The New Castle County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is responsible for protecting county residents form natural and technological disaster threats. The OEM has developed several plans and programs to mitigate and respond to disasters including the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). CEMP details the county’s resources and strategies to provide greater safeguards for the public. OEM has also generated a Threat Incident Management Plan, which stipulates how the employees of the county’s 47 public facilities are notified and evacuated in case of major disaster.
How to Become an Emergency Management Professional in New Castle County, Delaware
Emergency management professionals in New Castle County, Delaware may find jobs in a variety of specialized fields including public health, engineering, urban planning, meteorology, mental health and business administration. The qualifications for most of these careers are similar to the following:
- A bachelor’s degree in
- Emergency management
- Homeland security
- Public health
- Public policy
- Engineering
- Architecture
- At least five years of experience in the field of homeland security or disaster response
- At least one year of professional experience administrating emergency management programs
- Knowledge of the National Response Framework, National Incident Management System, and Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to transfer skills and knowledge to trainees and volunteers
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency offers a variety of emergency management courses in New Castle County, Delaware including:
- All-hazards position
- Critical Infrastructure and key resources
- Advanced critical infrastructure protection
- Hurricane readiness
- Planning for the needs of children
The federal Emergency Management Institute is also a trusted portal for emergency management training. This agency offers several certification programs and wide selection of emergency management classes including:
- Emergency Support Functions
- Nuclear and Radiological Incidents
- Dams Sector: Security Awareness
- National Infrastructure Protection Plan
- Workplace Security Awareness
- Emergency Management Preparedness Fundamentals
Major Disasters in New Castle County
In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne struck New Castle County. Almost eight inches of rain fell upon this county over a 24-hour period, causing flooding and downed power lines throughout the area. The flooding of many roads led to numerous motorists who were trapped in their vehicles. Jeanne also spawned an F2 tornado that tracked for five miles through numerous buildings and the New Castle Airport. Almost $1 million in damages resulted. In 2011, Hurricane Irene caused heavy rains and gale force winds. Two Delaware residents were killed and 50 homes were damaged or destroyed.
In 1962, New Castle County was the target of the Ash Wednesday storm. This was ranked as one of the top ten worst storms of the 20th century. A major northeaster settled over Delaware for five consecutive high tides. The intense winds and ocean swells eroded beaches and flooded almost 45,000 homes. This storm killed 40 people and caused $200 million in damage.