Broward County Emergency Management Division – Internship Packet
Internship Packet Instructions
Please read over the contents of the entire internship packet carefully to familiarize yourself with
our organization, goals, mission, and ensure you meet the necessary qualifications for an
internship at our site.
To qualify for an internship program slot, please apply by sending a cover letter, your resume, a
writing sample, and this Internship Package to Richard Allen, Internship Program Coordinator,
(RAllen@broward.org) via email. Include “Internship Application” in the subject of your email.
If you prefer, you can also mail or drop-off the documents at our office. Feel free to contact him
should you have any questions or need clarification on any aspect of the program or packet.
Mail, Fax, or email a copy of your resume and other documents to:
Broward County Emergency Management Division
201 NW 84th Avenue
Plantation, FL 33324
Attn: Richard Allen
RAllen@broward.org
954-382-5805 Fax
Contact your academic advisor, school counselor, or professors in your academic school to
obtain course credit, if needed.
Please contact Richard Allen at (954) 831-3909, or by e-mail at RAllen@broward.org if you
have any questions concerning an internship with the Broward County.
Introduction
The Broward County Emergency Management Division’s Internship Program offers a
highly competitive opportunity for college level students and recent graduates to gain hands-on
experience in such fields as emergency management, public administration, emergency planning,
emergency operations, communications, and community preparedness in Florida’s second most
populous County. Since its inception, highly qualified students and professionals have
participated in Broward’s Emergency Management Internship Program and have successfully
obtained positions in emergency management and homeland security offices throughout the
Country.
Interns will garner in-depth information in emergency management’s five mission areas:
prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. In addition to highly substantive and
meaningful projects, interns gain in-depth knowledge of the field by completing formal training
courses, participating in exercises, providing support to real-world incident and event
management, and networking with emergency managers across the Region, State, and Nation.
The internship experience should be one that strengthens an area(s) where the intern is
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lacking in real-world experience and knowledge. Students who intern with the Emergency
Management Division (BEMD) will be able to use the experience to build resumes, gain
valuable experience in homeland security and emergency management principles, and gain entry
into the emergency management / public administration field.
The Broward Emergency Management Division is seeking individuals from multiple
disciplines and diverse areas of interest such as the following to name a few:
Communications
Emergency Management
Journalism
Political Science
Community Preparedness
English/Spanish/etc.
Law Enforcement
Public Administration
Computer Science
Fire Rescue
Multi-Media
Social Media
Criminal Justice
Homeland Security
Planning
Sociology
In order for students to gain enough experience in the emergency management field to
benefit him/her in the workplace, interns are required to work for a minimum of 12 weeks (3
months), though several interns have remained active in the Internship Program for over a year.
An intern’s weekly work schedule averages 20 hours a week with each schedule designed to fit
the intern’s educational workload and schedule and that of the assigned BEMD Supervisor(s).
The type of work performed will depend on the student’s requirements, individual
interests, and the needs of the BEMD at the time of the internship. The following projects will
be offered / assigned to the intern to help the student gain a better understanding of emergency
management and public administration:
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Attend training and education programs provided by the emergency management
community within Region 7 (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe);
Design, develop, and/or conduct exercises in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
for multiple agencies and jurisdictions;
Assist BEMD staff in coordinating activities related to Emergency Management
Accreditation Program (EMAP) and/or 5-Star programs for Broward County;
Assist emergency management personnel in responding to emergencies and disasters
throughout the County;
Research of potential programs for the office in one or more of emergency management’s
five mission areas: prevention, protection, response, recovery, and/or mitigation;
Assist emergency management personnel in the development of special event activities to
build “Community Outreach and Awareness” in the County;
Assist emergency management personnel in the development of public awareness
materials and programs;
Create after action reports (AAR) for exercises using Homeland Security Exercise and
Evaluation Program (HSEEP);
Participate in and provide input on regional and county response plans and committees;
Participate in all forms of exercises throughout the county and region to build knowledge
in emergency management;
Work with mitigation specialists to develop project list for vulnerable properties and
assist with updating the county’s Enhanced Local Mitigation Strategy;
Work with BEMD’s Continuity of Operations (COOP) specialist to review, evaluate, and
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test County and municipal COOP plans;
Assist BEMD with building and strengthening public-private partnerships and assist in
whole community planning;
The completion of FEMA’s Professional Development Series (PDS) courses, pursue
completion of the Advanced Professional Series (APS), as well as, the completion of the
ICS-300/ICS-400 courses.
Broward County Emergency Management Division will move the student around as
much as possible within the organization to give the student as many experiences as is possible.
In addition to participation in highly substantive and meaningful projects and time set aside to
take related emergency management courses, the interns gain in-depth knowledge of the field by
networking with emergency managers across the Region, State, and in some cases the nation.
Mission
To safeguard lives and property through effective emergency management by coordination of
public and private resources, development of response plans, implementation of emergency
operations, and preparation through training and education.
