First State EM ~ Monthly Digest

Hello, again. Welcome to the June edition of First State Emergency Management + Jobs, where we’ll dive into the latest happenings in the emergency management space as they relate to Delaware, locally relevant jobs, training, and student opportunities, as well as other miscellaneous tidbits.

The big emergency management news nationally this month is the release of the FEMA Review Council’s Final Report and NOAA calling for a below-normal hurricane season (Fingers crossed). Locally, here in the Diamond State, besides the start of hurricane and air quality alerting season, we have the advancement of Senate Bill 310, which would establish the much-needed “Delaware Disaster Recovery Fund.” Kudos to DSHA and DEMA for their persistent efforts here. Otherwise, as always, thank you to those who’ve subscribed, and feel free to reach out with any story ideas, suggestions, or questions! Enjoy.

Jobs and things:

• Hybrid CERT Basic Training. This free, flexible version is a FEMA-approved alternative 2-part delivery method teaching all elements of the standard Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training course by blending self-paced online lessons (around 12 hours) with essential in-person, hands-on practical skills sessions (about 16 hours). Made available by the University of Utah and the National CERT Association and your local CERT Sponsor. This self-paced online course covers CERT foundational knowledge through multimedia learning experience; videos, virtual reality simulations, audio voice over, interactive knowledge checks, live IT, and more.

• Emergency Preparedness Fellow, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Emergency Preparedness Fellowship Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a 1-year program (with a vested option for extension) designed to give a current student in a recognized Master’s program or recent graduate the opportunity for career and professional development in a health care setting. The Emergency Preparedness Fellowship prepares the candidate for career and leadership opportunities in the fields of emergency management, public health preparedness, healthcare emergency preparedness, and other related employment avenues through direct participation in activities created to build and strengthen essential planning, mitigation, response, and recovery skills. The Emergency Preparedness Fellow will follow a quarterly program that is designed to guide and demonstrate competencies of specific tasks through each quarterly section. Fellows will be prepared to submit for their AEM/CEM certifications by the end of the Fellowship.

• Executive Director, American Red Cross (Delmarva). The Chapter Executive Director (ED) serves as the primary community-facing leader and facilitator for the American Red Cross at the chapter level. As a facilitative meta-leader, the ED, in partnership with functional supervisors, convenes, aligns, and empowers cross-functional teams and external partners to deliver core services, deploy secondary services where needed most, and strengthen community resilience. The ED represents the organization publicly, leads collaborative chapter planning with and alongside the community, and stewards strategic relationships to achieve regional program, revenue, volunteer recruitment and engagement, blood collection, and community engagement goals.

• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Specialist, Fireside. The EOC Specialist (Flight Monitoring Specialist) will guide and support aviation clients experiencing critical events and emergencies and coordinate Fireside Partners’ emergency response activities. While not responding to emergencies, the EOC Specialist’s primary role will be monitoring a large fleet of aircraft and marine vessels for emergencies and service disruptions and also researching and analyzing briefings, news reports, social media platforms, and other data sources for potential impacts on clients’ operations. Finally, the EOC Specialist will assist clients with general requests and service inquiries and support Fireside Partners’ Air-SOS, HELP Team, Effects Management Center, and Production personnel.

• Hazardous Materials Program Manager, Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management. The HazMat Program Manager is a full-time position within the Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management (MDO-OEM). This position is responsible for improving the City of Philadelphia’s preparedness for hazardous materials-related events through coordination across industry, government, and the public. The HazMat Program Manager leads the City’s Tier II compliance program, facilitates the Philadelphia Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), coordinates hazardous materials planning and response activities, and serves as a subject-matter expert with OEM and external stakeholders.

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Credit: Delaware Emergency Management Agency

Hurricane preparedness week promotes pre-season preparation

by Delaware Emergency Management Agency on May 15, 2026

“In anticipation of the upcoming hurricane season, June 1st to November 30th, 2026, Governor Matt Meyer has proclaimed May 18th to May 22nd Hurricane Preparedness Week. In support of this, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), along with state, county and local agencies are urging citizens to help communities mitigate against threats posed by hurricanes and other tropical storms.

