We are frequently asked about where new emergency managers can learn more about the methodology used to design, develop, conduct, and evaluate exercises. The Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides the doctrine used within the field of emergency management for developing operations and discussion-based exercises. The latest version of HSEEP is from January 2020. Use the link below for additional information.
https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/web/hseep-resources

An Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is your organization or agency’s road map for responding to a crisis. The EOP establishes policies, prosecures, and organization structure for response to emergencies or disasters by detailing exactly what the organization will do during an emergency. The EOP identifies resources available, incident command implementation, command center location and activities, information sharing, and resource requests. The EOP should be developed specifically for your organization and the potential emergencies that could arise. An EOP is also a dynamic document that should be routinely reviewed and updated.

An emergency operations plan will help keep your staff and your organization safe in case of a disaster. Without an emergency action plan, an emergency situation can easily become chaotic and even more unsafe.

An emergency operations plan should lay out potential emergencies and the response for each one, including each team member’s role during the response. In addition to safety, another goal of an emergency action plan is to identify how the organization will respond to a crisis in order to get back up and running as quickly as possible. Having as little interruption to normal operations as possible minimizes impact and allows your organization to continue to serve your stakeholders in the event of an emergency.

Before devising an emergency operations plan, your organization must identify potential emergency situations you could face based on your location and type of organization. For example, organizations on Hawaii Island might have to be prepared for volcanic eruptions while organizations on Oahu might be concerned about hurricanes. An organization caring for children, older adults, or individuals with disabilities will have unique considerations. What are the possible events, both natural and man-made, that could cause a crisis for your organization?

Just-In-Time-Training (JITT) provides training at the time it is most needed. JITT incorporates information specific to the type and magnitude of the emergency. It serves to equip individuals for their role in the emergency response.

Emergency preparedness means taking action to be ready for emergencies before they happen. Emergency response puts the preparedness plan into action and takes place during an emergency.

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