I am a student at a community college in Oregon. In order to keep more doors open in the future, I don't want to get a straight emergency management bachelors. I have considered public policy, political science, economics, and geography with GIS as some options. I am leaning towards economics, but I don't know if it would be useful. I plan to get a MPA after doing a year of Femacorps. What majors would be best?

I’m in the next stage to become a FEMA reservist.

The salary they offer is $23.50 a hour, if I got deployed will it be that pay plus per diem?

Since the position is two years long and it’s for “on call” if I went on a vacation and an emergency happens would I need to cancel my vacation?

Do you feel like this is a good position to enter the federal government?

Hey all,

I've been feeling some anxiety about finishing up a fire science and emergency management bachelor's degree in a year or so. Previous job experiences involve lifeguarding, atheltic coaching, working as an EMT, and currently, a paramedic. I don't have any experience in emergency management, but really on scene medical emergencies. I am just looking around to see what fields I could possibly find entry level work in. From reading the sub, it looks like the field is actually hard to get in. I don't feel too sure now and almost lost. Any hope or recommendations?

The imagery showing the destruction from the flooding in Valencia is so sad. It happened so fast. In a rapidly climate changing world I’m sure that every country has their own version of FEMA. Does anyone know what Spain’s is? Or is it operated under the European Union . TIA.

Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with requesting unavailability?

I recently started as a reservist and my unavailability requests keep being denied.

I am leaving more than 120 days open out of the year still and have only been approved 1 month of unavailability.

It seems way more strict than I thought. I was glad about this unavailability thing because I also have a full time job and thought it’s a good way to be fair to my employer.

In my role working with data on hospital overcrowding, I see the impact of capacity issues on patient care and resource allocation, especially when it reaches crisis levels. But numbers only tell part of the story – I’d love to understand more about the preparedness and emergency response side.

For those in emergency management, what protocols or strategies are used to handle extreme overcrowding in hospitals? Are there proactive measures that make a noticeable difference, like adjusting bed allocations or reassigning staff? And how does your team adapt when the demand far exceeds available resources?

I’m especially interested in hearing about emergency management’s role in both planning for and reacting to these high-pressure situations, and any tools or methods that make a difference in maintaining care quality under strain.

Back in early September of this year, I received a TJO from FEMA that I accepted. I filled out my paperwork sent to me from the HR Specialist that was needed for my Security Background Check. It's been almost 8 weeks and then HR person still has not gotten anything back from Security yet to finish my offer. In my correspondence with the HR person it was stated that there has been cases delayed across the board for security checks. Is anyone else experiencing this or could provide some insight? I know the two hurricanes in the Southeast has made some deployments necessary but should it cause this much delay in personal incoming? Thank you.

I’ve been slated for FEMA Reservist and immediate deployment after first week of December orientation. Any advice on what to wear to orientation and packing for deployment (I won’t know where to until Orientation). How many bags are acceptable. Do airlines give military order bag overages?

Great opportunity for someone early to mid career interested in school safety.

https://www.jobapscloud.com/DE/sup/bulpreview.asp?b=&R1=102824&R2=MFEA04&R3=450100

Hi all- I’m interested In working for FEMA but would like to be in a role that I would be responding to disasters. Is there any specific job in FEMA I should be looking for that will allow me to travel and help during disasters? Thanks in advance for any advice :-)

Anyone else employed as a Creative Specialist local hire? What’s it like?

How do you share information within your jurisdiction between EM and public safety partners? And how did you get the public safety agencies to participate?

Offer rescinded for FEMA && sooo discouraged I had background come back for some past due bills. (Not federal...my student loans are current) i sent my response back & was honest. Showed that I have payment plans in place & that my ex husband was responsible for 2 that he wasn't paying & 1 filed in may to go back to court for them. Wellll Update: they actually rescinded the offer. I'm sooo disappointed i have been applying for a months & months. I finally get a chance and now its gone. I'm actually surprised they did. I have been on payment plans & doing what I can. It is honestly tough out here as a single mom to make it on my income Especially in the past 2 yrs of everything going up. I get no help & don't have family to lean on...not that I expect that. It has been just an uphill battle since my divorce 4 yrs ago. Along w/ covid & I had some health problems thrown into the mix of those years. And doesn't help that my ex husband has refused to pay the joint bills he was responsible for. I want to email back and thank them for consideration but also ask what the determining factor was. Any advice on that?

I am currently an Android owner. However, considering that Apple iOS 18 has brought Satellite Texting to the newest iPhones, it seems to me that an Apple iPhone 15 or 16, that uses USB-C for charging, with service on both AT&T/FirstNet and Verizon would be a great choice.

Adding a battery case to extend battery life might be a great choice, too.

Does anybody on here have any experience with Apple iPhone Satellite Messaging? If so, how well does it work?

I just accepted a position with FEMA that has 75% deployment written in. I'm aware this is a fairly dumb thing to focus on, but I'm fairly excited about the prospect of wearing agency-identifying shirts/jackets. Does anyone know we get those and/or what we actually get?

Edit: this is for an EHP CORE position, not Reservist

My son brought this to my attention. It looks expensive, but it might be fun.

https://preorder.eocboardgame.com/reservation?event_id=1730130557&data1=jimdianes%2Cfrontiernet%2Cnet&data2=&utm_campaign=120212328901070721&utm_term=120212328900980721&utm_content=120212328900910721&utm_source=fb

Hi, im onboarding in a couple of weeks in texas and was wondering if anyone is in the planning cadre that could give me an overview of what it looks like at onboarding and first deployment? TYIA

I really want to get into this line of work. But everything I see that is hiring you have to be either a damn scientist, fbi agent or in a management position. Lol okay maybe a bit dramatic... but basically is there a starting point in this line of work that isn't Volunteer work and doesn't require a degree?