As the lowest-lying state in the country, hurricane conditions are particularly dangerous. These disasters can produce storm surge, flooding, gale-force winds, beach erosion, and mass power outages that not only impact coastal regions throughout the state but also can create high-risk areas for public safety, businesses, and homes in other areas throughout Delaware.”

DNREC releases new wetland program plan, focus on restoration and education

by Torie Seagraves on May 18, 2026

“DNREC has released a new five-year Delaware Wetland Program Plan aimed at guiding wetland research, conservation, education and management efforts statewide through 2030. The 2026-2030 Delaware Wetland Program Plan, developed by DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program within the Division of Watershed Stewardship, outlines strategies to increase wetland acreage and improve wetland conditions across Delaware. According to DNREC, nearly half of the state’s wetlands are in Sussex County.”

Behind the scenes: UD’s EOC supports inauguration celebration

by Josh Kelly on April 28, 2026

“On April 17, as the UD [University of Delaware] community celebrated the inauguration of President Laura Carlson, a network of campus partners worked behind the scenes to support a safe, seamless and memorable event. At the center of this effort was UD’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which was activated to provide coordinated situational awareness and real-time support throughout the celebration.”

Delaware Responder christening set for June 9 in Lewes

by Madeleine Overturf on May 11, 2026

“The Delaware Bay and River Cooperative announced a christening ceremony for the Delaware Responder, a fast response oil spill response vessel built by Rozema Boat Works of Mount Vernon, Washington. The ceremony is scheduled for noon Tuesday, June 9, at the University of Delaware Adrian S. Hooper Marine Operations Building, 700 Pilottown Road in Lewes.”

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First State Emergency Management

Joshua.L.Kelly@wilmu.edu

Wilmington, DE

First State EM ~ Monthly Digest

Hello, again. Welcome to the May edition of First State Emergency Management + Jobs, where we’ll dive into the latest happenings in the emergency management space as they relate to Delaware, locally relevant jobs/trainings/student opportunities, and other miscellaneous tidbits.

In addition to big news in the hazard mitigation, Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), and FEMA Independent Study realms, this month, we have a business continuity heavy edition here, with some fun updates regarding coastal Delaware. Otherwise, thank you to those who subscribed last month and, as always, feel free to reach out with any story ideas, suggestions, or questions!

Jobs and things:

• The Natural Hazards Center’s Disasters as Turning Points webinar series explores events that have altered the trajectory of the hazards and disaster field through conversations with the people who studied or responded to them. To learn more about this series and to receive alerts about future sessions, please subscribe to webinar updates through the Natural Hazards Center.

• Corporate Manager of Business Continuity Management Services, Penn Medicine. The Corporate Manager of BCM will define and apply the company's unified business continuity management objectives by working closely with the program leadership team, partner organizations, technical staff, and business units. Leveraging strong technical, communication, and leadership skills, the candidate will bridge business continuity, emergency management, and disaster recovery into a cohesive whole.

• Operational Resilience Data Analyst, City National Bank. Lead centralized function for the development and implementation of a bank-wide Business Continuity (BC)/Operational Resilience program, reporting cadence, and continual improvement cycle.

• Manager of the Office of Emergency Management, Rowan University. Under the supervision of the Director of the Office of Emergency Management, the Manager of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of comprehensive emergency management plans and programs at the university.

• Business Continuity Planning Specialist, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW). Business Continuity Planning Specialist assists more senior-level peers in day-to-day responsibilities for policies, standards, and business continuity plans that affect every business unit and employee.

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Credit: Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Climate and Health and students of ENSC/ENVR 450 Proseminar in the Environment course at the University of Delaware.

DE Heat Awareness Week, May 18 - 22

by DE Heat Awareness Week on May 18, 2026

“The DE Heat Awareness Week started with a group of University of Delaware students in the capstone class, ENSC/ENVR 450 Proseminar in the Environment, working on a community-engaged project with partner Shweta Arya, Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Climate and Health, and their instructor, Dr. Vaishnavi Tripuraneni, in Fall 2025.”