Vision
Building a disaster resilient community.
Internship Program Guidelines
Goal
Broward County understands that working with an intern is both a privilege and a
responsibility. Interns can strengthen the emergency management office by providing additional
resources, current educational thinking, and enthusiasm.
Broward County can use assistance and support at a time when the population is growing.
We understand that interns bring a fresh knowledge and point-of-view to the emergency
management / homeland security field. An intern brings a new perspective, and the vibrancy of a
person learning a new field. An intern brings needed diversity. Interns are accustomed to
learning, writing, researching, and producing work on a schedule.
BEMD’s goal is to have the student learn as much about the business of emergency
management as possible. Therefore a supervisor will take some time to visit with the student
regularly, develop of a project list, and provide instruction. This direct conversation and project
management will allow the student to move from the book learning to real-life experiences.
Emergency management staff will move the student around as much as possible within the
organization to give the student as many experiences as possible. BEMD staff will observe the
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student's performance and note any areas where improvement is needed.
Qualifications
 A current or recent college level student.
 Be in good academic standing with an accredited institution.
Dress Code
Broward County's objective in establishing a business casual dress code is to allow our
employees to work comfortably in the workplace. The public does not know the difference
between an intern, volunteer and a paid staff member. Business casual dress is the standard for
this dress code.
Dress with your duties in mind; dress neatly and professionally. Remember that you are
as much a representative of BEMD as the paid staff. Please wear your identification badge at all
times.
When attending meetings with outside organizations students are expected to dress
appropriately. Due to the nature of emergency management and in particular the long hours
during activation many times employees will need to dress accordingly. Discuss with your
supervisor the appropriate dress code. If you have further questions you should address them
with the Internship Coordinator.
Work Schedule
Broward County recognizes the need to be service-oriented in providing established
administrative services to a diverse group of customers. Therefore, it sets the standard business
hours for its administrative offices as Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
including an hour in the middle of the day for lunch. All doors lock down for the night promptly
between 5:00pm and 8:00am. Offices remain open and staffed during standard business hours.
In order for students to gain enough experience in the emergency management field to
benefit him/her in the workplace, interns are required to work for a minimum of 12 weeks (3
months), though interns can remain active in the Internship Program for over a year. An intern’s
weekly work schedule averages 20 hours a week (schedule designed to fit the intern’s
educational workload and schedule and that of BEMD’s need.)
Requirements for Completing Internship
Interns deserve a true introduction to emergency management that gives them experience
in a number of areas related to their interests and potential degree. BEMD will coordinate a
written developmental plan for the intern's experience. Similar to a job description, the plan lays
out a developmental path with specific outcomes.
This gives the interns a good picture of what their experience will encompass in
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emergency management. The written plan also provides a guide path. The written plan lays out
the responsibilities of the employer to provide developmental opportunities for the interns
including meetings to attend, projects to work on, time spent with various staff members, and job
tasks to learn.
At the completion of the internship BEMD suggests all interns take advantage of the following:
 Produce and/or participate in at least one exercise (tabletop, functional, or full
scale) experience.
 Complete at least one FEMA or State level emergency management course.
 Attendance in at least one State or Federal emergency management meeting with
other professional emergency management/homeland security practitioners.
 Complete at least one project involving a planning activity.
 Complete at least one project or involvement in one of the 5 phases of emergency
management projects.
 Use opportunities to complete FEMA’s Professional Development Series (PDS).
 Utilize networking opportunities with other emergency managers.
Scope of Work
Intern’s Responsibilities
 Provide college/university advisor contact information to Intern Supervisor.
 Register and pay the appropriate fees as required by the appropriate
college/university.
 Attend and complete any training programs.
 Adhere to the policies and duties outlined by Broward County.
 Submit periodic reports as required by university and BEMD.
 Affiliate with a professional organization in the student's area of interest or
specialization, Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) and/or
International Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).
 Perform work assignments to the best of ability.
 Assist/create with exercise design and development.
 Help provide public information and outreach.
 Assist staff in the day-to-day operations.
 Answer inquiries by phone and through written communications.
 Prepare documents and reports.
 Assist with research assignments and special projects.
 Attend meetings or community events.
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Agency Responsibilities
 Provide interns with an atmosphere in which they will develop their professional and
personal growth.
 Facilitate the transition from classroom to the professional world.
 Set up an initial conference with the intern to determine their specific needs and adapt
the training program to meet those needs.
 Assist intern with developing internship goals and objectives.
 Confer with the intern at least once a week to arrange schedules, discuss work
performance and to correct any problems that may arise.
 Inform the intern of all personnel policies and procedures.
 Assist the intern in meeting their specific university requirements if the internship is
used for college credit.
 Evaluate the intern’s performance and submit the results on the forms provided to the
university’s internship coordinator.
 Select a specific boss or mentor who is committed to the intern's learning.
 Provide intern with educational/training opportunities.
