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Workshops

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Continuity of Operations exercise programs are developed and managed by National Continuity Programs (NCP). These programs range in scope from tabletop exercises designed for internal use by the interagency community, to large, functional and full-scale exercises involving numerous federal and non-federal entities. Continuity of Operations Division's responsibilities include exercise development and oversight, execution, evaluation, and corrective actions. For more information on any of the workshops or exercises, contact your Regional Continuity Manager.

Cardinal Accord

Cardinal Accord is a tabletop exercise designed to increase federal department and agency, state, territorial, tribal and local jurisdictional continuity of operations readiness for a regional terrorism event, to mitigate vulnerabilities during a terrorist event, and to identify gaps or weaknesses in organizational continuity plans, policies, and procedures.

Corrective Action Program (CAP)

To ensure compliance with FCD 1 and CGC 1 guidance and address continuity deficiencies and other areas requiring improvement, NCP developed a standardized, systematic approach to the management of corrective actions.

The Corrective Action Program (CAP) identifies continuity areas requiring improvement, assigns responsibilities, and develops a timeline for corrective action; identifies program and other continuity funding requirements for submission to agency leadership; and identifies continuity personnel requirements and roles during a continuity event. The Continuity CAP program is fully compliant with existing Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program guidance and requirements.

Determined Accord (Pandemic)

Determined Accord is an Interagency Continuity Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise (TTX) designed to increase continuity awareness, preparedness, and planning for federal and non-federal entities. This TTX meets its Presidential directed requirements as outlined in the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan.

Determined Accord was developed in coordination with the White House Homeland Security Council, Department of Health and Human Services, United States Department of Agriculture, General Services Administration, and other federal entities.

Determined Accord is designed to increase federal and non-federal organizations continuity readiness for a pandemic event, mitigate continuity of operations vulnerabilities during an influenza outbreak, and identify gaps or weaknesses in pandemic continuity plans, policies, and procedures.

Determined Challenge

Determined Challenge Exercise is a multi-agency hurricane tabletop exercise designed to increase participant understanding of the weaknesses and gaps in organizations' existing continuity plans, policies, and capabilities.

Determined Sentry (Telework)

Determined Sentry is a full-scale, telework exercise. This exercise includes multiple continuity of operations locations and teleworking from pre-determined locations. This exercise tests capabilities for continuity and the ability to function as a cohesive body performing their Mission Essential Functions (MEFs) in a telework environment.

Eagle Horizon

Exercise Eagle Horizon (EH) is a full scale, externally evaluated, scenario-based exercise focusing on Federal organizations’ continuity of operations programs in the National Capital Region (NCR).

As part of Eagle Horizon, NCP conducts an assessment of all department and agency continuity capabilities based on Federal Continuity Directive 1 requirements and the criteria in the Continuity Evaluation Tool, with reports provided to all department and agency secretaries or agency heads and the White House’s Homeland Security Council. Results from the assessment enable department and agencies to identify strengths and areas requiring improvement for their Continuity programs.

Guardian Acccord (Terrorism)

Guardian Accord is an inter-organizational continuity terrorism workshop designed to increase continuity awareness, preparedness, planning, and coordination between federal and non-federal entities.  The workshop is based on multiple forms of terrorism, as found in 12 out of 15 National Planning Scenarios.  The Guardian Accord Workshop also supports the requirements of the National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan, as it emphasizes the Federal government’s policy calling for agencies to be prepared for unpredictable threats such as earthquakes, accidents, sabotage and terrorism.

This workshop is a refinement of “all hazards” continuity planning, looking specifically at the unique considerations of sustaining essential functions during a terrorist event.  This training and workshop is intended to supplement, not replace, existing organizational security and awareness programs pertaining to continuity.

Joint Field Office (JFO)

JFO Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planners Workshop was developed to provide JFO leadership and planners with the knowledge and tools to develop a viable JFO Continuity of Operations Plan that meets the Continuity requirements, as established by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20.The JFO COOP Plan Template is a key element of this workshop and was created to assist JFO planners in developing a viable COOP Plan that meets the Continuity requirements as described in Federal Continuity Directive 1, Federal Executive Branch National Continuity Program and Requirements.  The Template provides general guidance and sample information in developing a FEMA JFO COOP Plan.

Liberty Down Sentinel

Liberty Down Sentinel Exercise is a functional multi-agency continuity exercise designed to evaluate the ability of organizations to activate their continuity of operations plans during a natural emergency and to sustain operations for an extended period.

Mission Essential Functions (MEF)

In April 2011, NCP released Continuity Guidance Workshop, Mission Essential Functions Identification Process for Non-Federal Entities.  This workshop is designed to introduce state, territorial, tribal, and local continuity practitioners and subject matter experts to a set of Continuity of Operations concepts and methods that will facilitate the development of a strong foundation for a functional and effective continuity program.  Although this workshop is primarily designed for state, territorial, tribal, and local government emergency and continuity planners, others, including those in the private sector, utilities and critical infrastructure, and volunteer organizations that support state and local governments during disasters will also find the workshop worthwhile.

Resilient Accord (Cyber Security)

The purpose of the Resilient Accord Workshop is to increase federal department and agency, state, territorial, tribal, and local jurisdictional continuity of operations awareness and discuss how to execute continuity operations resulting from a cyber security event.  Developed by FEMA’s National Continuity Programs, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cyber Security Division, this workshop discusses continuity planning considerations in response to a cyber disruption. 

Quiet Sentinel 

Quiet Sentinel is a full-scale exercise designed to validate an organization’s continuity of operations capability to activate, relocate, and operate from an alternate site.

Vigilant Accord (Devolution)

Vigilant Accord is a full-scale devolution exercise. It enables devolution staff to validate and assess devolution plans, procedures, and policies; review and validate devolution communications procedures and capabilities; and test devolution capabilities.

Vigilant Strategy

Vigilant Strategy Exercise is a devolution tabletop exercise designed to provide a forum for federal and non-federal entities to discuss devolution of operations readiness to respond to a catastrophic event in which Mission Essential Functions (MEFs) and Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs) are devolved to a designated devolution site.

Last Updated: 
06/26/2012 - 15:24
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