Qualifications
Landing a nice emergency planning gig requires a one-two punch of education plus experience—lots of experience. Although a college degree is not a strict requirement for breaking into the field in the lower levels, it is a requirement for better jobs. Look for a college that offers a degree in emergency management, homeland security, or emergency preparedness. Other helpful alternatives include communications, public safety, and urban planning.
Here's the big Catch-22: How do you get experience when no one will hire you without experience? Volunteering for a group like the Red Cross, or a Community Emergency Response Team program is a good place to start. You might also get an entry-level job, such as a call dispatcher. Please refrain from creating a natural disaster so you can see what happens and put that on your résumé, though. It's amoral and you'll probably get arrested.
When a legitimate opportunity comes along, look for positions that will give you some experience in the following areas, most or all of which organizations are looking for right off the bat.
Developing emergency operations plans. This is pretty much the backbone of your job. To do this well, you'll need to be familiar with government regulations and have a firm grasp of the principles of emergency management.
Training and instruction. Part of your job will be going around to schools, hospitals, and such to train staff on how to respond to certain situations. You'll tell them not to go running around and screaming and that they should leave that to the professionals.
Communication, outreach. You'll be somewhat of a liaison between your agency and the outside world—the public at large, the media, volunteer agencies, fire and police departments, and your mother. Count on it. The minute anything happens within 200 miles, you'll get a call from her (and everyone else).
Deciphering Emergency codes. Emergency management is one of those jargon- and acronym-filled fields that you will need to bone up on. You'll be looking for EOC experience, VOAD operations, HSEEP, knowledge of ICS, and of course, EIEIO (an agriculture-related offshoot of the field).
Certifications are available and required to work at the director level, as well as for specialty areas like engineering firms, utility, gas, and oil companies, and nuclear plants. When your company deals in stuff that likes to explode or burn at the slightest provocation, you'll be glad to have that extra training.