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Integrated Preparedness Process

Planning, Training and Exercises are an important component of preparedness cycle by providing the whole community with the opportunity to shape planning, assess and validate capabilities and address areas for improvement.

A circular diagram from the Washington State Emergency Management Division illustrating the preparedness cycle. The center features the EMD logo with the words Threats, Hazards, Risks and Preparedness Priorities. Surrounding the center are six color-coded segments representing key preparedness phases: Organize/Equip (yellow), Train (gray), Exercise (gray), Evaluate/Improve (blue), Plan (red), and back to Organize/Equip, forming a continuous cycle to support ongoing emergency readiness and capability building.

The 2024-2026 Washington State Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) (PDF) provides a roadmap to accomplish this goal.

Washington EMD conducts an annual Integrated Preparedness Process to develop the State IPP. The process begins with State Agencies, Homeland Security Regions, Local Jurisdictions and Tribes and Nations conducting the process at their levels. Information submitted by mission partners is consolidated and analyzed at the State-level before a State Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop (IPPW) is conducted and the IPP is produced. The annual process follows the process flow below.

A detailed timeline that illustrates an annual performance management cycle. The process begins in September with managers and employees setting goals and aligning on expectations. From October to February, regular monthly check-ins occur between employees and managers. By end of February (EOM February), managers submit mid-year reviews, followed by calibration and completion by mid-March. In April, managers conduct development planning discussions. In May, development plans are submitted. In June, there is a mid-year calibration, followed by completion of reviews by end of June (EOM June). In July, managers begin preparing year-end performance reviews. From July to August, performance review meetings are held with employees. In August, managers submit final performance reviews, and the cycle completes with final approvals between August and September.

Integrated Preparedness Process Components

County Emergency Preparedness Assessment (CEPA)

The CEPA is completed by the Preparedness Assessment Program Team and is conducted on an ongoing basis with one-third of the state assessed each year. The key components of the CEPA include an in-person meeting between state and local subject matter experts (SMEs) to discuss and analyze a county’s risk and capabilities using a standardized methodology. Elements of a CEPA session include:

  • Threat and Hazard Risk Assessment
  • Core Capability Assessment
  • Grant Funding Reliance Assessment
  • Response Capacity Assessment
  • Key Resource Inventory
  • Strengths and Strategies to Enhance Preparedness

EMD staff work with the County Emergency Manager to schedule the CEPA and to ensure appropriate state and local representation. It is a six-hour workshop conducted with counties to assess risk, grant reliance, response capacity, and all 32 core capabilities. The CEPA involves representation from local Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Fire/EMS, Public Health, Public Works, Information Technology departments, and all other stakeholders identified by the county as being part of their emergency management/preparedness system. Data gathered from these workshops is used to create a county-specific report, populate the state’s CEPA dashboard, and inform the Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR). CEPA data can be used in a multitude of ways, including but not limited to:

  • Informing grant processes
  • State, regional and local gap identification
  • Trend analysis
  • Grant effectiveness
  • Planning, Organizing, Equipping, Training and Exercise (POETE) activities


Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop
A meeting that establishes the strategy and structure for preparedness efforts while setting the foundation for the planning, conduct and evaluation of individual exercises.

Purpose:

  • The purpose of the Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop (IPPW) is to use the guidance provided by senior leaders to identify and set preparedness priorities and develop a multi-year schedule of preparedness activities.

  • The process confirms:
    • Coordination of whole community initiatives;
    • Prevention of duplication of efforts;
    • Assurance of the efficient use of resources and funding; and
    • Avoidance of overextending key agencies and personnel.
  • During the Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop (IPPW), participation from the whole community ensures preparedness activities are included in the program’s priorities.


Integrated Preparedness Plan

A document for combing efforts across components of the Integrated Preparedness Cycle to make sure that a jurisdiction/organization has the capabilities to handle threats and hazards. The IPP allows for a more deliberate approach to multi-year preparedness activity planning.

Components:

  • Multi-Year Plan — informed by Preparedness Priorities
  • Progressive Approach to build and maintain new and existing capabilities
  • Uses POETE elements to focus efforts and resource allocation

Organization:

  • Preparedness Priorities
  • Concept of Operations
  • Core Capabilities
  • Preparedness Activities (3-year Plan)
    • Year One: Activities by Month
    • Year Two: Activities by Quarter
    • Year Three: Annual Targets

Training & Exercise Program Program Contacts

Training Program – Shared Inbox
General Inbox | EMD.training@mil.wa.gov
Training Phone Number | (253) 512-7021

Exercise Program – Shared Inbox
General Inbox | EMD.exercise@mil.wa.gov


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