17 Emergency Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Emergency managers are responsible for creating and implementing emergency plans for businesses, communities, and government agencies. They also work to ensure that everyone involved in a crisis knows their role and is able to execute it.

If you’re looking for a job as an emergency manager, you’ll need to be prepared to answer a range of questions during your interview. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of common emergency manager interview questions and answers. We’ll also help you understand what employers are looking for in a candidate, so you can showcase your skills and experience in the best possible light.

Are you comfortable working with a team of people to coordinate emergency response efforts?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you interact with others. Your answer should include a specific example of a time when you worked well with a team to coordinate an emergency response effort.

Example: “In my current role as the emergency manager for a small town, I work closely with several other departments within the city government to ensure we’re all on the same page during emergencies. For instance, last year there was a severe storm that knocked out power in most of the city. My department coordinated efforts with the police department, fire department, public works department and other relevant agencies to make sure everyone had what they needed to respond to the situation.”

What are some of the natural disasters or other emergencies that you would prepare your community for?

This question can help the interviewer determine how much experience you have with emergency management and whether your previous community was prepared for emergencies. Use examples from your past to show that you know what to prepare for and how to handle it when an emergency occurs.

Example: “In my last position, I helped create a plan of action for natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. We also had plans in place for other types of emergencies, such as fires and chemical spills. In my current role, I am working on developing similar plans for our community.”

How would you manage the recovery process after a disaster has struck?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your management style and how you would apply it in the workplace. Use examples from previous experiences to highlight your leadership skills, ability to delegate tasks and overall organizational abilities.

Example: “In my last role as an emergency manager, I had to manage the recovery process after a hurricane hit our area. My first step was to meet with local officials to discuss what resources we needed most. After that, I worked with my team to develop a plan for distributing supplies to those who needed them most. We also implemented evacuation procedures so people could get out of harm’s way quickly.”

What is your process for identifying and prioritizing emergency needs?

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach your work and the steps you take to complete it. Use examples from past experiences to describe your process for identifying emergency needs, assessing their severity and determining which ones are most important to address first.

Example: “I use a risk assessment method when I’m working with an organization to identify potential risks that could lead to emergencies. Then, I assess each risk based on its likelihood of occurring and its impact if it does occur. From there, I prioritize my response to ensure I am addressing the most urgent issues first. This helps me make sure we’re using our resources effectively and efficiently.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to make a difficult decision during an emergency.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your decision-making skills and how you handle pressure. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you had to make a tough call and the results of that choice.

Example: “In my last position as an emergency manager, I was responsible for managing all aspects of a flood event. During the flooding, we were able to evacuate residents from their homes before the water rose too high. However, there were some areas where we couldn’t get to everyone in time. In those cases, we sent out boats to help people escape the rising waters. While we did everything we could to keep people safe, unfortunately, two people died during the flood.”

If you had the opportunity to learn a new skill that would help you better serve your community, would you take advantage of that opportunity?

Employers ask this question to see if you are open to learning new skills and expanding your knowledge. This can help them determine whether or not you would be willing to take on additional responsibilities in the future. When answering, try to think of a skill that you have always wanted to learn but haven’t had the opportunity yet.

Example: “I am always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and improve my abilities as an emergency manager. If I were given the chance to learn a new skill, I would definitely take advantage of it. In fact, I’ve always been interested in learning how to use GIS software to better analyze data and make informed decisions.”

What would you do if you noticed that multiple agencies were working independently to prepare for the same emergency?

This question can help interviewers assess your ability to collaborate with other agencies and departments. Use examples from past experiences where you helped multiple groups work together to achieve a common goal or objective.

Example: “In my current role, I noticed that two different city departments were preparing for the same emergency situation without knowing about each other’s plans. I met with both department heads to discuss their respective plans and how they could work together to save time and money on resources. The two departments decided to combine forces and create a comprehensive plan that would cover all of the necessary details in case of an emergency.”

How well do you work under pressure?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work under pressure and still complete tasks in a timely manner. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you had to work under pressure and how you managed the situation successfully.

Example: “I have worked under pressure many times throughout my career as an emergency manager. In one instance, I was working on a project that needed to be completed within two weeks. The night before the deadline, I realized there were some errors with the data I collected. I stayed up all night to fix the issue and submit the report by the deadline.”

