Adventures in Emergency Management

[sanantone]

Sorry to butt into the conversation, but I saw that Life Long Learning has the Level 1 - Professional Continuity Practitioner designation. I saw an emergency management job ad a few months ago that asked for the COOP certification. That's just the Continuity of Operations series that are available at two levels. It looks like Level 1 can be done completely online.

I don't know if the Louisiana State Guard is still active. I can't find anything about it on their state military department website. If they are still active, that's a way to get the Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) training. It's also a way to gain emergency management experience part-time. You said you had a bad experience with the American Red Cross. Have you looked into joining the Civil Air Patrol? I would recommend a state defense force over them, but they are an option if the Louisiana State Guard isn't active.

[Life Long Learning]

I have EM Certificates and Professional Certifications. I have all four levels below. My take is this:

#1 - EM Degree (but any degree flavor with a CEM is still better) for newbies. Experienced disaster folks (cops/fire/EMS/military) with BS degree can drop to #2 and #3 and never need #1.

#2 - EM Professional Certifications (listed after your name), CEM (#1); the CEM-ME/ORCEMS/ALEM (State CEM's), MEMS, etc. are other second tier, but useful ones in your State and as talking points.

#3 - Homeland Security Professional Certifications, CHS-V, CHPP, etc.

#4 - EM Certificates, too many to list and of less value that the above. The 99% of the College EM Certificates are a waste of $$$ and time (do a EM degree). The FEMA Certificates are fun and more useful and free.


*****I just applied for one College Emergency Management Certificate (totally FREE) and after I obtain it I will write about it.
*****I just applied for one State CEM Emergency Management Certification that is very inexpensive and achievable.
*****I might apply for a second State CEM Emergency Management Certification.


I was just back in Maryland taking a course at the National Emergency Management Academy (free if you volunteer for CERT, VOAD, Red Cross, etc.).
Two instructors and two students were studying to take not the CEM, but the PMP. I also want to be called a Pimp.milelol:

I didn't end up pursuing a certificate, though I would still really love to. If I had my pick today I would go with Frederick Community College. It's established and known in the EM world, It's pretty cheap, and there was just the one Gen Ed class to take, though that may have changed now.

I'm not even at that job anymore, so right now I'm focusing on my hotel management role, so it's kind of on the backburner. I may have gone through with it sooner if I had a better experience with the American Red Cross. I think it may have just been bad timing.

I see you have quite a few certs yourself. Did you have any words of wisdom to add for me?

[Life Long Learning]

He should look into the Louisiana Emergency Management Program (LEM program). It starts with just a HS diploma. I asked, but they do not allow out-of-state types.banghead
https://lepa.org/documents/new_lem_progr...0-2015.pdf

Louisiana Emergency Manager (LEM) certification
LEM Certification

Sorry to butt into the conversation, but I saw that Life Long Learning has the Level 1 - Professional Continuity Practitioner designation. I saw an emergency management job ad a few months ago that asked for the COOP certification. That's just the Continuity of Operations series that are available at two levels. It looks like Level 1 can be done completely online.

I don't know if the Louisiana State Guard is still active. I can't find anything about it on their state military department website. If they are still active, that's a way to get the Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) training. It's also a way to gain emergency management experience part-time. You said you had a bad experience with the American Red Cross. Have you looked into joining the Civil Air Patrol? I would recommend a state defense force over them, but they are an option if the Louisiana State Guard isn't active.

[Trog]

I didn't end up pursuing a certificate, though I would still really love to. If I had my pick today I would go with Frederick Community College. It's established and known in the EM world, It's pretty cheap, and there was just the one Gen Ed class to take, though that may have changed now.

I'm not even at that job anymore, so right now I'm focusing on my hotel management role, so it's kind of on the backburner. I may have gone through with it sooner if I had a better experience with the American Red Cross. I think it may have just been bad timing.

I see you have quite a few certs yourself. Did you have any words of wisdom to add for me?

I received my EM AA from Frederick and had a really great experience with their staff.

Would you mind sharing your Red Cross experience? (Even through PM if you'd prefer). I currently work for them, so I'd be interested to hear what may have happened.

[Life Long Learning]

What job do you do with Red Cross? Full-time?

I received my EM AA from Frederick and had a really great experience with their staff.

Would you mind sharing your Red Cross experience? (Even through PM if you'd prefer). I currently work for them, so I'd be interested to hear what may have happened.

[Trog]

What job do you do with Red Cross? Full-time?

Full-time. I'm a Disaster Program Specialist for a chapter in Florida (4 county territory).

[Life Long Learning]

I meet a few Red Cross long-time (Volunteer) types at the National Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Maryland last month and they were great. They said the turn over in F/T is high in their State (not Florida). They just like being skilled volunteers as they can pick and choose what disasters to do.

Full-time. I'm a Disaster Program Specialist for a chapter in Florida (4 county territory).

[Trog]

I meet a few Red Cross long-time (Volunteer) types at the National Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in Maryland last month and they were great. They said the turn over in F/T is high in their State (not Florida). They just like being skilled volunteers as they can pick and choose what disasters to do.

The F/T turnover rate is also high where I am as well, and I think it's true nation-wide. I think most Non-profits struggle with maintaining resources and overworking/underpaying employees. The Red Cross didn't have a national structure until about 5 years ago either which made things pretty difficult.

I think overall the organization is greatly improving and headed into a much better direction. There definitely seem to be some road bumps though (I've only been with them a little over a year), and most likely there will be some growing pains still to come.

[High_Order1]

*****I just applied for one College Emergency Management Certificate (totally FREE) and after I obtain it I will write about it.
*****I just applied for one State CEM Emergency Management Certification that is very inexpensive and achievable.
*****I might apply for a second State CEM Emergency Management Certification.

Please do this, when you're ready.
I for one would be very interested in it. Not really feeling the college stuff, but I continue to enjoy my work-related training a great deal.

[Life Long Learning]

You work in an emergency management field?

Please do this, when you're ready.
I for one would be very interested in it. Not really feeling the college stuff, but I continue to enjoy my work-related training a great deal.