evaluating which strategies are effective following a crisis like a pandemic is a crucial step. Identifying deficiencies and burdens on the healthcare system improves preparation to protect the population. As information becomes available, leaders and policymakers can take proactive measures and refine policies. “The preparation to tackle a disaster occurs before the disaster strikes,” according to the authors of the article. “This preparation is key to developing comprehensive action plans for damage control and developing credible responses. This expedites a healthy, cost-effective recovery process and builds resilience in communities.”
Preparing for a Career in Emergency Management
Whether or not you have a background in emergency services, the wide-ranging curriculum in the online M.S. in Emergency Management program from Millersville University helps students gain the practical and theoretical knowledge to achieve this advanced degree. Course topics include industrial emergency preparedness, natural disasters, planning, mental health and trauma, social dimensions of disasters and more. The Principles & Practices of Emergency Management course covers the five mission areas of emergency management as well as the history and perspectives of the field.
Learn more about Millersville University’s online Master of Science in Emergency Management program.
