According to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
, 119 disasters were declared in 2025. These disasters fell into four categories: major disasters, emergencies, fire management assistance, and fire suppression.
The response to these disasters was coordinated by emergency management directors, who are responsible for helping communities become better prepared and more resilient in the face of emergencies.
Emergency management is the framework by which communities prepare for emergencies, reduce their risks, and manage their impacts.
The goal is to make communities less vulnerable to disasters and build resilience that helps them overcome the impact of emergencies. Emergency management directors oversee the development, implementation, and improvement of this framework.
Emergency Management Director: Key Tenets
Emergency management may look different depending on its scope: local, state, or federal.
Local Level
At the local level, directors oversee emergency management within specific counties. In North Carolina, this includes all
100 counties
, which have their own emergency management initiatives. At the local level, an emergency management director may have the following responsibilities:
Planning and implementing local emergency operations plans
Coordinating training and resources
Leading recovery efforts
Disseminating public information
State Level
Emergency management directors at the state level help establish and implement statewide response and recovery structures. They also support initiatives outside of local capacity. In North Carolina, emergency management directors work in different departments, including the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Public Safety. Their responsibilities may include:
Coordinate plans and resources between different agencies
Federal Level
At the federal level, emergency management directors support state and local prevention, response, and recovery. North Carolina falls into
Region 4 of FEMA
, along with seven other states in the southeast U.S. The responsibilities of an emergency management director at the federal level may include the following:
Coordinating federal responses to emergencies
Collaborating across agencies at the federal, state, and local levels
Supporting local and state emergency response efforts
Many emergency management directors work for FEMA, but they may also work at other federal agencies. For example, they may serve in several agencies across the
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
, including:
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Geological Survey
How to Become an Emergency Management Director
The pathway to becoming an emergency management director varies based on the organization or agency where they wish to work. Government agencies have different requirements for emergency management directors. However, certain skills, educational qualifications, and experience are generally expected among candidates.
Education and Experience
Emergency management directors
typically need a bachelor’s degree in emergency management, security studies, or a related field. However, the type of degree required may vary based on where the candidate wants to work.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in a field related to security and emergency management, an emergency management director typically must have at least five years of experience in emergency response, disaster planning, and public administration.
Experience often comes from starting a career in law enforcement, the military, or other organizations involved in emergency management. This early-career experience prepares them to respond quickly and calmly during high-pressure situations, as expected of an emergency management director.
Certification
Some agencies and organizations require emergency management directors to obtain a certification in emergency management. While employers may require different certifications, the top emergency management certifications include:
Undergoing a review by the IAEM Certification Commission
Maintaining certification
Certified Business Continuity Professional: The CBCP certification from
DRI International
focuses on business continuity—a form of emergency management that maintains critical operations during and after disruptive events—and is earned by:
Having more than two years of experience in business continuity, emergency management, or disaster recovery
Completing a prerequisite exam
Paying the application and annual renewal fees
Completing five Subject Matter Area Essays (SMEs)
Having two references per subject matter area
Completing 80 Continuing Education Activity Points (CEAPs) per year
Required Skills
While required skills may vary by where the emergency management director works, DOI has a list of skills that are necessary for such a position at one of its many agencies. This list includes:
Accountability: Holds oneself accountable for achieving results
Detail-oriented: Pays attention to the small details that others may overlook
Decision-making: Can make important, timely decisions during high-pressure situations
Flexibility: Adapts and accepts changes as they arise
Negotiability: Works with others to find mutually acceptable solutions
Organizational and external awareness: Understands how social, political, and technological systems work both in their own organization and across the world
Problem-solving: Always looking for the most effective, efficient solution
Emergency Management Career Outlook
According to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
, the average annual salary of an emergency management director was about $86,130 as of 2024. The BLS projects that the number of positions for this career will increase by about 3% between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as the national average.
Become an Emergency Management Director With East Carolina University
Emergency management directors are both proactive and reactive leaders who create a framework that makes communities safer and healthier in their most dire moments. These directors build more resilient communities that are ready to face the future.
Students who want to become multifaceted leaders that emergency management efforts need should consider the
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Security Studies
from East Carolina University®. Classes in environmental risks, organized crime, warfare, and weapons use allow students in this flexible, online program to come away with the skills and knowledge they need to prepare for emergencies of all kinds.
Start your career in emergency management with ECU.
