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FEMA: Exercise Starter Kit for Preparedness in a Pandemic

Tools to help you put together a virtual workshop.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has put together an Exercise Starter Kit for Preparedness in a Pandemic. 

Everyone should recognize by now that 'it isn't over until it is over' and we may have a long way to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, FEMA has assembled a kit at the link above. It is not everything you will need, and you will need to tailor it to your own situations. 

One thing that FEMA did was call out all the different organizations that should be part of your work effort. See this list:

"Please add, tailor or augment the suggested questions in the facilitator guide and sample conduct slides as appropriate for your organization. These sample materials are designed for a two to four-hour virtual workshop; however, you may decide that dividing content into multiple workshop sessions is a better approach for your department or agency. Consider building a team with expertise across relevant disciplines (e.g., healthcare professionals, public health officials, psychosocial support teams, security professionals, continuity managers, human resources, facilities managers, budget/financial officers, contracting personnel, legal counsel, energy sector partners, critical infrastructure and private sector partners, or other leadership and staff, as appropriate) to assist in planning the workshop sessions and participate in the discussions. The workshop materials build upon relevant guidance for SLTT whole community partners included in the COVID-19 Pandemic Operational Guidance for the 2020 Hurricane Season and the COVID-19 Considerations During Disaster Operations Checklists for Emergency Managers."

I would add that you should look outside your immediate jurisdictional boundaries to be sure to include regional agencies and organizations important to success. 

Pete Gaynor shared the link above.

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.