FEMA is accepting requests for exercise support through the National Exercise Program. State, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions and their whole community partners can request no-cost assistance for exercise design, development, conduct and evaluation to validate capabilities across all mission areas. Fall 2021 requests for support are due by Nov. 1.
Exercises are an important way to validate a community’s preparedness as part of the National Preparedness System. The National Exercise Program is a two-year cycle of exercises across the nation that examines and validates capabilities in all preparedness mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery.
To help communities meet their preparedness goals, FEMA offers support for exercises at no cost from experienced exercise specialists in the National Exercise Division. Support could include assistance with exercise design, scenario development, planning, conduct, and evaluation in the form of subject-matter expertise, material production, or facilitation for selected exercises. The National Exercise Division also has experience in virtual exercise delivery best practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility
State, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions are eligible to submit requests for exercise support. Non-profit, private sector, and federal entities are only eligible if they collaborate with government partners as a co-sponsor or on their exercise planning team.
Local and tribal jurisdictions, as well as new sponsors who have not submitted support requests in the past, are heavily encouraged to apply. All exercises submitted will be considered; however, support depends on resource availability and the request package submitted. Submissions are reviewed by a panel representing FEMA and other federal exercise subject-matter experts.
Submission Deadline
FEMA accepts requests for exercise support twice a year, spring and fall. Fall 2021 exercise support round submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 1 and decisions will be sent by Dec. 10. FEMA will hold additional exercise support rounds in spring and fall of 2022.
FEMA is hosting a series of webinars to provide information on the exercise support process for fall. All webinars will cover the same content. Please visit the NEP webinar page to register. The webinar dates are:
- Webinar 1: 1 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.
- Webinar 2: 2 p.m. ET on Sept.7.
- Webinar 3: 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 15.
- Webinar 4: 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 23.
- Webinar 5: 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 1.
How to Submit a Support Request
- Download and complete the exercise nomination form.
- Contact your FEMA regional exercise officer and express your intent to submit, so they can maintain visibility on requests across their region.
- Submit the exercise nomination form and required supporting documentation by email to nep@fema.dhs.gov. Please include “National Exercise Program Exercise Support Request” in the email subject line.
Considerations for Exercise Sponsors
- When preparing your nomination form, consider planning and development design time for each event. For example, discussion-based exercises require at least four months and operational-based or full-scale exercises require a minimum of nine months for planning and development.
- FEMA encourages participants to consider which exercises to submit when working on the jurisdiction’s Integrated Preparedness Plan in accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program.
- The most successful exercise request will demonstrate how FEMA’s support contributes to the jurisdiction’s overall preparedness. Please refer to fema.gov/nep for more information on the exercise support process and frequently asked questions.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:
- Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
- Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
- Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at nbeoc@max.gov
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Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Español on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.
Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne.
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Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
