The Future of Emergency Management after 2020: the New, Novel, and Nasty

by Robert McCreight, Curry Mayer

Overview

2020 was a year unlike any other in U.S. history. Emergency managers were confronted with a rapidly evolving deadly virus coupled with widespread economic devastation. On top of increasingly destructive hurricanes and other extreme weather as well as ongoing drought and wildfires, there was societal upheaval. All of these crises created a witch's brew of challenges for public safety and emergency management in the middle of 2020 that continues today.

For emergency managers in 2020, better strategies were needed to overcome these major crises and disasters that triggered instability and upended normal life. Mega-disasters and cascading catastrophes now must be imagined and managed for effectively.

The Future of Emergency Management After 2020: The New, Novel, and Nasty looks at this new normal and at the issues that alter the scope, complexity, and priorities of emergency management. It references the last ten years, where the tragedy of 9/11 redefined priorities in the field. Drawing on the authors' extensive experience while canvassing the opinions of other emergency management professionals, this thought-provoking book offers new strategies for the crises we're now seeing—and the novel crises we might see in the future.

Faculty, students, and practitioners of emergency management will find this book extremely pertinent and valuable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798892050845
Publisher:	Bernan Press
Publication date:	05/15/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	198

About the Author

Dr. Robert McCreight has advised federal and state government on spectrum risk issues such as WMD threats, EMD scenarios, crisis management, and strategic analysis over a 47-year career. The author of four books and numerous journal articles on homeland security, national defense, and emergency management, he also served as an adjunct professor at Penn State, George Mason, George Washington, and Virginia Tech, where he taught graduate courses in crisis and emergency management, homeland security, defense policy, and assessing WMD threats. He is the author of An Introduction To Emergency Exercise Design and Evaluation (Bernan Press, 2016).

Curry Mayer is currently the Director of Emergency Management for Seattle, Washington. She is an emergency management and homeland security expert with over 25 years of experience in California and Washington, DC. She has developed programs for all levels of government. Mayer is a board member for the WA 211 network and co-chairs the Advisory Board for the Center for Excellence in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Editorial Reviews

"In the first minutes of opening this book, I found myself reaching for the notepad and highlighter because this book provides the seasoned emergency manager and the newbie the groundwork for where we are and where we need to be. Robert McCreight and Curry Mayer have respectfully called-out the elephant in the room regarding seasoned emergency managers, academics, and those fresh-out of school and why we need to quickly gel that effort for future success. There are parts of this book that every emergency manager needs to take to their elected officials, governors, and chief executive officers to understand that failure to resource is or will be the main ingredient for an even nastier response or recovery in the near future. This book is exceptional, thought provoking, and full of take-aways. It’s a mission-critical read for anyone working or considering a career in this arena. For the experienced emergency manager this book is a wake-up call!”

Dan E. Summers, CEM, FPEM

Director, Collier County Bureau of Emergency Services and Emergency Management, Naples, Florida

Dan E. Summers

Crucial reading for anyone currently working in the all-hazard emergency management fields and future practitioners. It is authoritative and sobering. Readable, compelling, and timely.”

—Linda Crerar, Director, The Center of Excellence for Homeland Security-Emergency Management

Linda Crerar

This is a must-read for current and prospective emergency managers, researchers, and planners. It highlights the leadership traits, skills, and knowledge that will be instrumental in dealing with future disasters.”

—Dorothy E. Miller, Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Round Rock Fire Department/HSEM, Texas

Dorothy E. Miller