The response to any public health crisis, whether a pandemic or a natural disaster, is never simple. Such crises are complex and have an enormous impact on people’s day-to-day lives. As a result, an effective response requires careful strategic emergency management to mitigate risks, coordinate response efforts, and protect communities to minimize the damage to the public’s health and well-being.
A public health crisis requires stakeholders from multiple areas of expertise, including professionals with emergency management degrees. They can play a crucial role in preparing for, responding to and recovering from public health emergencies by developing crisis response plans, coordinating stakeholders, managing vital resource distribution, ensuring effective communication between agencies, and crisis communications with the public.
Millersville University’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Emergency Management program is an excellent pathway for inspiring emergency managers, as it offers students the chance to learn advanced practical and theoretical knowledge from experts in the field. Whether they wish to pursue careers within government agencies, healthcare systems or humanitarian organizations, graduates of Millersville University’s program can expect to make a meaningful impact on their communities by assisting with the safeguarding of public health and safety.
The Importance of Risk Management
One critical role of an emergency manager is to understand and plan for the risks inherent in a potential public health crisis. They work before a crisis to prepare for its impact but also play a vital role after an immediate emergency has been resolved. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes, “Emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters or other emergencies. They also help lead the response during and after emergencies.”
As a result, effective emergency managers must be proactive in their approach to the job and devote effort to identifying specific risks to their communities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that such risks include “events such as natural disasters, disease pandemics, chemical spills and other man-made hazards, terrorist attacks and cyber attacks.”
However, not all communities or areas share the same risks, and flexibility is needed so that emergency managers can allocate time and resources where they are most needed. “A Midwestern city, for example, may determine it is at high risk for a catastrophic tornado,” according to FEMA. “As a result, the city could set a target to have a certain number of shelters in place. The same applies across all potential risks, understanding that each risk is different; therefore, each target is different.”
Natural Disasters and Strategic Planning
While natural disasters and other public health crises are not always easy to predict, emergency managers can help communities become more ready and resilient through strategic planning. “Countries, communities and organizations must be able to respond immediately and effectively to potential health threats and emergencies caused by any hazard,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). “For this, readiness is essential. Readiness is the interface between longer-term preparedness actions and immediate response to emergencies.”
The intersection of public health and emergency management is more critical than ever due to emerging threats like climate change, infectious disease outbreaks and bioterrorism. According to a report from RAND, “The field of emergency management is changing rapidly. Emergency managers are being asked to carry out new missions — in particular, public health preparedness and response (as shown during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic), as well as addressing the consequences of increasingly frequent and severe weather events.” Climate change, in particular, is accelerating the risk of multiple kinds of public health crises, including the risks of emerging infectious diseases, extreme weather events and large-scale migration of populations, according to the WHO.
Protect Public Health and Safety With an Online Degree From Millersville University
The risks to community safety and public health can be dire. However, there is a path forward for civic-minded professionals who want to make a real difference and help their communities become more prepared and resilient.
The online M.S. in Emergency Management program from Millersville University provides graduates with a thorough background through courses such as Social Dimensions of Disaster; Crisis, Emergency and Risk Communication; Terrorism, WMD & Homeland Security; and Humanitarian Response/International Disasters. Education in these and other crucial areas of emergency management prepares graduates for all kinds of public health threats.
Learn more about Millersville University’s online M.S. in Emergency Management program.
