Drills and Exercises
Drills and Exercise
Part of any good emergency preparedness planning is to exercise those plans, policies, and procedures. IMS can provide your organization with effective exercises that meet national standards, such as the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), as well as leading regulatory requirements for your domains. Developing exercises using your plans, policies, and procedures, we test your organization's ability to respond to any threat or hazard. If you are unsure of what your highest threats are, we encourage you to review your current hazard assessment. If you are unsure where to start, let IMS guide you to understand your needs for exercise, or series of exercises. All below listed services can be provided (virtual, hybrid, or in-person), unless otherwise specified.
Discussion Based Exercise
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant discussion-based exercises—such as Tabletop Exercises (TTXs) and Workshops—are structured, low-stress forums used to test an organization's emergency plans and procedures. Compliance with the HSEEP framework mandates a systematic approach.
IMS master exercise practitioners (MEP) design these exercises to meet client-specific SMART objectives based on identified risks and required core capabilities. The process includes developing a realistic, tailored scenario and required documentation, such as a Situation Manual (SitMan). Post-exercise, compliance requires a detailed After-Action Report (AAR) and an Improvement Plan (IP) to track corrective actions, fostering a cycle of continuous preparedness improvement.
Operations Based Exercise
HSEEP-compliant operations-based exercises validate an organization's preparedness in a dynamic, time-sensitive environment. Following the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology, these exercises—such as Drills, Functional Exercises (FEs), and Full-Scale Exercises (FSEs)—involve the actual or simulated deployment of personnel, equipment, and resources.
Consulting services ensure exercises are executed per a comprehensive Master Scenario Events List (MSEL), testing specific core capabilities under realistic stress. The focus is on demonstrating coordination, communication, and real-time decision-making. Essential post-exercise documentation includes the mandatory After-Action Report (AAR) and Improvement Plan (IP) to verify compliance and track corrective actions.
Exercise Support
HSEEP-compliant exercise support involves expert consultation to design, develop, conduct, and evaluate exercises according to the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology. This service ensures exercises—both discussion and operations-based—meet grant and regulatory requirements.
Support includes developing the foundational Multi-year Training and Exercise Plan, crafting realistic scenarios and objectives, creating all required documentation (like the After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)), and facilitating the exercise itself. The goal is a defensible, objective-driven process that validates an organization's capabilities and systematically tracks improvements to enhance overall preparedness and ensure federal funding compliance.
Other Services
In addition to the detailed services already described, IMS can provide a broad range of other services through access to a pool of subject matter experts that have specific experience. Examples include, but are not limited to: Infection Prevention, Regulatory Compliance, Security Assessments, Technical Writing, etc.
Planning
The development of strategies and procedures to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters or crises, ensuring the safety of people, property, and operations.
Training
Provides individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to crises, implement emergency plans, and ensure coordination during disasters or emergencies
Leadership
Guiding and coordinating teams during crises, making critical decisions under pressure, and ensuring effective communication and resource allocation to minimize impact and facilitate recovery
Drills & Exercises
Exercises simulate real-world disaster scenarios to test and refine response plans, enhance coordination among teams, and improve decision-making and communication under pressure
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