Emergency Management Training for Housing Professionals

Course Overview

Emergency Management for Housing Professionals (EMHP) is a comprehensive training program designed to help housing professionals prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies that threaten safety, property operations, and business continuity. As emergencies become more frequent and severe, effective emergency management is no longer optional: it is a core operational responsibility for multifamily housing.

Course Description

This course provides housing professionals with the foundational knowledge and practical frameworks needed to manage emergencies at the property level, often before first responders arrive.

EMHP introduces an all-hazards approach to emergency management, emphasizing preparedness, coordination, communication, and operational resilience. Emergencies covered in this course include natural disasters, public health emergencies, infrastructure failures, human-caused threats, and more.

EMHP walks participants through the four phases of emergency management: 

1. Mitigation
2. Preparedness
3. Response
4. Recovery

Each phase reduces risk, minimizes damage, and speeds recovery. The course also addresses emergency action planning, command and control structures, communication strategies, evacuation and shelter procedures, coordination with external responders, and business continuity considerations.

This training is ideal for site managers, assistant managers, maintenance supervisors, regional managers, owners, asset managers, and compliance or risk professionals responsible for resident safety, property operations, and organizational preparedness.

What you’ll learn:

• Understanding the Emergency Risk Environment
  Recognize how changing environmental, operational, and social factors are increasing risk for multifamily housing and why preparedness is now a core operational discipline.

• Principles of Emergency Management
  Understand emergency management as an organized process and apply the four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, to housing-specific scenarios using an all-hazards approach.

• Property Management Risk Assessment & Hazard Identification
  Identify and prioritize risks through hazard vulnerability assessments, including natural disasters, system failures, public health emergencies, and human-caused threats.

• Emergency Action Planning (EAP)
  Learn the essential components of an effective Emergency Action Plan, including defined roles, step-by-step response actions, communication protocols, and recovery planning.

• Command, Control & Staff Roles
  Understand command-and-control structures, including the Incident Command System (ICS), and clarify staff responsibilities during high-pressure emergency situations.

• Communication & Coordination
  Develop effective communication strategies for residents, staff, vendors, and external responders, including notification systems, emergency messaging, and coordination with local agencies.

• Evacuation, Shelter & Life Safety Planning
  Apply best practices for evacuation planning, shelter-in-place procedures, and the protection of vulnerable resident populations during emergencies.

• Business Continuity & Recovery
  Explore strategies to minimize operational disruption, protect property value, reduce liability exposure, and support a rapid return to normal operations.

There is no certification exam at the conclusion of the course. Participants who successfully complete the training will earn the Emergency Management for Housing Professionals (EMHP) designation.

Why NCHM?

One Stop For Training and Certification

NCHM provides registration, instruction, and designation recognition in one place, simplifying training for individuals and organizations while ensuring consistent, high-quality education.

This streamlined approach allows housing professionals to gain practical knowledge efficiently and apply it immediately at their properties, without unnecessary delays or complexity.

Instruction Built for Real-World Housing Operations

EMHP is delivered through live online instruction by experienced NCHM instructors using multimedia presentations and real-world examples drawn from multifamily housing operations.

The course focuses on practical application rather than theory, helping participants translate emergency management concepts into actionable procedures for their communities.

NCHM delivers industry-leading training grounded in decades of affordable housing expertise. Our programs are designed to build confidence, competence, and operational readiness across housing organizations.

Participants with active NCHM designations also have access to NCHM’s eHotline, which provides support and guidance when questions arise on the job.

Only Organization Created by the US Government to Provide Affordable Housing Training

As the sole organization initially established by the U.S. government specifically for affordable housing training, NCHM brings unmatched credibility, institutional knowledge, and authority to every course we offer.

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