An exploratory study of Sheriff’s deputies’ perceptions of FEMA disaster response training

Effective training is critical during large-scale disaster response. Yet the relationship between formal training, operational experience, and occupational stress among law enforcement officers remains poorly understood. In Florida, first responders have extensive experience due to the frequency and severity of hurricanes. Personnel from unaffected jurisdictions frequently deploy through mutual aid agreements. As a result, they are exposed to stress levels similar to those in directly impacted areas. This exploratory study used qualitative interviews with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-trained Sheriff’s deputies in the Florida Panhandle with disaster response experience. It examined law enforcement officers’ perceptions of training effectiveness and the psychological demands of large-scale disaster response. These two dimensions, operational training and psychological preparedness, are treated as interdependent throughout the study; the effectiveness of Incident Command System (ICS)-based training cannot be fully evaluated without considering officers’ capacity to sustain performance over prolonged deployments. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of eight semi-structured interviews revealed five themes: disaster experiences, FEMA training experiences, stress and trauma, FEMA limitations, and perceived solutions. Findings indicated that officers broadly view FEMA training as effective in establishing a common operational framework. However, they perceive substantial gaps in stress management support, particularly during prolonged multiagency deployments. These gaps persist despite the formal existence of peer support mechanisms. This suggests that the structural availability of support does not guarantee felt adequacy. The study discusses implications of integrating stress management resources into existing ICS frameworks and of formalizing mentorship programs.