The Lake County Emergency Management Agency approaches disaster on two fronts: public education and preparedness. Emergency management training in Lake County is provided to citizens and businesses on topics ranging from severe storms to flooding, as it’s well known that well-prepared community members are most effective in combating a disaster when it strikes. Personnel can prepare for many weather-related disasters in advance, however there are always some people on standby because many disasters have no preceding warning.
Emergency management jobs in the Lake County Emergency Management Agency involve a strong emphasis on inter-agency collaboration, with other organizations such as:
- Illinois Emergency Management Agency
- U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Illinois Emergency Services Management Association
- International Association of Emergency Managers
- National Emergency Management Association
Careers with Lake County Emergency Management
Having the right emergency management degree or certification can help candidates competitively prepare for future careers in Lake County. The Emergency Management Agency seeks the most qualified people to fill jobs that can literally make the difference between life and death.
The agency recognizes diversity as an asset, and as there are a wide variety of different kinds of employment positions within the agency, an equally diverse candidate pool is sought. Emergency management positions will advertise their prerequisites, which most often include a bachelor’s degree in such areas as:
- Public Health Administration
- Urban Planners
- Disaster Preparedness
- Disaster Health
- Terrorism Studies
- Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response
Emergency Management and Planning for the Worst
In the wake of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks there has been an increased awareness of potential terrorist targets across the country. This includes the Zion Nuclear Power Station in Lake County, which still contains large quantities of radioactive material despite being closed. For this reason, the Lake County Emergency Management Agency has – among its many contingency plans – a detailed and structured response prepared in case of nuclear contamination.
Although skeptics may scoff at the idea of such a scenario, those with emergency management careers in Lake County would point out that U.S. forces found diagrams of American nuclear power plants in Afghanistan when searching al Qaeda compounds. It is the duty of emergency management forces to be prepared for any threat to public safety in Lake County.
The Lake County Emergency Management Agency was just recently involved in the disaster relief following recent storms that caused record flooding in the Lake County area. More than 40,000 households were damaged or destroyed as officials declared the area a disaster. Preparations for flooding were underway as soon as local weather reports indicated the possibility of severe storms, with the Lake County Emergency Management Agency strategically distributing disaster supplies to shelters set up around the county.
Urban planners helped to determine the placement of the shelters, while emergency management coordinators resourced the inventory. After the floods struck, public health specialists ensured shelters met appropriate safety and sanitation requirements. Because flooding is one of the costliest potential disasters faced by Lake County, emergency management agencies are particularly focused on an ordered and mitigating strategy.