all hazard imt exercises

During a complex incident lasting multiple operational periods and requiring an Incident Action Plan an All-Hazard Incident Management IMT (IMT) should be activated to manage the incident. The success of these IMTs is directly dependent upon their training and ability to work together. IMT cohesion is critical for effective coordination and decision-making under high-stress and dynamic situations.

OQA has developed a series of all-hazard exercises for the Command and General Staff of an All-Hazard Incident Management Team. These exercises are Homeland Security  Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) compliant and designed to train  a designated IMT from multi-agency personnel of cities, counties, and  regions. The exercise takes a full day to complete and can base from  human-caused disasters, a natural disaster or a special event, to focus  the IMT’s skills necessary to operate in the various Command and General  Staff positions to promote a better understanding of IMT dynamics and operations.

The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program  is a capabilities and performance-based exercise program that provides a  standardized methodology and terminology for exercise design,  development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. Each  exercise begins with an Agency Administrator briefing, including a Delegation of Authority, followed by an Initial Action Incident  Commander Briefing complete with an Incident Briefing.

There are  several products the IMT must produce - an Incident Action Plan, a media  release, and an Incident Status Summary. The IMT also receives various  inputs requiring action on the part of one or more of the Command and General Staff or by the entire IMT.

Each IMT has a  coach-evaluator advantage immersement learning experience. At the  conclusion of the exercise, the IMT conducts a self-evaluation of  their performance. This is followed by the evaluator conducting a IMT  evaluation and individual evaluations for each of the Command and General Staff positions.

These scenarios have been used by several All-Hazard Incident Management IMT's to improve decision making, enhance IMT work and develop leadership skills.