 Provide a wonderful opportunity to develop that first, and possibly career-long
relationship, with an individual who cares about and is committed to their success.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this a paid or unpaid internship?
Currently all internships are unpaid.
2. How long is the term of the internship program?
The term is a minimum of 3 months on a flexible schedule. It works to accomplish the
requirement for your internship hours as well as to provide support to the office on an
established weekly basis.
3. What is an average day like for an intern?
Some days are busier than others. On one day you may have multiple tasks assigned
such as a meeting in the morning; an ongoing project you are working on all day; a
project deadline meeting in the afternoon; phone calls to forward or respond to; and a
research project to conduct. On other days you may have a very slow day. Not as many
phone calls coming in, no meetings and possibly just one project to do research or work
on. However, slow does not mean not important or relevant to the agency’s overall work.
Every task however small that is done is important in one way or another to the overall
performance of the agency. Every day you will learn something new and gain experience
and networking contacts that will help you in the organization. The office performs in a
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team environment every day. There is always someone to help you out, answer questions
you may not know the answers to, and encourage you along the way.
4. Will this internship lead to a potential job?
Finding a job is ultimately up to you. With that being said, this internship can help open
doors either through: gaining valuable contact information for potential employers or by
helping you gain experience you might not get during your college years.
5. What would be my responsibilities?
Responsibilities could range from reviewing plans to creating policies and procedures or
even designing and conducting exercises.
6. What kind of projects might be asked of me?
There are a number of projects that are ongoing such as: spreadsheet updates, plans,
response activities, correspondence with internal and external people and organizations,
as well as other projects which can include training, exercises, and attending events to
represent EMD.
Why do an Internship?
EMPLOYMENT: Students completing internships stand out when job hunting as they will have
some experience.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LEARNING: Internships are important and valuable for you get
to design your own learning curriculum and get away from campus‐based ones. The student
decides what he/she will learn, how to learn it, and how to evaluate it.
THEORY INTO PRACTICE: An internship experience can add meaning to academic study by
giving you the chance to apply theories learned in the classroom to "real world" situations.
AWARENESS THROUGH INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: The student
will develop an awareness of others' needs and a great understanding of his/her role and potential
contributions to society.
PERSONAL GROWTH: The student will grow from the experience. Having to solve problems
in unfamiliar situations can increase a student's self confidence and self‐esteem.
HELPING HAND: It is nice to help one‐self but helping others benefits the community and
makes a difference.
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NEW ENVIRONMENT: An internship introduces the student to a new environment and the
challenges and problems of a work setting. The student will also learn the meaning of teamwork.
RESEARCH: It's an opportunity for experimentation and exploration of new and old, academic
and career interests.
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Broward County Emergency Management Division – Internship Packet
Acknowledgement of Responsibilities
Upon acceptance of participating in the Broward Emergency Management Division’s Internship
Program, all Interns are expected to follow the guidelines below:
 Adhering to County work hours and all County policies and procedures.
 Adhering to County policies governing the observation of confidentiality and the
handling of confidential information.
 Assuming personal and professional responsibilities for his/her actions and activities.
 Maintaining professional relationships with County employees, customers, and so forth.
 Relating and applying knowledge acquired in the academic setting to the County setting.
 Being consistent and punctual in the submission of all work assignments to your
supervision.
________________________________________
Print Name / Signature
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Broward County Emergency Management Division – Internship Packet
Internship Application
To consider your application complete make sure to include a cover letter, your resume, a writing
sample, and this Internship Packet. Please send the completed application to Richard Allen, Intern
Program Coordinator, RAllen@broward.org. Contact him via email or telephone (954-831-3909)
should you have questions or need clarification regarding the BEMD Internship Program.
Contact Information
Full Name:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone No.:
e-mail Address:
In case of emergency, notify:
Name:
Relationship:
Address:
Phone No.:
Educational Experience
Current or Most Recent School Name:
Major/Minor:
GPA:
Year:
Junior
Freshman
Senior
Other Colleges/Universities Attended (please include an unofficial or official transcript):
Major/Minor:
GPA:
Date Attended:
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Sophomore
Graduate
Broward County Emergency Management Division – Internship Packet
Degree or Number of Credits Earned:
Current GPA:
Work/Volunteer Experience
Most Recent Employer:
Phone No:
Supervisor Name & Title:
Position Title:
City, State:
Start Date:
End Date:
Description of Duties: (Use an additional sheet if necessary)
Most Recent Employer:
Phone No:
Supervisor Name & Title:
Position Title:
City, State:
Start Date:
End Date:
Description of Duties: (Use an additional sheet if necessary)
Other Relevant Information
Career Plans:
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Please indicate your availability.
Would you be earning college credit?
YES
NO
If yes, please provide school Contact Information:
School Name:
Contact Name:
Phone No.:
References
Reference #1:
Title:
Phone No:
Reference #2:
Title:
Phone No:
Reference #3:
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Title:
Phone No:
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