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Emergency Management Director

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What Does it Take to Be an Emergency Management Director?

Job Description: Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.

Life As an Emergency Management Director: What Do They Do?

  • Develop and implement training procedures and strategies for radiological protection, detection, and decontamination.
  • Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
  • Apply for federal funding for emergency-management-related needs and administer and report on the progress of such grants.
  • Conduct surveys to determine the types of emergency-related needs to be addressed in disaster planning or provide technical support to others conducting such surveys.
  • Keep informed of federal, state, and local regulations affecting emergency plans and ensure that plans adhere to these regulations.
  • Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, as well as those that could affect response efforts and details of plan implementation.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Emergency Management Director?

These are the skills Emergency Management Directors say are the most useful in their careers:

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Other Emergency Management Director Job Titles

  • Civil Defense Director
  • Civil Preparedness Officer
  • Emergency Management System Director (EMS Director)
  • Emergency Planning and Response Manager
  • Emergency Planner

Job Outlook for Emergency Management Directors

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 10,100 jobs in the United States for Emergency Management Director. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 800 new jobs for Emergency Management Director by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 900 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Emergency Management Director are Arizona, Utah, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Wyoming, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does an Emergency Management Director Make?

The average yearly salary of an Emergency Management Director ranges between $40,460 and $141,130.

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Emergency Management Directors who work in District of Columbia, California, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Emergency Management Directors in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $69,060
Alaska $85,120
Arkansas $47,680
California $118,320
Colorado $87,060
Connecticut $91,120
District of Columbia $119,820
Florida $83,580
Georgia $73,090
Hawaii $81,660
Idaho $86,000
Illinois $81,830
Indiana $52,810
Iowa $69,300
Kansas $55,780
Kentucky $50,490
Louisiana $83,610
Maine $57,200
Maryland $104,770
Massachusetts $92,480
Michigan $72,500
Minnesota $84,990
Mississippi $51,200
Missouri $63,690
Montana $52,740
Nebraska $60,330
New Hampshire $63,780
New Jersey $93,410
New Mexico $95,580
New York $99,960
North Carolina $74,600
North Dakota $69,480
Ohio $75,530
Oklahoma $53,660
Oregon $81,460
Pennsylvania $69,850
Rhode Island $86,710
South Carolina $65,130
South Dakota $49,760
Tennessee $87,350
Texas $89,810
Utah $60,820
Vermont $82,210
Virginia $89,580
Washington $113,860
West Virginia $73,390
Wisconsin $74,140
Wyoming $57,810

What Tools & Technology do Emergency Management Directors Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Emergency Management Directors may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Graphics software
  • Statistical software
  • McAfee
  • IBM Lotus Notes
  • Desktop publishing software
  • Relational database software
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • MapInfo Professional
  • SunGard Assurance

How to Become an Emergency Management Director

Individuals working as an Emergency Management Director have obtained the following education levels:

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What work experience do I need to become an Emergency Management Director?

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Where do Emergency Management Directors Work?

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Emergency Management Directors work in the following industries:

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming an Emergency Management Director might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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