Emergency Preparedness and Response Agawam MA

Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere.

A disaster may be in the form of a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill - it can be act of nature or an act of man, including terrorism.

At the local level, all Americans are familiar with the first-line of emergency preparedness and response: the local police, fire departments, and medical emergency responders.

Less well-known are other "behind-the-scenes" emergency planners and coordinating agencies - local, regional, and state.

At the federal level, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - is the lead emergency preparedness and response organization. In addition to its own staff of more than 2,600 full-time employees located throughout the country, FEMA has another 4,000 employees available for deployment after disasters.

FEMA often works in partnership to coordinate the activities of other organizations that make-up the nation's emergency management system. These partners include state and local emergency management agencies, 27 other federal agencies, as well as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and more than 50 other volunteer organizations that are members or affiliates of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).

When you begin to investigate all the career opportunities within America's extensive emergency preparedness and response network, you will find many, varied, interesting, and important opportunities.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).

More information on federal agency involvement in Emergency Preparedness and Response is available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Web site.

Additional information on to the various national voluntary organizations that partner in providing disaster planning and relief is available on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) Web site.

Further information on careers and employment with the various agencies under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - including FEMA - is available on the DHS Web site.

For information on career opportunities in local, regional, or state law enforcement, firefighting, or medical first response, contact local or state chapters of these organizations. In addition, the following national organizations contain some useful background information and further links for these local, regional, and state first responders:

• National Fraternal Order of Police
• International Association of Firefighters (IAFF)
• National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)

Careers in Homeland Security Report

Find out more at CareerVoyages.gov