365 + Days
Many emergency operation centers are reaching or have reached over a year of activation. Let that sink in. When preparing for special events or critical events which can range from a day, a month, a few months, etc. we can sometimes see gaps in staffing or resources. Now let us look at over a full year.
Mental Health
Continuity of Operations
Fatigue
Simultaneous Disasters
These centers are critical decision-making environments that for over a full year have been working non-stop in order to protect the public.
Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.
I’m sure we all heard this countless times. However, it’s not equivalent to laying on the beach, a drink in your hand, staring out into the big blue ocean. It’s hard work. We can love our job but it’s not a vacation.
When I grew up I had a passion for baseball. My dream was to make it to the big leagues. A fantasy for many with a very small likelihood. When I was in high school I moved to Florida from New York because warmer weather and a sports academy in which I was able to train and play baseball…every single day. Now if you really want to know whether or not you are absolutely passionate about something. Do it everyday.
Now that doesn’t mean it’s not hard work. It’s extremely hard work. I could practice all day and there would be improvement but there’s only so much that can be done to improve skill, talent, etc. when it comes to sports. But I loved it. Eventually, after playing in college I found out I wasn’t so passionate anymore. I recognized that I reached my highest potential and that was not going to get me to my fantasy. I was running out of time. It brought frustration and self-doubt. I needed to find a new passion.
While I was following and pursuing baseball I found emergency management. Something that also required training and as many of you know is extremely hard work. If you didn’t realize it before you definitely realize it now. As we look at the past year and many of you have been working day in and day out there has to be frustration, self-doubt, fatigue. But it’s rewarding. Baseball was rewarding to me. Emergency management is rewarding to me. We can love it but it doesn’t mean that it’s not hard work. It also reminds me that if you don’t love something it’s never to late to pursue your next passion.
