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10/04/2024 10:38 am

Firefighters inspect a home destroyed by a tornado.

Emergency Management Expert’s Job: Preparing for the Worst

Service in the Spotlight

Updated: Oct 4, 2024

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Examining Emergency Management from a Global Lens Importance of Collaboration
Satwana Hurdle standing in a fire station bay.

Satwana Hurdle, Assistant Director of Emergency Management

Satwana Hurdle’s job is not very visible – until it’s highly visible. As the City of Raleigh’s new assistant director of emergency management, Hurdle promotes a safer community with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters. The emergency management veteran, who is part of the Raleigh Fire Department, is using risk management principles, hazard identification techniques, and risk analysis to create and foster a robust emergency management and disaster response program for the City. 

Hurdle, who joined the City in early June, has worked with public and private sector partners within various levels of government to develop and implement comprehensive emergency preparedness plans and programs. She has 15 years of experience in the field and has held emergency management and continuity of operations positions at FEMA, the U.S. Department of Defense and Wake County, for instance. 

At the City, she leads Raleigh Fire’s new Emergency Management Division. The emergency management function used to be part of the City’s Office of Emergency Management and Special Events, but it was moved to the fire department mainly due to Fire Chief Herbert Griffin’s unique knowledge and the increasing demands around special events and nightlife management activities.  

“Emergency management is beyond important; it’s essential in keeping our community safe and minimizing the damage caused by natural and man-made disasters,” Griffin said. “The primary element in emergency management is prevention. This means putting into place plans and procedures to help respond quickly and effectively to any emergency.”

Examining Emergency Management from a Global Lens

Analyzing disasters and emergencies from a multifaceted approach is crucial, as these events often have extensive impacts beyond local, state, and federal jurisdictions. Having a better understanding of how these events impact regions can assist emergency managers in developing effective strategies to mitigate their effects and prevent them from reoccurring. Identifying common patterns and trends for disasters and emergencies is essential for protecting and ensuring the safety and well-being of the community while improving overall preparedness efforts.

Importance of Collaboration

The most challenging aspect about emergency management is information sharing to ensure everyone works together efficiently. In an emergency, representatives from government agencies, nonprofits, private companies, and the public need to work together, and they must share information quickly and accurately using a variety of channels.

“While working as the disaster preparedness program manager for Wake County, I developed and fostered relationships with local and state partners focused on communication, collaboration, and information sharing,” Hurdle said. “Having partnerships with critical internal and external stakeholders and understanding their operational missions is an excellent asset for the City's Emergency Management Program.”

Hurdle is currently analyzing Raleigh’s emergency plans and procedures and identifying any gaps and needs to ensure the City will have the most effective plans that minimize damage and disruptions during an emergency and also address recovery efforts.

“Some of the aspects I enjoy the most about emergency management are serving the community, identifying gaps and deficiencies with current processes and procedures, and identifying solutions for areas of improvement within an organization,” she said. “From an emergency management perspective, it’s gratifying to see people from different organizations, backgrounds, and skillsets come together to accomplish one common goal: to prioritize the safety and security of the community from a proactive standpoint versus a reactive one."

Contact

 

fireprevention@raleighnc.gov
919-996-6115

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