If anything has been proven over the last few years, it is that emergencies come in all shapes and forms- and this especially true for the state of Ohio. In the last few years alone, the state’s largest city of Columbus, has experienced massive flooding, crippling wind storms, severe snow and hail storms, droughts and was even the victim of Hurricane Sandy- albeit on a much smaller scale than it’s neighbors to the East.
But, natural disasters are not the only thing on the minds of emergency management agencies in Columbus, as man-made disasters- such as terrorism and hazardous waste spills are also of major importance. Needless to say, it takes a lot of planning to ensure the safety of Columbus’ nearly 800,000 residents (not to mention the metropolitan population, which is well over one million residents.)
Emergency Management Degrees, Training and Certification in Columbus, Ohio
There are three main requirements that must be met by candidates looking to secure jobs with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in Columbus: a degree in a field either directly, or very closely, related to emergency management, completion of training in emergency management practices and theory, and lastly certification in the field.
Emergency Management Degrees: In the greater Columbus area, a person can receive a degree in emergency management through either traditional, campus-based schooling or through online schooling. Both are recognized as certified institutions by the state of Ohio. The following are some of the most common emergency management degrees offered in Columbus:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice- Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
- Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Crisis Management
- Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice- Leadership and Executive Management
- Master of Science in Business Administration
Emergency Management Training and Certification: Proper training and certification plays a big role in securing an emergency management career in Columbus. In order to receive training and the Ohio Emergency Management certification, a person must posses the following sets of experience:
- Three years of full-time work experience in the emergency management field, or a closely related field OR
- Two years of full-time experience in a relevant field and an associate’s degree in emergency management, or a related field of study OR
- One year of experience in the field and a bachelor or masters degree in emergency management, or a related field of study
Emergency Management Employers Found in Columbus
The primary, city-level agency responsible for executing disaster safety plans is the Columbus, Ohio Emergency Management Agency. The agency drafts emergency plans (such as evacuation plans and infrastructure design,) analyzes data and weather trends, coordinates with county, state and federal emergency management agencies, performs disaster recovery efforts, as well as mitigation and training exercises.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that demand for emergency management professionals will increase by 22-percent over the next decade, which is much faster than most jobs in other career fields. As Columbus, and the rest of Ohio, have experienced much more drastic weather emergencies, it is likely that demand for emergency management professionals will increase as well in the region.