Establishing the Base
Unit II
Developing the Exercise Program
1. Review current plans and policies
2. Conduct a needs assessment
3. Assess capabilities
4. Define the exercise scope
• Address costs and liabilities
6. Develop a statement of purpose
7. Announce the exercise
1

Reviewing the Plan
• The emergency plan is the basis for any exercise program.
– You cannot evaluate something that doesn’t exist.
• The plan provides guidance on what agencies will do during emergency situations.
Conducting a Needs Assessment
• Provides the reason why you are conducting the exercise.
• Defines the highest priority items that need exercising.
• Usually based on newness or insufficient familiarity.
2

Conducting a Needs Assessment
• Activity: 10 minutes
Unit II pg. 3
– Participants will conduct a needs assessment based on the checklist provided.
– Results will be captured and shared with the group.
Assessing Capabilities
• What level of skills, resources, manpower and support do you have to conduct the exercise?
• Different exercise types have different needs.
3

Assessing Capabilities
• Activity
Unit II pg. 4-5
– Refer participants to the needs assessment document in the text.
– Numerous examples of needs assessment documents exist, all are useful.
Defining the Scope of the
Exercise
• The scope refers to six conditions that relate to the community or organization being tested.
– Operations
– Agencies involved
– Personnel
– Hazard
– Geographical area
– Degree of realism
4

Defining the Scope
• Activity
Unit II pg. 5-7
– Refer participants to the scope preparation document in the text.
Selecting an Exercise Type
• The clarification of the scope and needs of an exercise will lend itself to a determination as to what is the best type of exercise to use to accomplish the task.
• These assessments should be completed before you gain the chief executive’s support and commitment.
5

Selecting an Exercise Type
• Activity
Unit II pg. 9-12
– Refer to the charts included in the text to determine the best exercise type.
• Note: For the purposes of this program we will focus only on the Table Top exercise but it is necessary to be familiar with all types for a comprehensive program to exist.
Addressing Costs and Liabilities
Chart pg. 14-15
• Determine what the exercise will cost in advance.
• Payroll, resources used, time dedication, etc.
• Address insurance and liability issues.
• Contractual agreements must be considered.
6

Developing the Statement of
Purpose
Unit II pg. 16-17
• Clearly and briefly states what you plan to accomplish by conducting the exercise.
• The “statement of purpose” is derived from the exercise scope and the objectives you hope to accomplish.
The Directive
Unit II pg. 17-20
• Provides for the authority and support necessary to conduct the exercise.
• Issued by the chief executive.
7

Summary
• Establishing the base for your exercise program involves:
– Reviewing plans, policies and procedures
– Conducting a needs assessment
– Assessing your capability
– Defining the scope
– Addressing costs
– Developing a Statement of Purpose
– Issuing an exercise directive
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