Next Wave Preparedness is an SBA-certified woman-owned small business providing emergency preparedness and business advisory services to businesses, healthcare organizations, municipalities, and institutions of all sizes within New England and nationwide.
At Next Wave, I help organizations move beyond checklists and compliance requirements to build systems that strengthen their readiness, reduce risk, and improve their ability to respond and recover from disruption.
Practical, clear, and ready to perform under pressure.
Because when an emergency happens, there’s no time to figure it out as you go.
Emily Kaster, CEM
Founder & CEO
I’m a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) with over a decade of experience in emergency management and consulting. My background includes leadership roles in a county office of emergency management (where I supported 28 municipal fire chiefs), as well as partnering as a consultant with more than 25 organizations across the country to develop and strengthen their preparedness programs.
Over the years, I’ve worked with both public agencies and private organizations, and I understand that their needs can look very different—especially for smaller teams that don’t have the same resources or internal infrastructure as larger state entities. That’s why I take a more personalized, collaborative approach to every engagement.
I work closely with leadership and key stakeholders across your organization to build plans that reflect how your team actually operates day to day. The goal isn’t just to create a document—it’s to develop a system your team understands, trusts, and can use with confidence when it matters most.
My work is grounded in a simple principle: preparedness should be realistic, actionable, and built for the environments people actually operate in—not idealistic scenarios which assume unlimited staff and resources.
Tailored, not templated
Every organization faces different risks, structures, and constraints. We design solutions that reflect your specific environment—not a one-size-fits-all model.
My goal isn’t just to deliver a plan. It’s to ensure your team is well prepared to use it effectively when it matters most.
Experience that translates into action
I bring firsthand emergency management experience into every engagement, along with a commitment to continuous improvement and staying aligned with industry best practices.
Protect What Matters Most
Preparedness is ultimately about people—protecting them, supporting them, and giving them the clarity they need to act confidently in critical moments.
That’s what drives my work.
Schedule a consultation to start building a plan your team can trust.
