The International Association for Disaster Preparedness and Response (DERA) is a private organization that promotes excellence within the area of disaster preparedness. This career field is emerging as one of particular interest to many, especially as the whole world is experiencing the effects of climate change. The activities associated with disaster preparedness and response are often collectively known as emergency management. While the emergency management best practices and standards are still evolving, the four main activities associated with the practice are preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. In short, professional associations like DERA help the world’s citizens to adequately plan and take action during disasters, as well as learn lessons from previous incidents. Here are some specific benefits that DERA offers practicing emergency managers, governments and local citizens.
Resource Sharing
The saying that knowledge is power is clearly applicable to the emergency management field, and the easy availability of information associated disaster preparedness is one of the main benefits of DERA. Unlike some professional organizations that limit access to many of its industry publications, the non-profit DERA has made its online library open to the general public as well as its official members. The international perspective of the organization and its information resources allow a wider audience to benefit from its general publications, newsletters and journal articles. The available information resources include varied topics like how to measure the effects of a nuclear disaster and the appropriate decontamination responses to perform after a biological emergency. Besides helping emergency management personnel to draft disaster response plans, policies and procedures for government agencies and private corporations, the repository of emergency management information found on the DERA website can assist local communities and families create their own customized emergency response and recovery plans.
Professional Networking
The emergency management career field is a growing one, and its ranks are filled with knowledgeable people who work behind the scenes to make sure that federal, state and local governments, as well as industry partners, are able to support citizens in need when disasters strike. Their work could go largely unnoticed within the community if it were not for professional networking opportunities like those offered by DERA. One of the organization’s goals is to bring together the sector’s leaders so that they can share information, experiences, accomplishments and employment opportunities with the community of emergency management professionals.
Training Opportunities
Many emergency managers have at least undergraduate degrees in disciplines that relate to disaster preparedness and response. However, most of these people are not satisfied with resting on their laurels. They want to continue to learn as much about their career field as possible and make themselves more valuable within the job market. DERA offers members specialized workshops, conferences and courses that can help a motivated emergency manager to keep their knowledge fresh and maintain their competitive edge in the employment market. It is for these reasons that many disaster preparedness personnel earn their certified emergency manager (CEM) credentials. Continuing professional education and leadership activities like the ones offered by DERA are needed to maintain the CEM designation.
Conclusion
DERA has been supporting first responders and disaster preparedness professionals with informational resources since 1962. Today’s DERA also seeks to bring its emergency management members together to actively participate in live disaster response activities all over the world. These emergency managers get to put theoretical responses into action in places that are very much in need of the support that the International Association for Disaster Preparedness and Response can offer.