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Exercises

Exercises address continuity of operations exercise programs developed and managed by NCP. These programs range in scope from tabletop exercises designed for internal use by the interagency community, to large, functional and full-scale exercises involving numerous Federal and non-Federal entities. Continuity of Operations Division responsibilities include exercise development and oversight, execution, evaluation, and corrective actions.

Exercise Eagle Horizon

Exercise Eagle Horizon (EH) is a full scale, externally evaluated, scenario-based exercise focusing on Federal organizations’ continuity of operations programs in the National Capital Region (NCR).

As part of Exercise Eagle Horizon, NCP conducts an assessment of all department and agency continuity capabilities based on Federal Continuity Directive 1 requirements and the criteria in the Continuity Evaluation Tool, with reports provided to all Department and Agency Secretaries or agency heads and the White House’s Homeland Security Council. Results from the assessment enable department and agencies to identify strengths and areas requiring improvement for their Continuity programs.

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Exercise Determined Accord

Exercise Determined Accord is an Interagency Continuity Influenza Pandemic Tabletop Exercise (TTX) designed to increase continuity awareness, preparedness, and planning for Federal and non-Federal entities. This exercise meets its Presidential directed requirements as outlined in the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan.

Determined Accord was developed in coordination with the White House Homeland Security Council, Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, and other Federal entities.

Exercise Determined Accord is designed to increase Federal and non-Federal organizations continuity readiness for a pandemic event, mitigate continuity of operations vulnerabilities during an influenza outbreak, and identify gaps or weaknesses in pandemic Continuity plans, policies, and procedures.

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Exercise Vigilant Accord (Devolution Exercise)

Exercise Vigilant Accord is a full-scale devolution exercise. It enables devolution staff to validate and assess devolution plans, procedures, and policies; review and validate devolution communications procedures and capabilities; and test devolution capabilities.

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Exercise Determined Sentinel

Exercise Determined Sentinel is currently being developed as a full-scale, telework exercise. This exercise will include multiple continuity of operations locations and teleworking from pre-determined locations. This exercise will test capabilities for continuity and social distancing including telework during a pandemic.

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Regional Exercises

In addition to the FEMA Continuity Exercise Templates, each FEMA region also conducts other Regional Continuity Exercises throughout the year.

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Continuity Exercise Templates

NCP is developing a series of continuity exercise templates that incorporate updates from the National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan, Federal Continuity Directive 1 and 2, and Continuity Guidance Circular 1. These exercise templates are compatible with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and meet National Exercise Program requirements.

A full-scale exercise template, Determined Response, is under development. This template will be HSEEP compatible, with a complete set of template planning tools. Determined Response will also address issues and planning requirements associated with telework and social distancing.

Additional NCP Continuity of Operations Division exercise templates either available or planned for the interagency and regional communities are as follows:

Determined Accord Exercise Template: a multi-agency pandemic tabletop exercise designed to increase Federal and non-Federal Governmental Jurisdiction continuity readiness for a pandemic event, mitigate vulnerabilities during an influenza pandemic outbreak, and identify gaps or weaknesses in pandemic planning and in organization continuity plans, policies, and procedures. 

Cardinal Accord Exercise Template: a tabletop exercise designed to increase Federal department and agency, State, territorial, tribal and local jurisdictional continuity of operations readiness for a regional terrorism event, to mitigate vulnerabilities during a terrorist event, and to identify gaps or weaknesses in organizational continuity plans, policies, and procedures.

Vigilant Strategy Exercise Template: a devolution tabletop exercise designed to provide a forum for Federal and non-Federal entities to discuss devolution of operations readiness to respond to a catastrophic event in which Mission Essential Functions (MEFs) and Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs) are devolved to a designated devolution site.

Determined Challenge Exercise Template: a multi-agency hurricane tabletop exercise designed to increase participant understanding of the weaknesses and gaps in organizations’ existing continuity plans, policies, and capabilities.

Quiet Sentinel Exercise Template: a full-scale exercise designed to validate an organization’s continuity of operations capability to activate, relocate, and operate from an alternate site.

Liberty Down Sentinel Exercise Template: a functional multi-agency continuity exercise designed to evaluate the ability of organizations to activate their continuity of operations plans during a natural emergency and to sustain operations for an extended period.

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Corrective Action Program (CAP)

To ensure compliance with FCD 1 and CGC 1 guidance and address continuity deficiencies and other areas requiring improvement, NCP developed a standardized, systematic approach to the management of corrective actions.

The corrective action program (CAP) identifies continuity areas requiring improvement, assigns responsibilities, and develops a timeline for corrective action; identifies program and other continuity funding requirements for submission to agency leadership; and identifies continuity personnel requirements and roles during a continuity event. The Continuity CAP program is fully compliant with existing Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program guidance and requirements.

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Last Modified: Friday, 09-Oct-2009 15:14:13 EDT