Unlike most states, Connecticut does not relegate emergency management services to individual counties. Instead, the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has divided the state into five regions. Fairfield County is located in region one and operates the region’s Emergency Operations Center. Since the attacks on September 11, 2001, considerably more funding has been devoted to improving Fairfield County’s readiness for a variety of natural and manmade disasters.
How to Become an Emergency Management Professional in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Emergency management professionals from a variety of specialties like engineering, public health, emergency response, public information and urban planning may find job opportunities in Fairfield County. While the exact specifications for these jobs is dependent upon the hiring organizations, many of the following qualifications are commonly requested:
- A four-year degree in
- Emergency management
- Homeland security studies
- Social science
- Public policy
- Public health
- Certification as a CEM is preferred
- Knowledge of NIMS, NRF and HSEEP is preferred
- Strong verbal and written communications skills
- Ability to work with federal and state officials
- Ability to train volunteers and others
Training for EM careers may be obtained through a variety of state, federal and private organizations. The Connecticut Division of Emergency Service and Homeland Security offers a number of emergency management courses in Fairfield County including
- Student Tools for Emergency Planning Information
- Mass Decontamination Trailer
The federal Emergency Management Institute offers a much wider selection of emergency management courses and certification programs. These include
- Professional Development Series
- An introduction to exercises
- Leadership and influence
- Effective communication
- Fundamentals of emergency management
- Emergency planning
- Decision making and problem solving
- Developing and managing volunteers
- National Incident Management System
- Introduction to the Incident Command System
- NIMS an introduction
- NIMS resource management
There are also a number of industry organizations which provide certification programs including the International Association of Emergency Managers which offers the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) or Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) programs.
Disasters in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Newtown, Connecticut was the site of one of the most horrific mass shootings in U.S. history. On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and shot to death 20 children and six adults before taking his own life. The death toll during this incident is second only to the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. Lanza utilized a rifle and handguns to commit the murders.
Hurricane Sandy struck Fairfield County in October of 2012. The storm knocked out power to numerous to thousands of homes and businesses. Following the storm, 9,164 residents in Region one of Connecticut filed for federal relief to rebuild damaged property. Almost 7,000 small businesses applied for disaster loan applications with the Small Business Administration. Almost $7.6 million was provided to Connecticut residents.