Apologies for yet another FEMA post…

I submitted a FEMA Reservist application a few months ago and recently received TJOs for both Planning Specialist (Planning Cadre) and Public Assistance Program Delivery Manager (PA Cadre) positions. 

My background is in local public health emergency management, including steady-state planning and with the Planning Section during response, predominantly Sit Unit. I really enjoy planning! My end goal isn’t necessarily a full time position with FEMA but I’m also not opposed to it. Currently, I’m hoping to broaden my horizons outside of ESF 8 and better understand the Federal side of emergency response/ recovery. Longer term I’m interested in moving into disaster risk reduction.

While the Planning Cadre work and deployment lengths appeal to me more, the PDMG base pay is ~$10/hr higher. My initial intention was to join the Planning Cadre but I’m trying to decide whether the extra money is worth the change in lifestyle and focus. Any input on the questions below, advice, or wisdom are appreciated. 

• Does Reservist grade and salary have any impact on ability to negotiate higher starting salary/ step for federal jobs in the future?
• As a Planning Specialist, how readily could I expect to move out of trainee status and open additional task books, provided I’m deployed and do good work? Does the cadre support reservists in position-specific training? Basically, is there an opportunity to gain responsibility (and higher salary) as a reservist or should I anticipate my role (and pay) would remain roughly the same for the first term?
• I’m apprehensive of the relationship strain from potentially very long PDMG deployments. On a long deployment, is it possible for a location independent or retired partner to join you for a while?
• Folks who have been PDMGs - how have you transferred your experience as a PDMG to future job opportunities, particularly outside of FEMA and the PA grant world?
• Given the current need and expedited hiring, should I anticipate being sent to orientation and deployed before/over the holidays?

I feel dumb asking this question however, I was wondering if you HAVE to accept the EOD date your hiring manager gives you? I was told that I would onboard and then deploy out immediately. I understand that there are so many people in need and I want to help, and I’m super excited to work for FEMA, however a personal family thing just popped up and I’m not sure if I can commit to deploying out immediately after onboarding. Does anyone know if you can ask the hiring manager to onboard on a different day?

I have been a reservist for a few years but now make less money as a reservist even when including per diem than I do at my full-time position... Is there a mechanism out there that would match my current pay at my full-time job? Obviously I have been looking at other positions but wasn't sure if anything existed so I thought I would ask.

If you are employed with The Department of Energy and you become a FEMA reservist are you covered to return to employment with DOE under the Crew Act after deploying?

Hello! I’m about to graduate from FEMA Corps and had some questions about different cadres when deploying as a reservist.

I have applied to become a DSA Data Analytics Specialist (DANS) and an Interagency Recovery Coordination Specialist. Both of my interviews went well and am now wondering which position would be best.

I am looking to deploy ASAP and for as long as possible. This is where my dilemma is, for the IRC specialist I would expect they would be deployed longer (upwards of 50 weeks), but I am curious if anyone knew how long it would take to receive an initial deployment after onboarding, I’ve heard it can take months and am nervous I will be sitting at home doing nothing lol. On the flip side, for the DANS I feel like I would be deployed fairly fast (heard they are desperate) but I imagine it would only last as long as DSA was out.

My questions are: -Does anyone have a rough estimate for getting an initial IRC deployment? -Do DANS deploy year round or is it mainly in hurricane season? -And what does an Interagency Recovery Coordination Specialist actually do? I know the general description but I’m still actually confused on what a day-to-day would look like lol

Thank you everyone for taking the time to answer!! I’m excited to hopefully work with FEMA!

Are there jobs within EM that are writing specific. As in writing policys, procedures, or grants? Or do most EM agency's hire outside sources to write these documents?

I am a one man emergency management department in a very rural county. I have a 2018 Ford F150 with a crew cab. It already has decals, a light bar, radio, inverter, laptop holder, and a FirstNet MegaFi hotspot. There is also a toolbox in the bed, but it's not in great shape.

I'd like to better equip my vehicle. What are some things you have in your EM vehicles?

I have a degree in communications, post graduate diploma in conflict resolution, I'm thinking of getting my 911 emergency communications certificate, and then pursuing Emergency Management at Conestoga College

Is this a good way to get into the Emergency Management field? I'm in my mid 30s - thanks!

There is a IT specialist local hire opportunity in my area, and as a college student trying to get as much experience as possible it looks very intriguing. Is it possible to work this job while having classes? I currently work at my school’s IT department as well, would that have to be put on hold?

Had my onboarding on September for PA as reservist, ended the week hearing that this was the best months to get into FEMA as it was going to be a busy hurricane season. I'm still sitting on my home, no training, no deployment- just random alerts on the DTS with messages of encouragement for all the people deployed - I don't see any scheduled trainings ongoing - and joining FEMA took my chance away of keep working with a contractor agency for disasters that has called me 3 times already to deploy for IA.

My supervisor told me to keep checking the DTS for training announcements...Thinking of giving back the badge and deploy with the contract agency before my ex-coworkers dry up the opportunity to make money...any advice?

I have communication with some people that i met during training that were asigned to other Cadres and they have been offered deployment although they have marked themselves unavailable.