Job Description
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
FEMA works to strengthen our Nation’s resilience by preparing individuals, organizations, and communities for any disaster or emergency. Our team will conduct research to enhance understanding of effective preparedness actions and ways to motivate the public to take those actions; develop and share preparedness resources based upon research and celebrate community advances in preparedness; and coordinate comprehensive disaster preparedness initiatives that help communities to prepare for, protect against, and respond to disasters. FEMA achieves this mission through close coordination with the ten FEMA Regions; federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies; and nongovernmental partners from all community sectors.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:
To support FEMA Region V – specifically its National Preparedness Division as a Regional Preparedness Liaison (RPL). ICPD works to increase whole community preparedness and strengthen the resiliency of communities across the nation in the face of natural disasters. Through public outreach and stakeholder engagement, ICPD seeks to increase awareness of the risks associated with natural disasters and move individuals, communities and organizations to action in preparing them to face these risks. Working with community-based volunteer organizations, ICPD seeks to engage all sectors of a community in disaster preparedness. In FEMA Region V, data analysis is used to identify programming and communities where support is most needed. Programming revolves around youth preparedness (K-12 education); engagement with institutions of higher education; coordination with state, local, and tribal stakeholders; and preparedness training and facilitation for local community groups. The RPL will support the Region with the implementation of its preparedness goals and objectives to more effectively serve its stakeholders from all aspects of the community and all levels of government.
Specific duties include:
- Leverage data to target programming for populations most disproportionately impacted by disasters.
- Connect with K-12 schools and youth organizations to strengthen the Region’s programming and promotion around youth preparedness.
- Coordinate with state, local, and tribal emergency management organizations to strengthen and develop existing and partnerships with FEMA Region V.
- Increase training and outreach opportunities to build capacity in community-based organizations and private sector stakeholders – to empower and prepare these organizations to be more resilient during emergencies.
- Maintain the Region V Individual and Community Preparedness newsletter, publishing monthly articles on preparedness-related topics for a wide audience
- Work with other federal agency to make preparedness training more widely available, such as working with the Department of Health and Human Services to train Head Start facilities and other establishments affected by disasters.
- Assist State and local community organizations, such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), programs to build, sustain, and expand current community preparedness activities.
- Work with Whole Community partners, such as youth-serving organizations, Faith-Based institutions, Private Sector, Tribal Nations, Disability Advocacy organizations, etc. to promote preparedness activities and programs at the Regional, State, Local, and Tribal levels.
- Support national, state, and local campaigns such as National Preparedness Month, severe weather awareness weeks, etc.
- Work with State and local stakeholders to update preparedness messaging and vet new messaging guidance.
- Work with FEMA Regional counterparts such as FEMA External Affairs, Mitigation, and other internal partners to support messaging and outreach for preparedness and support for States in developing or enhancing their media plans.
- Support youth preparedness programs and provide technical assistance to organizations wanting to start a youth preparedness program.
- Support the FEMA Youth Preparedness Councils at the National and Regional levels, and the related activities and projects with representatives from the Council to involve more youth in emergency management.
- Develop, implement and maintain strategies to build effective partnerships with state, territorial, local and tribal individual and community preparedness programs; Citizen Corps; CERT and related programs throughout the Region.