Exercises help build preparedness for threats and hazards by providing a low-risk, cost-effective environment to:
- Test and validate plans, policies, procedures and capabilities
- Identify resource requirements, capability gaps, strengths, areas for improvement, and potential best practices
Programs
FEMA supports the nation’s exercise activities through two programs administered by the National Exercise Division.
The National Exercise Program (NEP)
Consists of a four-year cycle of exercises across the nation that examine and validate capabilities in all preparedness mission areas, guided by strategic priorities set by the National Security Council’s Principals Committee.
NEP exercise partners and organizations complete a variety of activities throughout a NEP cycle. They lead exercise programs in accordance with their organization’s statutory, regulatory, or policy authorities and at the direction of their senior leaders. They also design, deliver, and evaluate exercises at all levels of government and with the whole community as part of organizational day-to-day business.
The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
Provides a set of guidance that any organization can use to structure an effective exercise and evaluation program with a common approach to program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning.
Get Started
Learn how to receive support for design, development, conduct, and evaluation support for individual exercises through the National Exercise Program.
Find tools such as the Preparedness Toolkit, a web-based application that allows the whole community access to a wide variety of resources to manage preparedness activities.
Learn about the nation’s cornerstone biennial exercise that helps validate national capabilities to prepare for and respond to catastrophic events.
Learn how organizations can use HSEEP to run their own effective exercise and evaluation programs.
Find exercise points of contact in your FEMA region.