North Carolina’s position along the United States’ eastern coast has allowed tourism to flourish, particularly on its delicate string of barrier islands. However, the same location that has made this state a popular vacation destination also makes it vulnerable to the annual onslaught of hurricanes that make their way up the eastern seaboard in the late summer months.
As a result, emergency management specialists have always been in demand in North Carolina, with major disasters declared in August 2011 (Hurricane Irene), April 2011 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding), and September 2010 (severe storms, flooding, and straight-line winds associated with Tropical Storm Nicole) in just the last, few years.
College Degree Options and Requirements
Individuals seeking emergency management jobs in North Carolina must first obtain an education in emergency management. Although there are a number of technology and stand-alone certificate programs for individuals seeking these careers in North Carolina, the most common route for breaking into this field is through bachelor’s and graduate programs in emergency management or homeland security.
Bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and graduate certificates in emergency management are offered at a number of colleges and universities in North Carolina, with degree offerings including:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with an Emergency Management concentration
- Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
- Graduate certificate in Community Preparedness and Disaster Management
- Master’s degree in Public Administration, Emergency Management concentration
Common course offerings in these programs include:
- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Terrorism and Emergency Management
- Hazards Risk Management
- Disaster Response Operations and Management
- Building Disaster Resilient Communities
- Principles and Practice of Hazard Mitigation
- Social Dimensions of Disaster
- Business Crisis and Continuity Management
- Sociology of Disaster
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management Division is responsible for protecting the people of North Carolina from the effects of natural and manmade disasters. There are four offices within the Emergency Management Division, with the main office located in Raleigh. The emergency management professionals, which include three branch managers and 15 area coordinators, support local government emergency operations through a four-phase approach:
- Preparedness
- Response
- Recovery
- Mitigation
All Hazard Incident Management Teams (AHIMTs) are deployed to any emergency situation throughout the state. To obtain careers in the Emergency Management Division, individuals must complete specific training.
Liaison Officer Type 2 Required training:
- ICS-100: Introduction to ICS
- ICS-200: Basic ICS
- ICS-300: Intermediate ICS
- ICS-400: Advanced ICS
- IS-700: Introduction to NIMS
- IS-800: National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction
Safety Officer Type 2 Required training:
- ICS-100: Introduction to ICS
- ICS-200: Basic ICS
- ICS-300: Intermediate ICS
- ICS-400: Advanced ICS
- IS-700: Introduction to NIMS
- IS-800: National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction
OR
- IS-800b: National Response Framework, an Introduction
- S-420: Command and General Staff training or equivalent
Information Type 2 All-Hazard Required training:
- ICS-100: Introduction to ICS
- ICS-200: Basic ICS
- ICS-300: Intermediate ICS
- ICS-400: Advanced ICS
- IS-700: Introduction to NIMS
- IS-800: National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction
OR
- IS-800b: National Response Framework, an Introduction
- S-420: Command and General Staff training or equivalent
Emergency Management Certification in North Carolina
The Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety offers a voluntary certification program for the emergency management professional in the State of North Carolina.
The North Carolina Emergency Management Certification program offers two certification designations: Associate Emergency Manager or Executive Emergency Manager.
Individuals may qualify for professional certification in emergency management by meeting experience requirements or by completing a course of study in emergency management, including a bachelor’s of science/Arts in Emergency Management or Emergency Preparedness (or similar) or a master’s of science/arts in Emergency Management or Emergency Preparedness (or similar).
Individuals who meet minimum qualifications for emergency management certification must take and pass a 50-questions written examination.