Blizzards, fires and flooding – oh my! Young women ages 16-22 can learn to manage and lead through disasters at a free emergency management camp this July.

Pellissippi State Community College is one of four institutions nationwide that was chosen to host the HERricane Program in 2023. The HERricane Program is offered by the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM) to develop and elevate women as leaders in emergency management while raising awareness of the emergency management profession and its many interdisciplinary fields.

“Women make up 50% of public sector jobs, but only 20% of the leadership positions,” according to materials provided by I-DIEM. ” The HERricane Program gives young women the skills they need to close this gap and become leaders in whatever careers they choose.”

Careers in emergency management go beyond law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs. Emergency management encompasses a variety of positions including, but not limited to:

  • Emergency Management Planner/Manager
  • Crime Reduction Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Safety Specialist
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Crisis Response Counselor
  • Disaster Recovery Manager

“Saving lives from disasters can be achieved through any career field: urban planning, policy, communication and media, meteorology, public health, CPR training, disaster preparedness, firefighting, assessing storm damage, disease prevention and more,” said Pellissippi State Assistant Professor Donna Trogdon, program coordinator for Criminal Justice, who applied to host the HERricane Program at the college. “This is about female empowerment.”

Pellissippi State will host the HERricane Program 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. July 24-28 on its Magnolia Avenue Campus, 1610 E. Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, with site visits to places like Knoxville’s Public Safety Complex/Emergency Operations Center and guest speakers from various agencies.

Breakfast, lunch, T-shirts and transportation to and from site visits will be provided for all participants.

There is no cost for the program, but space is limited to 24 participants. Young women ages 16-22 should apply at www.pstcc.edu/herricane-camp/ by June 30.

Lesli Bales-Sherrod does marketing and writing for Pellissippi State Community College.