Building Resilient Communities: The Role of Emergency Preparedness Professionals

Over the past several decades, the U.S. has experienced a dramatic increase in weather and climate disasters, with at least 10 CPI-adjusted billion-dollar disaster events every year since 2011 (in comparison, the period between 1980 and 2023 saw an average of nine such disasters annually). More ominously, that number has surged over the past five years (2020-2024) to 23 incidents per year. In 2024, the U.S. experienced 27 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters. 

Communities today face a wide range of disasters and emergencies, including hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, pandemics and cyberattacks. As these increasingly complex challenges grow more prevalent, the need for trained professionals to mitigate risks, respond to disasters and lead recovery efforts becomes more critical. Programs like the Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) cultivate the skills needed to address these challenges effectively and positively impact communities through homeland security jobs and emergency management jobs. 

What is Community Resilience?

Community resilience is the capacity to prepare for, adapt to, endure, and recover from disasters and emergencies. Resilience policies and practices enable communities to endure disruptions, maintain or expeditiously restore essential services and rebuild after disasters. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers this six-step guide to planning for community resilience:

1. Form a collaborative planning team
2. Understand the situation
3. Determine goals and objectives
4. Plan development
5. Plan preparation, review, and approval
6. Plan implementation and maintenance

Real-World Examples of Community Resilience

Instances of community resilience run the gamut from individual plans to global initiatives. Examples include:

• Colorado implemented proactive flood mitigation projects, including early warning systems and improved infrastructure. This enhanced flood preparedness across high-risk watersheds, increased community awareness and safety and lowered insurance costs. 
• Louisiana’s Emergency Preparedness Guide documents the policies and processes in place to minimize damage and loss of life during disasters. By leveraging experience from past events and expert recommendations, this plan addresses  disaster preparation, prevention, response, recovery and mitigation.
• After Hurricane Sandy devastated New York City (NYC) in 2012, officials recognized the urgent need to better prepare for future risks. Consequently, in 2013, NYC was among the first cities to join the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative, a global network designed to support urban areas in building resilience against physical, social and economic challenges. Today, the city continues to emphasize resiliency to ensure it is prepared to withstand and recover from future disasters. Resiliency is one of the four principles outlined in the city’s One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City (the others are growth, equity and sustainability). 
• California’s Oakland Climate Action Coalition (OCAC) provides a smaller-scale example of community resilience. This cross-sector coalition of over 30 organizations addresses racial and environmental justice issues by creating climate solutions that improve the environment, economy and social resilience of vulnerable communities. The OCAC has shared research, policy advice, advocacy and organization to support Oakland’s climate justice needs. 

Pillars of Disaster Preparation

Preparedness plays a key role in developing community resilience. The National Institute of Standards and Technology outlines the following pillars of disaster preparation:

• Prevention: Implement policies, early interventions and education on threat awareness to avert or stop acts of terrorism. 
• Protection: Strengthen security measures and infrastructure to safeguard people and assets during emergencies.
• Mitigation: Identify potential threats and reduce their impact by reinforcing infrastructure, implementing warning systems and educating the public on risks like earthquakes and tornados.
• Response: Prioritize public safety, property and the environment by proactively planning and collaborating with partner agencies to react swiftly during emergencies.
• Recovery: Support communities in rebuilding and adapting after disasters by creating policies, updating infrastructure and fostering economic, social and environmental revitalization.

The Role of Emergency Preparedness Professionals

Emergency preparedness professionals play a key role in safeguarding communities during crises to minimize harm and save lives. Their responsibilities include:

• Conducting risk and disaster resilience assessments: Evaluate potential dangers and assess how prepared a community or organization is to navigate disasters. This process helps identify potential threats, evaluate their impact and optimize decision-making to reduce risks and improve preparedness.  
• Creating disaster plans: Develop comprehensive emergency response and recovery plans tailored to different types of threats. This may include cross-sector collaboration to coordinate efforts and resource allocation. 
• Organizing training events: Plan and oversee simulations, trainings and drills to prepare emergency responders, employees and community members for what to do before, during and after disasters.
• Collaborating with stakeholders: Work with community organizations, government agencies and emergency responders to maintain clear communication and coordinated responses during emergencies. An efficient and synchronized approach is crucial to an effective emergency response. 
• Resource management: Allocate essential resources in a timely manner to help communities prepare for crises and provide support and services during and after emergencies.
• Recovery planning: After a disaster, assess the damage, develop a long-term recovery plan and support infrastructure, economic, housing, social and cultural relief efforts. 

