The city of Minneapolis is a key area for emergency management efforts in Minnesota and is the site of the state’s 2013 Emergency Management Summit. Minneapolis is prone to natural disasters and has had over 4,000 extreme weather events within fifty miles over a sixty year period. Manmade events also pose a threat to the city.
Emergency management specialists in Minneapolis vigorously plan and take part in training exercises to learn how to prevent and quickly respond to large-scale threats to the citizens of this city.
Both emergency management specialists and directors are in demand in Minneapolis, and approximately one hundred such directors were employed in the Twin Cities area in 2012. Their salaries averaged almost 10% higher than in the rest of Minnesota with an annual mean salary of $77,920 in 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Emergency management jobs in Minneapolis include working as part of the city’s Emergency Preparedness Team. A number of private companies and public entities hire emergency management specialists in Minneapolis, ranging from energy companies to educational institutions.
Requirements for an Emergency Management Career in Minneapolis
Those who seek emergency management careers in Minneapolis should have at least an associate’s degree. Jobs as emergency management directors tend to require a higher level of education, ranging from a bachelor’s to a graduate degree.
Residents of this city can obtain an advanced technical certificate in emergency management from schools in Minneapolis. Graduate training can be obtained from a number of online schools that offer advanced studies in emergency management.
The state of Minnesota encourages leaders in emergency management to obtain advanced training in this field and offers a certification program. It is provided under the auspices of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
They have identified critical skills needed to succeed in the field of emergency management. They are comprised of organization management skills, including problem solving and program management, and skills specific to emergency and disaster management. These range from risk assessment to response and recovery skills. Being able to collaborate and coordinate with partners is a key area necessary for the success of emergency management operations.
Natural Disasters in Minneapolis
The Twin Cities have been hard hit by a variety of natural disasters, and Minneapolis is prone to events ranging from tornados to large-scale flooding.
Tornados – Minnesota lies on the north edge of tornado alley, and Minneapolis is over 50% more prone to be hit by tornadoes than the state as whole. Over 60,000 residents of North Minneapolis were affected by a massive tornado that caused nearly three miles of devastation in May 2011. It resulted in two fatalities and damage to approximately 3,700 properties. The overall cost of the storm has been estimated at $80 million.
Flooding – The rise of floodwaters poses the top natural hazard in Minnesota. In Minneapolis, nearly 500 addresses are located within the projected 100 year flood plain, and the city has been struck by several severe floods. The city was declared part of an official disaster area after flooding in 1997 and 1984.
Straight Line Wind Storms – Such storms are one of the top four natural hazards experienced in Minnesota and pose threats from strong winds and potential hail. Hundreds of thousands of Twin City residents lost power in the June 2013 storm, while a large storm in 2005 proved fatal to a man in north Minneapolis who was killed by a falling branch.