Emergency Management
emergency management PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Emergency Management (EM) Program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage disasters effectively at the local, state, and federal levels. This program emphasizes strategies that empower communities to prevent, prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from biological, chemical, man-made, natural, or technological disasters. Building resiliency in communities is crucial for effective disaster management. The many facets of EM would identify with most curricula because disaster management has become such a diverse profession. Many students in the EM Program select a minor in programs such as Aviation, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Biology, Business Management, Technology and Data Science, Engineering, and Social Work.
Understanding Aviation principles can help emergency managers coordinate airborne resources during disaster response, including aerial firefighting, search and rescue missions, and the delivery of supplies. Aviation skills can aid in coordinating air traffic control during disaster situations, ensuring safe operations for both commercial and emergency flights.
Integrating UAS and EM enhances community resilience and optimizes response strategies during disasters. Additionally, UAS can be very effective in conducting aerial surveys to capture images and videos of disaster zones, helping to assess damage or debris, and prioritize response efforts.
A background in Biology equips students with knowledge about restoring ecosystems after a disaster, the environmental impacts of trees and other debris compromising river basins, and public health concerns about natural disasters and biological hazards such as the Covid 19 pandemic.
EM has a strong Business Management component, budgeting for logistics and efficient resource distribution. Strategic Planning skills can aid in formulating long-term plans for disaster preparedness and recovery. Understanding business continuity helps organizations remain operational during and after a disaster.
Engineering equips students with knowledge about innovative technologies that can be utilized in emergency management, such as smart sensors, construction materials, and construction methodologies for durable infrastructure. Students learn to evaluate the structural integrity of existing infrastructure in disaster-prone areas, guiding modifications or reinforcements necessary for enhanced resilience.
Social Work offers community resilience by focusing on human behavior and community dynamics, emphasizing the importance of social structures in managing crises. Training in Social Work equips students with skills to support mental health and emotional well-being during and after disasters.
Technology equips students with essential skills in information technology, data analytics, and modern communication systems, which are vital for effective emergency management. Data Science provides analytical tools and methodologies that are essential in interpreting large datasets relevant to disaster management. Data Science techniques can enhance GIS applications for mapping risk areas such as flood zones. These skills can help forecast potential disaster impacts and develop effective mitigation strategies, leading to informed decision-making.
Emergency Management encompasses the systematic approach to managing all phases of disasters. This includes:
- Prevention: Strategies to avert disasters.
- Preparedness: Planning and training for potential emergencies.
- Mitigation: Efforts to reduce the impact of disasters.
- Response: Immediate actions taken during a disaster.
- Recovery: Processes for returning to normal post-disaster.
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Justin Graney, ECSU graduate Fall, 2024 BS Emergency Management Justin is the Chief of External Affairs & Communications with North Carolina Emergency Management |
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David Hill, ECSU graduate Fall, 2023 BS Emergency Management David is affiliated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. His is a Disaster Response Specialist (Emergency Manager) |
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UC Berkeley- CATres Grant (Airport Disruptions) |
Students study airport disruptions, and they traveled to Egg Harbor, New Jersey in May 2025 for the Center for Airport Transportation Resilience (CATRes) annual meeting. They were able to tour the Federal Aviation Administration’s campus. |
- Campus Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): The ECSU, National award-winning, CERT program is recognized as being one of the most active campus teams in the country providing a variety of fun and resume building experiences to students across the entire campus. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live. CERT trains volunteers in basic emergency and disaster response skills, such as: Fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. The CERT program offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
- International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM): The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) is an international organization dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property by mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters/emergencies. IAEM sponsors the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) and Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) Program to maintain professionalism through the certification process.
- Order of the Sword and the Shield National Honor Society (OSS): The Order of the Sword and Shield is the first and only academic and professional honor society dedicated exclusively to homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, cyber and information security, and all protective security disciplines. The mission of the Society shall be to promote critical thinking, high scholarship and professional development; to further enhance the ethical standards of the protective security professions; and to cultivate a high order of personal living. In addition to its academic purpose, the Society is strongly committed to helping communities prepare for safety and emergency conditions and sponsors many types of informational events throughout the year.
- Episilon Pi Phi (EPP): Epsilon Pi Phi was established by The Foundation for Higher Education Accreditation in 2006 in order for students within emergency management programs would have an avenue for recognition of academic success and contributions to the profession. This specialized honor society is for emergency management, homeland security, criminal justice, and continuity management disciplines. EPP is the first and only Emergency Management honor society to become nationally recognized Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS).
Dr. Kevin Kupietz
Assistant Professor, Department of Aviation and Emergency Management
STEM Complex
Campus Box 851
kdkupietz@ecsu.edu
Dr. Dorothy Henderson-Bell
Assistant Professor, Emergency Management
dhendersonbell@ecsu.edu
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