Essential Skills

Emergency preparedness professionals ensure that communities, organizations and governments are sufficiently prepared for disasters and emergencies and equipped with the necessary tools to adapt and rebuild. These roles carry significant responsibility and require a unique skill set for success. Core skills essential for emergency management jobs include:

• Leadership: The ability to make sound decisions and collaborate or guide teammates during stressful events is crucial to ensuring effective and efficient emergency responses.
• Organization: Creating response plans, allocating resources and tracking data require a high level of organization.
• Adaptability: Remaining flexible and adaptable in dynamic situations helps professionals maintain calm and focus.
• Technical proficiency: Understanding data analysis and emergency management tools and software promotes informed decisions and coordinated response efforts.
• Communication: Communicating clearly and collaborating with stakeholders under pressure facilitates successful disaster prevention and relief efforts.
• Critical thinking: Analyzing risks and threats and anticipating hazards is essential to making informed decisions and solving problems. 

In recent months, emergency preparedness personnel have worked with local, state and government agencies to assist with California’s fire response and recovery. Their coordinated efforts saved lives, delivered medical aid, safeguarded infrastructure, provided shelter and resources for displaced community members, and initiated post-disaster recovery efforts.

Career Opportunities in Emergency Preparedness

The emergency preparedness field includes varied homeland security jobs and  emergency management jobs. In-demand roles include:

• Emergency management director: Creates plans and processes for disaster and emergency responses; oversees disaster response during and after emergencies and coordinates with other stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of emergency response efforts.
• Public safety officer: Maintains order by providing emergency response prevention and services, often as first responder to emergencies; public safety officer jobs can be found in numerous settings, including police or fire departments, customs or border protection, and schools. 
• Public health preparedness coordinator: Plans, develops, and implements programs and strategies to ensure communities are prepared for public health emergencies (pandemics, natural disasters, human-caused catastrophes); coordinates local, state and federal responses with health care delivery; organizes training and drills; engages in public education efforts.

Job Market Trends

The increased incidence of disasters and the broad range of potential threats create a growing demand for emergency management professionals nationwide. These experts work at government agencies, hospitals, professional organizations and educational institutions to design and implement emergency preparation and coordinate disaster relief efforts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of emergency management directors will grow four percent between 2023 and 2033, with around 1,000 new openings projected each year. They earn a median annual wage of $83,960, with most working in local government (53 percent) and state government (16 percent).

Advancing Your Career With VCU’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program

To advance in your emergency management job, you need the expertise to lead emergency and security response teams. VCU’s online HSEP prepares students for leadership roles with a curriculum that expands beyond traditional security education to help students develop practical decision-making, management and policy development skills. The program features:

• Practical simulations and case studies that prepare students for real-world crises
• Courses on crisis management and policy creation
• A flexible online format that enables students to advance their careers without putting their professional development on hold
• Exceptional faculty with expertise in military, law enforcement, fire and EMT, counterterrorism, emergency management and intelligence
• A professional peer network of emergency management professionals to help you gain valuable industry connections

Explore the HSEP curriculum to discover how this program can help you acquire advanced emergency management skills. 

Take the Next Step in Protecting Communities

Emergency preparedness professionals play a vital role in building resilient communities and protecting lives. Pursuing an advanced degree, such as VCU’s HSEP program, empowers individuals to lead in this vital field. Connect with an enrollment advisor to determine whether the program aligns with your goals, or start your application if you’re ready to begin your journey.