Emergency management is a growing field that has its roots in military and other municipal disaster preparedness organizations, and one way that an emergency management practitioner can stay current in their profession is by reading through the information found in emergency management publications. While there are numerous emergency management related educational programs offered through universities, many emergency management professionals decide to enhance their career options by earning certifications like the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) programs that are administered through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). The IAEM requires that CEMs and AEMs complete formal continuing education courses and make industry contributions to maintain their certifications, but they also highly encourage these professionals to refresh their knowledge through the publications found on their Resources webpage and other outside publications. Here are some examples of beneficial publications for emergency management professionals.
IAEM Bulletin
The IAEM is the premier organization that works with government and industry to establish emergency management standards and best practices for emergency managers worldwide. The main way that they disseminate information about their organization, regulatory changes related to the profession and real world issues facing emergency management practitioners is through their monthly newsletter that is called the IAEM Bulletin. The Bulletin’s publishers accept articles written by IAEM members and other emergency management professionals to promote the exchange of industry information regarding challenges and solutions among the first response community. These published authors also earn credit for their industry contributions which are needed for CEM and AEM certification maintenance. The IAEM Bulletin is published monthly, and the current cost of subscription is $110 per year.
Emergency Management Magazine
The Emergency Management Magazine features the latest news from the global community of first responders to both natural and man-made disasters. The articles are delivered in digital formats, and they include trending topics like how social media platforms can be used in emergency management planning and response techniques, as well as ways to engage urban and rural communities in emergency management planning. The Emergency Management Magazine also contains helpful information about education and training for emergency management professionals and upcoming public safety events. Subscription to the Emergency Management Magazine is free.
Journal of Emergency Management
The Journal of Emergency Management is a publication that focuses on emergency response planning and recovery efforts for businesses. This publication is offered in print and online. Its online communication channel allows the organization to include educational podcasts and access to collaborative social networking tools. The peer reviewed emergency management publication is written and edited by leaders in the emergency management field, and it features the latest research on weather related disasters. Some other topics include emergency response for disabled persons, performance of interagency training by emergency management professionals and infrastructure protection during a crisis. The cost of subscription to the Journal of Emergency Management starts at $243 per year, and prices vary for individual and business subscribers.
Conclusion
Emergency management is mainly about preventing man-made disaster events and reducing the losses that result from natural disasters. Besides the resources that are listed above, there are numerous digital and traditional publications that are available to emergency managers to enable them to provide the help to individuals, organizations and communities when needs arise. A comprehensive list of national and international emergency management publications that focus on various elements of emergency management or on specific emergency risk events can be found at the Natural Hazards Center electronic library that is administered by the University of Colorado at Boulder.