If you’re a student passionate about government, policy, and law but haven’t quite found your niche, emergency management might be the career path you never knew you needed. It’s a dynamic and interdisciplinary field where policy meets action, and decision-making has real-world impact—from managing disaster response to shaping national security strategies.
What is Emergency Management?
Emergency management is all about preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters—whether it’s a hurricane, wildfire, cyberattack, public health or public safety crisis. Professionals in this field work to ensure communities, governments, and organizations can handle emergencies effectively and minimize harm. It’s a career that combines strategic policy-making, crisis leadership, and hands-on problem-solving.
Interested in learning from professionals in this field? Check out the following CandidCareer videos where real professionals share their experiences:
Why Should You Consider a Career in Emergency Management?
✅ You’ll Make a Tangible Impact – Your work helps protect communities, influence government response plans, and ensure resilience in times of crisis.
✅ It’s Fast-Paced and Dynamic – No two days are the same; you could be writing policy one day and leading response efforts the next. Think: ☀️ Blue Skies (preparing for crisis) Vs 🌪️Gray Skies (Active crisis response).
✅ It’s in High Demand – With climate change, cyber threats, and global instability on the rise, the need for emergency management professionals is growing.
✅ Government & Policy Integration – This career path offers opportunities in federal, state, and local governments, as well as in international agencies and think tanks.
How to Prepare as a Student
There is no single degree required in this interdisciplinary field, but training, and experience are essential. Common fields of study include:
- Emergency Management
- Public Health (Epidemiology, Disaster Preparedness)
- Public Administration & Policy (Government Response, Risk Management)
- Homeland Security
- Environmental Science (Disaster Mitigation, Climate Change)
- Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement, Security)
- Social Work & Human Services (Community Resilience, Disaster Relief)
If you’re studying political science, public administration, law, criminal justice, or international relations, your skills in problem solving, management, leadership and communication are needed! The Center for Civic Engagement has a list of local emergency management volunteer opportunities including:
The Broome County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
- What it is: CERT trains volunteers to assist first responders during disasters and emergencies.
- Training Overview: Participants learn basic disaster response skills, including:
- Fire safety and suppression
- Light search and rescue
- Disaster medical operations (first aid, triage)
- Emergency preparedness and response strategies
- How to Get Involved: Broome County offers free CERT training to residents interested in emergency preparedness every Spring. Upon completing the course, volunteers can assist in community emergencies. Check the Broome County Office of Emergency Services for upcoming training sessions.
Volunteer with the American Red Cross: Disaster Action Team (DAT) Responder
- What it is: DAT responders provide immediate assistance to families affected by disasters, such as house fires and floods.
- Training Overview: Volunteers receive training in:
- Disaster assessment
- Shelter operations and mass care
- Psychological first aid and crisis intervention
- Casework and recovery assistance
- How to Get Involved: The Red Cross offers both online and in-person training for new volunteers. After completing training, DAT responders are placed on call to assist in local disaster responses. Visit The Western New York Region of the American Red Cross to find training and local volunteer opportunities.
- 🗣 Network with Professionals – Attend emergency management conferences, follow professionals on LinkedIn, and connect with mentors in the field. Binghamton University hosts an annual event convening emergency managers in higher education: NYS College and University Emergency Management Workshop. Consider registering to attend next year’s event!
If you’re someone who loves the intersection of policy, law, and government but also wants a career where you can see the direct impact of your work, emergency management is worth exploring. Whether you’re shaping national disaster response policies or coordinating emergency logistics on the ground, this field offers an exciting mix of strategy, leadership, and action.
