EXERCISE INFORMATION
ESF-5 Exercise Sub-Committee
In December of 2006, the Capitol Region Emergency Planning Committee (CREPC) formed a RESF-5 sub-committee to help manage regional exercise participation. The sub-committee’s purpose is to schedule and coordinate exercises involving (either notionally or actual mobilization) CREPC, any Regional ESF, the RED Plan or any regional asset. CREPC’s goal was to avoid over-taxing limited regional resources on multiple, and possibly overlapping, exercises. In addition to getting a good handle on planned exercises, the committee was tasked to lay out the “roadmap” ahead for regional exercise planning by defining the scope and number of CREPC exercises and establishing a standard operating practice for CREPC exercise participation.
The CREPC exercise program incorporates the principles contained in the Federal government’s Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Following the domestic terrorist attacks in 1995 and 2001 and the establishment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002, homeland security professionals at all levels of government and in all types of communities have prepared to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from a variety of threats to public safety. Exercises play a crucial role in preparedness, providing opportunities for emergency responders and homeland security officials to practice and assess their collective capabilities.
The HSEEP is a capabilities- and performance-based exercise program that provides a standardized policy, doctrine, and terminology for designing, developing, conducting, and evaluating homeland security exercises. HSEEP also provides tools and resources to facilitate the management of self-sustaining homeland security exercise programs. In the spirit of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), HSEEP promulgates standardized policies and terminology usable by homeland security officials and emergency responders at all levels of government. Therefore, HSEEP provides the Nation with a common, consistent platform for its homeland security exercise needs.
To assist CREPC member communities and maintain HSEEP standards, the Capitol Region Council of Governments will maintain a database of regional exercises and after action reports on its website. This will assist the region in building a better regional response capability and support member communities in their NIMS compliance efforts. Individuals planning, conducting and documenting local and regional exercises should adhere to HSEEP guidance.
For sample exercise documents and more, visit the HSEEP website: http://hseep.dhs.gov
Other useful documents:
Region 3 Training and Exercise Planning Workgroup:
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