August is National Emergency Management Awareness Month — a new IAEM initiative spotlighting the people who keep communities running before, during, and after the worst days. Todd T. DeVoe, CEM, and Spencer Hawkins make the case for why emergency managers need to stop being the best-kept secret in public safety. He unpacks what NEMAM is, why IAEM launched it, how it differs from September’s National Preparedness Month, and — most importantly — what practitioners can actually do this August to raise the profile of the profession, from telling your own story to advocating for the resources your program needs. If you’ve ever been asked, “so what do you actually do?”, this one’s for you.

SHOW NOTES

Recorded live — Friday, July 17, 2026, 0900 PT Host: Todd T. DeVoe, CEM

In this episode:

* What National Emergency Management Awareness Month (NEMAM) is, and why IAEM created it

* Why “behind the scenes” has become a liability for the profession — and how visibility drives funding, staffing, and authority

* The IAEM toolkit: social media templates, outreach materials, and advocacy resources available to members

* Apply this August — three concrete moves:

* Tell one story publicly about the work your program did that no one saw

* Brief an elected official or executive on what your office actually delivers

* Bring one colleague or newcomer into the conversation about the future of EM

Resources mentioned:

* IAEM – National Emergency Management Awareness Month: https://www.iaem.org/Events/National-Emergency-Management-Awareness-Month

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit iaem.substack.com