Do you have experience working with emergency management software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with emergency management software. If you have worked with this type of software in the past, share what you liked about it and how it helped you complete your job duties. If you haven’t used this software before, you can talk about your interest in learning more about it.

Example: “I’ve never had to use emergency management software before, but I am very interested in learning more about it. In my current role as an emergency manager, I rely on a lot of different software programs to help me do my job effectively. For example, I use a program that helps me create evacuation routes for citizens who need them. This program also allows me to communicate with other emergency managers across the state.”

When is it appropriate to evacuate a location?

Evacuation is a common response to emergency situations, and the interviewer may want to know how you make this decision. Use your answer to highlight your critical thinking skills and ability to assess a situation quickly.

Example: “I would evacuate a location when I believe there’s an imminent threat to people or property. For example, if a hurricane was approaching with high winds and heavy rain, I would likely recommend evacuation because of the risk of flooding and power outages. In my last role, we had a wildfire that threatened homes in our area. We evacuated residents within a five-mile radius until firefighters could contain the blaze.”

We want to improve our disaster preparedness. What steps would you take to improve our emergency management procedures?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to make improvements. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list the steps you would take to improve preparedness in your current position or a previous one.

Example: “I would start by assessing our current emergency management procedures. I would then create a plan for how we could improve them. For example, when I was working as an emergency manager at my last job, we had a lot of trouble with communication during disasters. To solve this issue, I created a system where all employees were required to check in every hour via radio. This helped us keep track of who was on site and if anyone needed help.”

Describe your process for updating the public about an emergency and its aftermath.

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you communicate with the public and media. Your answer should include your preferred methods of communication, such as social media or press conferences, and how you ensure that all members of the community receive important information about an emergency.

Example: “I prefer to use multiple forms of communication when updating the public about an emergency. I hold a press conference within 24 hours of the event to provide details on what happened, who is responding and what residents can do to stay safe. I also post updates on our department’s website and social media accounts so people can access the information from their phones. Finally, I make myself available for interviews with local news stations and print publications.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention any skills you have that are relevant to the position.

Example: “I am an experienced emergency manager with over 10 years of experience in my field. I’ve worked for several different organizations throughout my career, which has given me valuable insight into what works well in various situations. In addition to my extensive experience, I am highly organized and detail-oriented. These skills help me manage projects effectively and ensure they stay on schedule.”

Which natural disasters or other emergencies do you think our community is most vulnerable to?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your knowledge about their community and how you might approach working there. Use examples from your experience to highlight your critical thinking skills, research abilities and problem-solving capabilities.

Example: “I think this community is most vulnerable to hurricanes because it’s on the coast. I also think that tornadoes are more likely here than in other places because of the way the land is shaped. In my last position as emergency manager, we worked with local meteorologists to create an early warning system for tornadoes so people could have time to take shelter before they were in danger.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of emergency management?

This question can help interviewers understand your priorities and how you would approach the role. Your answer should show that you have a strong understanding of what emergency management entails, including its responsibilities and challenges.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of emergency management is communication. It’s essential to keep everyone involved in an emergency situation informed about what’s happening so they know what to expect. This includes keeping residents updated on any changes or developments, as well as informing first responders and other relevant parties about the current situation. I also believe it’s important to be transparent with the public, which helps build trust and confidence.”

How often should communities conduct emergency drills?

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your experience with emergency drills and how often you recommend them. Your answer should include the reasoning behind your recommendation, such as a specific incident that prompted you to conduct more drills or an increase in natural disasters in the area.

Example: “I believe communities should conduct emergency drills at least once per year. In my last position, I noticed we were conducting our drills less frequently than other nearby communities. After speaking with local officials, I learned they had recently hired a new emergency manager who was increasing the frequency of their drills. I decided to follow suit and increased the frequency of our drills from every two years to once per year.”

There is a growing trend of people not following emergency evacuation procedures. How would you address this issue?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to motivate others. Your answer should include a specific example of how you would address this issue, as well as the steps you would take to ensure people follow evacuation procedures during emergencies.

Example: “I have seen this trend in my previous emergency management roles. In one instance, I was managing a hurricane evacuation when there were many residents who refused to leave their homes. I addressed this problem by going door-to-door with other members of my team to speak with these individuals. We explained that we understand they may feel safe at home but emphasized the importance of following evacuation procedures for everyone’s safety. After speaking with them, most agreed to evacuate.”