Emergency Management Preparedness Grant (EMPG)
Each EMPG jurisdiction will document an annual exercise on the Statement of Work (SOW) and submit an After Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) to the SEMA Exercise Officer. The form may be located and printed from the SEMA website. SEMA requires one (1) exercise be conducted each federal fiscal year. This exercise requirement can be a Tabletop exercise, Functional exercise or Full Scale exercise. This exercise requirement MUST be at least equivalent to a Tabletop exercise and SEMA strongly recommends conducting a Functional or Full Scale exercise annually.
The requirements listed above are the minimal level expected to maintain program compliance. Jurisdictions are highly encouraged to exceed these requirements. SEMA recommends jurisdictions conduct a full-scale exercise every three years to gain an accurate picture of their preparedness. Actual incidents/occurrences may also be submitted for exercise credit. All such submittals must be documented to the extent possible using the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) forms and include items such as newspaper articles, agency reports (police, fire, etc.), pictures, after action reports, etc. The decision to accept or reject the actual incident for credit rests with SEMA.
All EMPG exercises and their After Action Reports/Improvement Plans must be conducted and reported using the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), Vol. III.
To be in compliance, a copy of the After Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) must be submitted to A. J. Lehmen, State Exercise Officer, SEMA, P. O. Box 116, Jefferson City, MO 65102 within 30 days of publication. Reports may be sent electronically to aj.lehmen@sema.dps.mo.gov.
EXERCISE DESCRIPTION BY TYPE
(from HSEEP Vol. I)
Discussion-Based Exercises
Discussion-based exercises are normally used as a starting point in the building-block approach to the cycle, mix, and range of exercises. Discussion-based exercises include seminars, workshops, tabletop exercises, and games. These types of exercises typically highlight existing plans, policies, mutual aid agreements (MAAs), and procedures, and are exceptional tools to familiarize agencies and personnel with an entity’s current or expected capabilities. Discussion-based exercises typically focus on strategic, policy-oriented issues, whereas operations-based exercises tend to focus more on tactical, response-related issues. Facilitators and/or presenters usually lead the discussion and keep participants on tract to meet exercise objectives.
Types of Discussion-Based Exercises
Seminar
Workshop
Tabletop Exercise (Meets EMPG Requirement)
Game
Operations-Based Exercises
Operations-based exercises are a category of exercises characterized by actual response, mobilization of apparatus and resources, and commitment of personnel, usually held over an extended period of time. Operations-based exercises can be used to validate plans, policies, agreements, and procedures. They include drills, functional exercises and full scale exercises. They can clarify roles and responsibilities, identify gaps in resources needed to implement plans and procedures, and improve individual and team performance. (Note: These exercises often follow after, and validate, the lessons learned from discussion—based exercises.)
Types of Operations-Based Exercises
Drill
Functional Exercise (Meets EMPG Requirement)
Full Scale Exercise (Meets EMPG Requirement)