Emergency managers inherently provide life-cycle risk management. Life-cycle risk management skills are acquired through formal training at colleges and universities, other accredited training venues such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Institute, and classes and courses offered by HQ DA, MEDCOM and USACE. Specific on the job experience is also required to achieve Army Workforce EM certifications and the Certified Emergency Manager™ certification from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
Under AR 525-27, EMs on the installations serve as the focal point for all-hazards lifecycle risk and disaster management and EMs at hospitals provide medical all-hazards lifecycle risk and disaster management. Our installation and medical EMs perform in a fashion similar to EMs in small to mid-sized cities – an extremely important position and exciting work that requires a broad base of knowledge in federal programs, disaster operations, and the ability to effectively collaborate with local, state, and federal partners. USACE EMs also serve similar to EMs in small cities at our lock, dam, hydropower and recreational facilities. The US Army Corps of Engineers emergency managers perform all-hazards life-cycle risk and disaster management under Public Law 84-99, Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies and per DoD, directly for FEMA under The Stafford Act, Public Law 93-288, the National Response Framework (NRF), the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), and the National Mitigation Framework (NMF). USACE EMs serve as part of the USACE team to provide risk communication and resilience for flood risk reduction projects. USACE’s EMs provide specified services when requested by local, state or tribal governments and for FEMA when mission assigned by FEMA. On a cost-reimbursable basis, USACE also provides disaster response services to the Department of State, USAID, Combatant Commands, Service Component Commands, and international organizations such as the World Bank. USACE is deeply engaged with many inter and intra-governmental and agency organizations and programs that serve to teach locals, states and tribes how to abate and mitigate the impacts of inland and coastal flooding.
Emergency Managers in the Army supervise, lead, or perform emergency management work including managing, and coordinating with other entities, the prevention of, protection from, preparedness for, response to, recovery from and/or mitigation of intentional and/or unintentional crises, disasters, other humanitarian emergencies, hazards, or natural and man-made/technological (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, high-yield explosives) incidents.
The work requires knowledge of emergency management and related directives, policies, regulations, procedures, and methods; and the collaboration and fostering of relationships between Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector, and their response mechanisms and authorities.
Emergency management work involves preparing for and carrying out or coordinating emergency functions (excluding primary military forces functions) to prevent, protect from, prepare for, respond to, recover from and/or mitigate emergencies and disasters; and to aid victims suffering from injury or damage resulting from disaster caused by natural or man-made hazards. The National Strategy for Homeland Security and Presidential Policy Directive #8 (PPD8) provide the foundation for the formal Federal Government response through frameworks such as the National Disaster Recovery Framework, the National Response Framework, National Mitigation Framework and the National Incident Management System. Together, they provide a systematic proactive approach to guide all levels of government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents or disasters, and to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment.
Emergency management work supports a comprehensive emergency management plan aimed at strengthening the security and resilience of the United States. These goals are accomplished through planning, training, and exercises which build and maintain necessary capabilities to perform all EM mission areas as outlined in the National Preparedness Goal.
Emergency management programs and work include areas such as preparedness and response, training and exercises, activation and mobilization of resources, ongoing emergency and command operations, response and recovery operations, continuity planning and operations, communications, logistics, hazard risk assessment, hazard effects, hazard classification, and collaborating with stakeholders and partners (e.g., Federal, State, Local, Territories, Tribes, international entities, foreign governments, community groups, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector). Emergency management work also includes occupant emergency planning, crisis management, continuity of operations and government, mission assurance, and resiliency activities.