The Kenton County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency is established to protect the lives and property of its residents in the event of a natural or man-made disaster that exceeds local capabilities. The agency is staffed by a professional team of emergency management coordinators who network with their state, federal, and other partner-agency counterparts to produce the best disaster preparation and response possible. Through active public education campaigns for disaster preparedness and combined agency operations for emergency management training in Kenton County, coordinators and specialists ensure an exceptional level of readiness and response.
Preparing for a Career in Kenton County Emergency Management
Emergency management jobs in Kenton County employ managers who come from a variety of education and certification backgrounds. Because many times the abilities of coordinators can mean life or death for those affected by disasters, many Kenton County positions require applicants to have an emergency management degree or certification. Online education institutions as well as local colleges and universities offer associate and bachelor degrees in:
- Psychology
- Urban Planning
- Communications
- Business
- Engineering
- Information Technology
The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management offers certification and training courses in:
- Lost Person Behavior
- Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program
- Moving Water Rescue
- ERI Search Management
- Local Emergency Planning Committee
Federal emergency management certification available online and through the state’s Emergency Management Agency includes:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Homeland Security Management
- Emergency and Disaster Management
- Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Bioterrorism Preparedness
Avoiding Future Catastrophes the Smart Way
Those working in emergency management careers in Kenton County will caution that it is necessary to be prepared for any and all types of disaster scenarios. Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding are the culprits that pose the greatest risk to the county, and coordinators take no risks when preparing to face any of these wraths of Mother Nature. That includes even the small chance that a dam along one of the county’s lakes or rivers could fail. Though it may not seem likely, there were recently two dam failures in 2010 – one in Iowa and the other in North Carolina – and two other recent failure events in Wisconsin and Hawaii. When dams do fail, the effects can be catastrophic.
As part of their planning for dam breeches and flood mitigation, emergency management coordinators recently gained additional funding to support their proactive strategy to reduce the damage caused by floods: a project that removes houses from flood-prone areas. This is part of Kenton County’s long-term strategy that works in respect to the forces of nature to produce the most cost-effective solution for disaster management with an eye towards the future. By removing housing from a dangerous area, emergency management coordinators are most likely saving countless future lives through wise urban planning.