The National Exercise Program (NEP) is a comprehensive initiative designed to rigorously assess and enhance the preparedness and resilience of the United States against a wide range of hazards and threats. This four-year cycle of exercises serves as the primary national-level mechanism for validating the nation’s capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all types of emergencies.
Key Facts
- The National Exercise Program (NEP) is a four-year cycle of exercises that serves as the primary national-level mechanism for validating national preparedness.
- The NEP is designed to rigorously test the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
- It is a key component of the National Preparedness System, which aims to develop a culture of preparedness, empower communities, and promote resilience against threats and hazards.
- The NEP helps assess preparedness against a set of common national preparedness priorities known as the Principals’ Objectives.
- By evaluating preparedness and resiliency, the NEP can influence policy, priorities, and fiscal decisions.
NEP’s Role in the National Preparedness System
The NEP is an integral component of the National Preparedness System, a framework established to foster a culture of preparedness, empower communities, and promote resilience against various threats and hazards. Through its comprehensive exercises, the NEP aims to evaluate the nation’s preparedness against a set of common national preparedness priorities known as the Principals’ Objectives. These objectives encompass critical aspects of preparedness, including intelligence and information sharing, non-Stafford Act incidents, complex attacks, cybersecurity, long-term recovery, infectious disease outbreaks, and catastrophic incidents.
NEP’s Impact on Policy, Priorities, and Fiscal Decisions
The NEP plays a significant role in shaping policy, priorities, and fiscal decisions related to national preparedness. By thoroughly assessing preparedness and resilience, the NEP provides valuable insights into the nation’s strengths and weaknesses. This information helps policymakers identify areas that require improvement, prioritize funding allocations, and develop effective strategies to enhance preparedness and resilience across all levels of government and the private sector.
NEP’s Exercise Types and Support
The NEP encompasses a wide range of exercise types, including facilitated policy discussions, seminars and workshops, tabletop exercises, modeling and simulation, drills, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises. These exercises are designed to test various aspects of preparedness, from planning and coordination to response and recovery operations. The NEP also provides contractor support free of charge to assist in the development, conduct, and documentation of exercises, enabling participants to focus on achieving the exercise objectives without the burden of additional expenses.
NEP’s Application Process and Selection Criteria
To participate in the NEP, organizations must complete the NEP Application Form and submit it to their State Exercise Officer. The selection process takes place at the national level, and exercises are typically scheduled at least six months in advance to allow sufficient time for the selection process and exercise development. Exercises that involve multiple jurisdictions and/or disciplines have a higher chance of being selected, although small and rural jurisdictions have also received exercise support in the past.
Conclusion
The National Exercise Program is a vital initiative that plays a crucial role in validating national preparedness and enhancing the nation’s resilience against a wide range of threats and hazards. Through its comprehensive exercises, the NEP helps identify areas for improvement, informs policy and funding decisions, and fosters a culture of preparedness across all levels of government and the private sector.
References
- Oregon Office of Emergency Management. (n.d.). Local National Exercise Program Announcement. https://www.oregon.gov/oem/Documents/Local_NEP_Announcement.pdf
- FEMA. (n.d.). About the National Exercise Program. https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/exercises/about
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). National Exercise Program. https://www.dhs.gov/national-exercise-program
FAQs
What is the purpose of the National Exercise Program?
The NEP is designed to rigorously test the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards, and to assess preparedness against a set of common national preparedness priorities known as the Principals’ Objectives.
What are the Principals’ Objectives of the NEP?
The Principals’ Objectives encompass critical aspects of preparedness, including intelligence and information sharing, non-Stafford Act incidents, complex attacks, cybersecurity, long-term recovery, infectious disease outbreaks, and catastrophic incidents.
How does the NEP contribute to national preparedness?
The NEP helps identify areas for improvement, informs policy and funding decisions, and fosters a culture of preparedness across all levels of government and the private sector.
What types of exercises does the NEP conduct?
The NEP encompasses a wide range of exercise types, including facilitated policy discussions, seminars and workshops, tabletop exercises, modeling and simulation, drills, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises.
Who can participate in the NEP?
State, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) government organizations, as well as nonprofit, private sector, and federal entities (with the support of an SLTT government organization) can participate in the NEP.
How can organizations apply to participate in the NEP?
Organizations interested in participating in the NEP should complete the NEP Application Form and submit it to their State Exercise Officer.
What support does the NEP provide to participants?
The NEP provides contractor support free of charge to assist in the development, conduct, and documentation of exercises.
How are exercises selected for participation in the NEP?
Exercises are selected based on their alignment with the NEP’s Principals’ Objectives and their potential to contribute to national preparedness. Exercises that involve multiple jurisdictions and/or disciplines have a higher chance of being selected.