First State Emergency Management + Jobs - July 2026
Emergency management news and updates from the First State.
First State EM ~ Monthly Digest
Hello, again. Welcome to the July 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.
It’s been an unusually busy month here in the remnants of New Sweden. With the big emergency management news being that the White House granted a major disaster declaration for the winter storm that impacted southern Delaware back on February 22. Where, along with FEMA’s Public Assistance program, Delaware was also granted SBA support through the disaster assistance loan program. Add in that SB 310 (Delaware Disaster Recovery Fund) is headed to the governor’s desk for signature, and we’ve had quite the month. Besides all the fun on the legislative and federal side, below, we have a few regional jobs and a good spread of articles for your enjoyment. Then, as always, thank you to those who’ve subscribed, and feel free to reach out with any story ideas, suggestions, or questions!
Jobs and things:
The Delaware DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, through the Shoreline and Waterway Management Section, has initiated a regulatory review of Delaware’s Regulation Governing Beach Protection and the Use of Beaches (7 DE Admin. Code 5102). DNREC is evaluating proposed updates that will strengthen the Coastal Construction Program, clarify regulatory language, and improve protection of Delaware’s beach and dune systems. For more information and to participate in the review, please visit DNREC’s Protecting Delaware’s Beaches: Regulatory Updates for Coastal Resilience page and the associated public survey.
Safety & Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The Safety and Emergency Preparedness Specialist supports a safe, compliant, and resilient environment across the King of Prussia (KOP) Campus, including the Middleman Family Pavilion and the KOP Specialty Care Center (SCC). This role plays an integral part in site-level execution of environmental health and safety (EHS), emergency preparedness (EP), and regulatory readiness programs to enhance environmental, staff, and patient safety, and promote continuous readiness. The Specialist is the KOP campus subject matter expert while partnering with enterprise leads, site leadership, and external stakeholders to advance preparedness, support incident response, and maintain regulatory readiness.
Business Continuity Incident Response Coordinator, WSFS Bank. The Incident Response Coordinator will be responsible for leading the coordinated resolution of all incidents to include but not limited to third-party service outages, facility, and technology issues. This position will partner with key stakeholders (HR, facilities, Physical Security, Network, Production Support, etc.). The incumbent will drive and deliver Business Continuity and Incident Management commitment, support, ownership, accountability, and results. In addition, the Business Continuity Incident Coordinator will also support in disaster recovery of the company’s critical business functions, where required.
Adjunct Faculty - Disaster Science, Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Rowan University. The Program in Disaster Science, Emergency Management & Homeland Security at Rowan University seeks applicants for a talent pool of candidates for adjunct instructors to fill adjunct teaching positions as they become available, with a minimum of one course with a maximum of two courses per semester. Typical undergraduate courses will include: Introduction to Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Research Methods, Borders and Ports of Entry, Homeland Security, Critical Infrastructure, Incident Command, and upper-division courses. Sample graduate courses include: All-Hazards Threat Response Management, Cybersecurity, Cyber Defense, Advanced Exercise Design, and Public Budgeting and Finance in Emergency Management.
Community Relations Coordinator, DEMA. Responsible for the creation, coordination, & release of information across multiple platforms with multiple partner agencies for daily and crisis communications. The incumbent creates engaging content that exemplifies DEMA brand standards and proactively creates interactive opportunities across messaging initiatives. Types of content include, but are not limited to, media memos, press releases, interviews, and social media posts. This position is also responsible for media and constituent relations.
THIS MONTH’S
TOP STORIES
Credit: Thomas Florio
What if hurricane damage could be predicted before they make landfall?
by Tom Byrne on May 29, 2026
“The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center predicts a below normal season with 8-14 named storms, of which 3-6 are hurricanes, including 1-3 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher). An average season has 14 named storms with seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.
But predicting and tracking hurricane activity is only one part of the equation. When storms hit, they can do major damage. With that in mind, research at the University of Delaware is trying to improve work to model what damage from a storm could look like.”
Emergency sirens test on July 7, 2026
by Delaware Emergency Management Agency on June 23, 2026
“There are 37 sirens in Delaware located within a 10-mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in New Jersey. The sirens cover an area north from Delaware City, west to Middletown, and south to Woodland Beach. This test is part of an ongoing program that continually monitors the integrity of the siren system. Sirens will be activated for three to five minutes, followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local radio stations. Sirens tested are the same ones used to alert the public in the event of an actual emergency at either the Salem or Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.”
Nontidal wetlands bill unanimously passes Senate
by Cape Gazette on June 14, 2026
“The Senate unanimously passed a bill known as the Wetlands Stewardship Act June 10, aiming to protect nontidal wetlands. The bill had received similar bipartisan support when it advanced through committee in May, seeking to protect nontidal and tidal wetlands that are not fully covered by federal regulations. If passed, the legislation would allow the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to hire 12 full-time employees to manage a protection program, with $765,419 coming from the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.”
Sussex HOA, resident settle lawsuit over flooding and speech
by Maddy Lauria on May 21, 2026
“A Sussex County condominium board has settled a lawsuit against a former resident who had publicly sought out ways to protect her low-lying community from floods.
The dispute, which highlighted the growing tensions in Delaware’s coastal communities grappling with sea-level rise, began after Simone Reba created a website and spoke at public meetings about what she said were the flood risks facing her Mallard Lakes community.”
First State Emergency Management
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