Photo By Nathan Rivard | Hope Brighton, lead mitigation and recovery planner, North Dakota Department of...... read more read more
For Hope Brighton, emergency management isn’t just a career, it’s a calling rooted in service, learning, and global cooperation.
As the lead mitigation and recovery planner for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES), Brighton recently took her skills abroad as part of a five-person team supporting the Lignite Coast Tabletop Exercise in Benin from May 12–16, 2025.
Alongside North Dakota National Guard members and more than 45 Beninese disaster response professionals, Brighton helped conduct a comprehensive five-day tabletop exercise focused on the Incident Command System (ICS), disaster preparedness, and emergency response. It was more than just a technical mission. For Brighton, it was an opportunity to build bridges, share knowledge, and learn from a culture deeply committed to protecting its people.
Originally from Plainview, Minnesota, Brighton studied emergency management at North Dakota State University, a choice that shaped the path of her professional life.
“I wanted something where I could help people and incorporate my other passions, such as preserving the environment, into a profession,” she said. “I ended up working in emergency management.”
That passion became practice when the COVID-19 pandemic struck during her senior year. NDDES wanted temporary help and reached out to NDSU. Brighton started as a scribe during the state’s response in an entry-level role that introduced her to North Dakota’s epicenter of disaster coordination. She quickly proved herself and has now spent nearly four years in her current role.
Currently, Brighton’s job involves coordinating risk assessments and multi-hazard mitigation planning across North Dakota.
“Recovery planning is vital to outline the key steps and aspects of creating a new normal post-disaster,” she said. “We’re building resilience across North Dakota.”
That expertise traveled with her to Benin, where she and her colleagues worked closely with the Benin Agency for Civil Protection (ABPC), the U.S. Embassy, and local partners to design realistic disaster scenarios for the exercise. This was the first time Benin practiced its new National Contingency Plan, marking a major milestone in the country’s emergency preparedness journey.
“I knew that we were going to be helping them design and facilitate an exercise,” Brighton explained. “I did some additional training on exercise development and evaluation. I also reviewed the incident command system and curriculum from FEMA’s basic academy to prepare.”
From classroom sessions to simulated emergencies focused on wildfires and floods, two hazards familiar to both North Dakota and Benin, the exercise tested everyone’s capacity to respond and adapt. For Brighton, the experience was both professionally and personally fulfilling.
“I think after the first day, seeing all the partners’ questions, their passion, and eagerness to learn was really energizing and rewarding,” she said. “It shows they really care about what we’re talking about here.”
Brighton was particularly struck by Benin’s approach to disaster response.
“Their system feels very personal to local communities,” she said. “That empathy and connection to disaster victims is something I’ll take home with me.”
She also had a strong desire to assist in this mission with the North Dakota National Guard.
“I volunteered for this mission because I saw the potential of having a positive impact,” Brighton said. “I also have a desire to learn and grow by experiencing different cultures and ways of life.”
Her reflections echo the broader goals of the State Partnership Program, which has linked North Dakota with Benin for more than a decade. By working together, both parties gain insight into new processes, build trust, and strengthen their readiness for real-world emergencies.
“We are continually striving to improve processes and procedures for all disaster mission areas,” Brighton said. “Learning from partners across the world allows us to integrate new ideas and concepts into NDDES.”
This is also something she believes is important for people because it has a lasting impact on communities.
“This work matters because we are protecting and restoring people’s livelihoods. Emergency management changes lives and determines the outcome of communities during times of crisis.”
From a scribe in a pandemic to an international facilitator, Hope Brighton is thankful for the strides she has been able to make in her career in emergency management.
“Thank you for this incredible opportunity and experience to learn. I get to benefit from these experiences by creating new friendships and relationships with people from across the world. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2025 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 498997 |
| Location: | GRAND POPO, BJ |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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