Tech and Talent Strategies for the Future of Emergency Response

Disaster readiness (proactive) and emergency response (reactive) are evolving rapidly, trying to keep up with the pace of natural disasters. Both federal agencies and state, local, and educational (SLED) entities face mounting pressure to modernize emergency operations, deploy new technologies, and close critical talent gaps—all while managing tight budgets and risking risks.

According to research by Atlas of Accountability, 99.5% of U.S. congressional districts experienced at least one federally declared major disaster due to extreme weather between 2011 and 2024.

Recent Congressional Research Service analysis shows that disasters are becoming more frequent, severe, and expensive. The average number of federally declared major disasters has increased from an average of 25 per fiscal year in the first decade of FEMA’s existence (FY1979-1988) to an average of 63 in the most recent 10 fiscal years (FY2015-2024). That’s an increase of 150%.

The same report found a recent increase in the number of declarations with Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) obligations over $1 billion, driving an overall increase in DRF obligations. Since 2020, annual DRF obligations have consistently exceeded nearly $40 billion, a level never reached before FY2020.

These data points highlight the need for a more consultative approach to emergency response. Agencies must integrate tech-enabled solutions with custom teams, skilled talent, and strategic partnerships. This post explores how to do just that—building resilience through collaboration.

---

RELATED: Hiring a Debris Monitor: Job Description, Salary, & More

---

Why Tech-Enabled Disaster Relief Still Needs Human Talent

Technology is transforming disaster relief, but even the most advanced tools are only as effective as the people who operate them. Human expertise, judgment, and adaptability remain irreplaceable in high-stakes emergencies.

4 Examples of Emergency Response Technologies

Let’s look at some of the most impactful technologies shaping emergency response today:

• Mass Alert Systems: Automated notifications keep communities informed and safe during hurricanes, wildfires, and other crises. These systems rely on skilled operators to ensure messages reach the right people at the right time.
• Mobile Command Centers: Portable hubs equipped with satellite communications, data analytics, and real-time mapping enable rapid coordination. Success depends on trained teams who can interpret data and make split-second decisions.
• Telehealth Kiosks: In disaster zones, telehealth kiosks connect patients with remote medical professionals, expanding access to care. Effective deployment requires IT specialists, clinicians, and support staff, all of whom need specialized emergency response training.
• AI in Emergency Response: Artificial intelligence helps predict natural disasters, improve real-time decision making, and automate routine tasks like reporting and documentation. AI augments—not replaces—the need for skilled analysts and responders, who can prepare and respond more effectively with the latest technology.

Tech-enabled disaster relief is the present and future of effective emergency response, but none of it can replace what people do.

The Growing Demand for Skilled Talent in the Public Sector

The demand for skilled talent in the public sector is surging, largely due to national—and even international—talent shortages in high-demand fields.

Research by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, Inc. (ISC2) estimates a cybersecurity workforce shortage of more than 542,000 in North America, and more than 4.7 million worldwide.

We’ve written before about the U.S. nursing shortage. There’s a simultaneous rise in demand for nurses and decline in supply, caused by a combination of factors including nurses retiring and not enough new nurses entering the field.

Those are just two specific skill sets that are desperately needed in emergency response. Recent disasters have exposed gaps across critical functions—from IT and logistics to healthcare and crisis communications. The public sector’s ability to recruit, train, and retain top talent is now a hidden emergency of its own.

---

---

Workforce Readiness: The Hidden Emergency

Workforce readiness is the silent crisis behind every natural disaster and public health crisis. We’ve observed this firsthand in recent years as we have partnered with federal and SLED entities on custom tech and talent services like:

• Building out a debris monitor team available for rapid response to natural disasters in two states
• Operating mobile command centers across one state after tornadoes struck
• Supporting multiple states, counties, and universities with COVID-19 vaccine administration

Public safety and education systems aren’t just underfunded—they’re understaffed. And the data backs up our on-the-ground observations.

The Public Sector’s Readiness is at Risk

A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that FEMA and other federal agencies have faced workforce challenges in the past year related to the concurrent nature of natural disasters, disaster workforce capacity, and training gaps.

Another 2025 report looked at state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management organizations. This study found that across all levels of government, lack of funding and insufficient staffing were the top two challenges faced by emergency management agencies.

Here’s what’s driving the staffing crisis in government entities:

• Unfilled Positions: Federal and SLED agencies struggle to fill essential roles, especially in IT, healthcare, and emergency management. Budget constraints, slow hiring cycles, and competition with the private sector compound the problem.
• Aging Workforce: The public sector risks losing institutional knowledge and continuity with retirements looming. In FY2023, 42.5 percent of federal employees were aged 50 or older. In addition, the 2025 State and Local Government Workforce Survey found that 46 percent of respondents anticipate a large wave of retirements in the next few years.
• Burnout and Turnover: High stress, limited resources, and lack of career development drive attrition, leaving agencies vulnerable when disaster strikes.

All that said, the public sector has opportunities to overcome these challenges.

4 Talent Strategies to Prepare for Emergency Response

Building a resilient emergency response workforce requires more than just filling open positions—it demands a strategic approach to talent acquisition, development, and deployment. Potential strategies include:

• Modernize Hiring: Streamline processes by removing unnecessary steps, like multiple rounds of interviews. Implement new technology like AI-enabled screening tools and digital onboarding.
• Upskilling and Professional Development: Invest in ongoing training, mentorship, and leadership programs to build (and retain) a resilient workforce. Continuous learning ensures that staff remain prepared for new threats and technologies, while mentorship and leadership development foster institutional knowledge and succession planning.
• Surge Staffing Partnerships: Partner with expert firms to rapidly deploy skilled teams for crisis response. These partnerships provide access to vetted professionals who can step in immediately, minimizing service disruptions and supporting compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Implement AI to Cover Gaps: Artificial intelligence can’t replace skilled talent, but it can improve productivity so a smaller workforce can get more done in less time.

Rapid Deployment When Disaster Hits

Even the best-prepared agencies need extra support when disaster strikes. Rapid deployment staffing ensures government entities can respond quickly, scale up operations, and maintain continuity under pressure.

When Preparedness Isn’t Enough

Sudden surges in demand for emergency services, healthcare, and logistics can quickly overwhelm available staff, and an unexpected scale and complexity of the response required can expose gaps in expertise. Outdated technology and increased administrative requirements add further strain, just as speed and accuracy become most critical. In these moments, agencies must maintain essential services and adapt to rapidly changing conditions—often with limited resources and under intense scrutiny. That’s why extra help is often indispensable during a disaster.

How Surge Support Supports Government Response

Surge support provides government entities with the flexibility and expertise needed to respond to crises. A professional services and staffing company like Insight Global can rapidly assemble and deploy dedicated teams of temporary or full-time workers, expertly tailored to the unique needs of the crisis. This model of government surge staffing ensures federal and SLED agencies can respond to urgent demands, maintain continuity, and serve their communities when it matters most.

Building Resilience for the Future

The future of emergency response is tech-enabled and people-powered. Federal and SLED agencies must invest in both cutting-edge technologies and the skilled talent needed to use those technologies.

Improve your emergency response strategy by connecting with Insight Global. We help government agencies prepare, respond, and recover with the talent, systems, and consultative support needed to protect communities. From crisis staffing to technical deployments, Insight Global delivers tailored solutions that scale with urgency. Let’s build resilience together.