Kyle Bustad, Manager for the Thurston County Emergency Management, shares his journey from admin to local emergency management director. He discusses the challenges of leadership without authority, the importance of long-term employees, and the roles and priorities in emergency management.
Ensuring public preparedness for disasters is a key challenge for local emergency management directors, requiring coordination across agencies and addressing specific vulnerabilities in the community.
The future of emergency management will involve data-driven decision-making, advanced modeling and simulation tools, and a focus on climate change adaptation and resilience, with collaboration and community involvement remaining crucial.
Deep dives
Responsibilities and Evolution of Emergency Management
Emergency management involves a dynamic role in helping others and making a positive impact on the community. It requires critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate politics. Over the years, emergency management has evolved, incorporating technological advancements, improved collaboration between agencies, and a growing recognition of community involvement and social equity. Addressing vulnerabilities, engaging diverse populations, and incorporating climate change into planning efforts are key priorities of the profession.
Challenges and Priorities of Local Emergency Management
As a local emergency management director, one of the key challenges is ensuring public preparedness for disasters. This includes promoting personal preparedness, having emergency kits, and evacuation plans, as well as coordinating response efforts across multiple agencies and organizations. Coordinating with diverse populations and addressing specific vulnerabilities in the community are also important priorities. Additionally, balancing the demands of attending numerous meetings with carrying out day-to-day work and maintaining mental well-being are ongoing challenges for the role.
The Role of Data, Collaboration, and Remote Operations in Emergency Management
The future of emergency management is likely to involve more data-driven decision-making, advanced modeling and simulation tools, and a focus on climate change adaptation and resilience. Collaboration and involving communities in planning and response efforts will continue to be crucial. The increasing capability of remote and virtual operations, although debated, offers flexibility for coordination and response, even if physical presence is limited. Embracing these trends while recognizing the value of physical presence and immediate decision-making challenges the profession to adapt and find effective solutions.
Many an emergency manager aspires to become a local emergency management director for a city or county. One such individual who has only recently become a local director is Kyle Bustad, Manager for the Thurston County Emergency Management.In this podcast we discuss his approach to taking over the reins of an agency and what he sees as the challenges and hopes for moving forward as a local director. Kyle is well spoken, and I know you will enjoy hearing what he has to share.
Merit is a first-of-its-kind, all-hazards, digital credentialing platform that equips emergency responders with innovative tools to securely manage their personnel on-site, no matter the situation. Merit's platform is relied on in mission-critical situations such as the Surfside building collapse and at secure Health and Human Service facilities and is trusted by a growing network of thousands of partners.
Eric Holdeman is a professional emergency manager who is passionate about providing information that can help families, businesses & governments become better prepared for disasters of all types. Hear first hand expert insights from Eric on his Podcast, Blog & EricHoldeman.com.
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