The Bernalillo County/City of Albuquerque’s Hazard Mitigation Plan outlines the following hazards in Bernalillo County:
- Wildfires
- Floods (Flash Floods)
- Drought
- Severe Weather (Storms and Tornadoes)
- Earthquakes
- Biological Emergency/Pandemic
Droughts in Bernalillo County are an all-too-common occurrence, with a State of Emergency declared in 2003 due to extreme drought conditions. Wildfires are a threat here, as well, with 305 listed in Bernalillo County from August 1993 to August 2004, resulting more than 5,000 acres burned. The two wildfires along the Rio Grande in 2003, which burned 400 acres, cost the state, city and county nearly $14 million.
A Career in Emergency Management
Individuals seeking a career in emergency management often earn a bachelor’s degree in emergency management, public safety management, public administration (or a related field). Further, Bernalillo County requires emergency management personnel to possess at least 3 years of experience in emergency management operations.
Professional certification is also often achieved by emergency management professionals, as it indicates a commitment to continued education in the profession. Professional certification options for emergency management professionals include:
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
- Associate Emergency Manager (AEM)
- Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Advanced Professional Series (APS) certificate
- Professional Development Series (PDS) Certificate
Emergency Management Specialist in Bernalillo County
Emergency management specialists in Bernalillo County are called upon to coordinate and provide training and preparedness activities, response and recovery actions, and prevention and mitigation techniques.
The knowledge and skills required to perform the job of an emergency management specialist include:
- Public Safety and Security
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Psychology
Training requirements for emergency management specialists in Bernalillo County include completing the following courses:
- Incident Command System
- National Incident Command System
- National Response Framework
Further, emergency management specialists must also earn the FEMA PDS designation within 6 months of being hired.
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) and its emergency management professionals coordinate county resources to protect the lives and health of the county’s citizens and visitors from natural or manmade disasters, including acts of terrorism.
The following professionals are tasked with carrying out the OHSEM mission:
- Incident Commander – Managing incident activities on scene
- Public Information Officer – Interfacing with and providing information to the public and the media
- Safety Officer – Monitors incident operations and advises the incident commander on operational safety and preventative measures
- Liaison Officer – Serves as a liaison for all levels of government