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HSEEP Policy and Guidance

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) 2020

The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides a set of fundamental principles for exercise programs, as well as a common approach to program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. All of the HSEEP templates provided throughout this toolkit are built from the foundation established in the HSEEP doctrine, last updated in 2020.

HSEEP Best Practices Guides & Tools

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NED recognized that exercise practitioners have struggled to adapt exercises to the unique challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has produced. NED collected and compiled lessons learned and best practices from across the whole community of exercise professionals related to two topics: Virtual Exercise Best Practices and Safe Exercise Practices for In-person Events and have posted the new material below: 

Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide

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The impacts of climate change are being felt today in communities across the country and increasingly test our resilience. Exercises provide a method for participants to visualize a future that is outside their direct experience and evaluate options for constructive action to adapt to climate changes already occurring and those to come. The Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide is a “one-stop–shop" for any jurisdiction or organization looking to conduct a climate-focused exercise.

This guide equips users with:

  • A dictionary with common terms to ensure a shared understanding of climate-related terminology and principles before an exercise.
  • Tools and templates for planning and conducting climate-focused exercises.
  • Resources including funding opportunities, risk assessments and training programs.

Please e-mail NEP@fema.dhs.gov with questions or to share how you are using the Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide.

Additional Resources and Training

  • Short Videos: FEMA's National Exercise Division (NED) developed a series of short videos that provide a brief overview of topics related to the design, development, conduct, and evaluation of exercises. You may access the complete video series at HSEEP Video Series - YouTube
  • Webinars: FEMA will continue to conduct additional HSEEP Webinars in 2022. Continue to monitor HSEEP Webinars for updates and to register for a session.
  • Training Materials
    • The 2020 Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) K/L0146 training material has been approved by EMI. Please visit the EMI HSEEP webpage for Additional information: https://training.fema.gov/programs/hseep.
    • Exercise Starter Kits: FEMA’s NED developed Exercise Starter Kits (ESKs) to help organizations plan and conduct their own Discussion-Based exercises to validate their plans and policies along with examining their readiness for a range of threats and hazards.