$600K secured for Indian River sand bypass system

by Madeleine Overturf on April 3, 2026

“Congresswoman Sarah McBride announced $600,000 in Community Project Funding to support continued operation of the Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass System at Delaware Seashore State Park, a key tool in combating coastal erosion and protecting infrastructure. The system moves sand from the south side of the inlet to the north, helping maintain beaches, support navigation, and strengthen storm resilience along the coast, including along Coastal Highway and the Charles W. Cullen Bridge.”

Hundreds participate in state’s annual dune grass planting

by Chris Flood on March 27, 2026

“Hundreds of volunteers planted thousands of beach grass plugs into dunes as part of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s annual dune grass planting. The event took place March 21 at five bay and ocean beaches across the state – Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, north side of the Indian River Inlet in Delaware Seashore State Park, Broadkill Beach and Bowers Beach.”

Flood categories changing for the Brandywine Creek

by Ray Kruzdlo on April 14, 2026

“On or about Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the National Weather Service (NWS) will introduce new flood categories for the Brandywine Creek at Wilmington, Delaware (NWS – WMND1, USGS # 01481500). Along with the flood categories, impacts listed on the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) will also be updated.”

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First State Emergency Management

Joshua.L.Kelly@wilmu.edu

Wilmington, DE

First State EM ~ Monthly Digest

Hello. Welcome to the April edition of First State Emergency Management + Jobs where we’ll dive into the latest happenings in the emergency management space as they relate to Delaware, locally relevant jobs/trainings/student opportunities, and other miscellaneous tidbits. This will be a monthly digest moving forward, so please subscribe and feel free to reach out with any story ideas, recommendations, or questions.

Jobs and things:

• The 2026 IAEM Scholarship Program is accepting applications until Friday, May 31. It is open to full-time undergraduate students and full and part-time graduate students pursuing degrees in emergency management, disaster management, or closely related fields.

• New SKYWARN classes announced for April 7, April 11, and May 4. SKYWARN, founded in the early 1970’s, is made up of a group of trained, dedicated amateur weather enthusiasts who work in conjunction with the National Weather Service by observing and reporting adverse weather conditions to promote public safety and minimize property damage. It is through training that the NWS teaches interested volunteers to be safe, effective, and accurate weather spotters who provide them with the needed ground truths.

• The DNREC Coastal Training Program is offering a series of brief, informative webinars focused on resilience and restoration issues in Delaware. March’s webinar focused on Floodplain Management in Your Town.

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Credit: Delaware Emergency Management Agency

Emergency Sirens Test on Tuesday, April 7

by Delaware Emergency Management Agency on March 25, 2026

“The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the Delaware State Police, and Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG), will conduct a quarterly test of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations Alert and Notification system on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:20 p.m.”

Delaware’s Climate Action Plan urges planning for ‘retreat’ from areas most vulnerable to flooding

by John Hurdle on January 23, 2026

“Delaware recently released its updated Climate Action Plan, building on the first version of the plan unveiled five years ago. Among the issues the plan revisits is sea level rise – its impact in Delaware and how the state can respond. One possible response added to this version of Climate Action Plan is a recommendation to start planning to retreat from areas most vulnerable to chronic flooding from sea-level rise and the bigger storms coming with climate change.”

Assessing Delaware’s changing climate

by Adam Thomas on February 13, 2026

“To help understand how climate change might impact Delaware in the future, the University of Delaware’s Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (CEMA) completed a comprehensive assessment of different climate change scenarios for Delaware in the Climate Change Projections for 2025 report.”

Lewes eyes police, resiliency cuts

by Bill Shull on February 13, 2026

“The team recommended reducing the amount allocated to the city’s resiliency fund from $1.1 million in FY26 to $174,500 in FY27. Transfer tax would fund 5%, down from 10% in 2025. The rest would come from the Chesapeake Utilities fund. No money would come from the general fund, under the proposal.

Mayor Amy Marasco championed the creation of a resiliency fund to better position the city to recover from a natural disaster. She said, while it looks like a dramatic step back, the budget team was attempting to give council more flexibility.”

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First State Emergency Management

Wilmington, DE