Federal Emergency Management Agency
Each year the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) conducts several resident Integrated Emergency Management Courses (IEMC). These courses address preparedness, response, and recovery issues in emergency situations resulting from natural and technological hazards. Depending on the hazard scenario selected for a specific IEMC, subject matter experts are brought in to address issues relevant to that hazard. The final full day of class is devoted to a hands-on exercise with participants responding to time-sequenced emergency messages.
Sound interesting? Actually, this is one of the best courses for understanding the need for an integrated approach to emergency management. Cooperation and coordination become vital as participants who have been assigned a role similar to their real-life position grapple with simulated emergency issues.
Some of the roles sought for these courses include, but are not limited to: elected and appointed city and county officials–mayors, county executives, legal counsel, city commissioners, county supervisors, and local emergency management directors (upper and mid-management personnel, and supervisory and operations staff from fire service, law enforcement, public affairs, public works, emergency medical services, Red Cross, Salvation Army, school systems, state liaison, and business and industry).
Often when there are unfilled slots for a specific IEMC course, FEMA will put out an announcement of these vacancies. All expenses except for a $75 meal ticket are reimbursable.
For more information visit FEMA's Web site.
