Mecklenburg County has had a history of major flooding. In the last 15 years alone, flash flooding in Charlotte-Mecklenburg killed two people and caused more than $100 million in damages.
Flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Tropical Storm Frances in 2004 are just a few of the causes of flooding in Mecklenburg County in recent years, thereby highlighting the need for comprehensive emergency management services to be in place as a way to respond to both natural and manmade disasters for the protection and well-being of Mecklenburg County residents.
Emergency Management Jobs in Mecklenburg County
Job opportunities in emergency management in Mecklenburg County through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO) include the following:
Emergency Management Officer
Individuals interested in attaining a job as an emergency management officer in Mecklenburg County or for the State of North Carolina must be prepared to plan, direct, and coordinate the Operational Survival Plan for North Carolina. Emergency management officer jobs include analyzing administrative problems and making recommendations for new civil defense operational survival plans. These professionals are also tasked with disseminating information and overseeing programs for church groups, civic clubs, and other community organizations.
Degree requirements for emergency management officers include a four-year (bachelor’s) degree, along with at least two years of experience in directing large-scale programs for a business, governmental, or military organization.
Emergency Management Field Supervisor
Emergency management field supervisors oversee the day-to-day emergency planning, training, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts at the local governmental level. Emergency management field supervisors, during times of disaster, determine support needs and serve as an Incident Commander Manager, which involves decision-making authority for the commitment of state resources.
Minimum training and degree requirements for these professionals include a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university and at least 5 years of experience in emergency preparedness planning or emergency management and/or response or recovery operations.
Emergency Management Training and Certification in Mecklenburg County
Professional certification in emergency management may be mandatory for certain emergency management jobs or it may be a voluntary decision made by emergency management professionals seeking additional training and recognition in their profession. Typical certification in this field is obtained either through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).
Emergency management training in Mecklenburg County is offered to all emergency management coordinators, as well as law enforcement officers and fire department personnel. Typical courses offered throughout the year include:
- NC CERTEX Community Response Team Exercise
- Advanced Incident Command System Command and General Staff – Complex Incidents
- Managing Floodplain Development
- Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents
- Radiological Emergency Preparedness Core Concepts
- Managing Land Search Operations