Glory
Although many states bestow awards via their emergency management association to outstanding performers, you don't need no stinking badges. The real glory is in knowing your efforts will make a difference in your community (you know, that place outside the walls of your little cubicle).
If the local chemical plant blows up or a tornado touches down, you're that guy or gal whose plans, preparation, and sometimes even on-site work help clean it up and get life back to order. Some of your friends might end up with more glamorous or higher paying jobs, but nothing tops being able to say, "Thanks for lunch. I gotta go stop a tornado with my bare hands." Boom.
Okay...don't actually try to do that. Just focus on making things better afterwards.