An IT specialist cruises above a wildfire, mapping its course with the aid of infrared sensors.
Civil engineers monitor rising river waters and inspect levees for signs of failure.
A telecommunications team establishes a wireless outpost to help emergency responders coordinate the cleanup of a hurricane's devastation. Across the country, engineers and computer professionals are on the front lines of emergency preparedness and disaster response. Their work ranges from developing early warning systems and reducing the destructive impact of natural disasters to responding to terrorist attacks so insidious that they often are not discovered until the casualty count begins to climb. In addition to well-rounded technical abilities, veterans in this diverse field say that students who want to work in emergency response should be creative, adaptable and willing to leap into situations where one's natural inclination is to flee. Whichever area of disaster relief you choose, you won't be bored.