U.S. Army offers stimulating simulations for emergency responders
Eighteen customizable programs offer a thorough work-out of any agency’s response capabilities; military organziations can learn for free, but cities and states may find the fees reimbursable by DHS
We have often reported on emergency response drills, pointing out as we do so that states and municipalties often have the choice of developing a program of their own or buying one from one of the many training companies that have sprung up in the wake of 9/11. Officials, however, should consider a third route: the U.S. Army’s EPiCS (Emergency Preparedness Incident Command Simulation) program, which uses a combination of live presentations and multimedia computer simulations to help government workers hone their preparedness against terrorist attacks and other emergencies.
Like many of its competitors, EPiCS training is customized to meet the needs of the particular city, with different scenarios for those concerned about port security and those more worried about attacks on chemical plants. (In total, EPiCS has a base of 18 custom exercises availble, which themselves can be tweaked if neccesary.) All types of command structures can be managed — testing a municipality’s communications is critical — and the exercises include comprehensive after-action briefings for staff and crisis managers.
Custom exercises are available to U.S. Army staff free of charge. For organizations outside of the Army, fees start at $150,000 per exercise. These fees, however, may be reimbursable through DHS.
-read more in Jacqueline Emigh’s Government Security report
