The workshop was pilot-tested in Columbus, OH and Boston, MA and has since been used by the Department of Defense about 20 times, for those cities on the list of 120 designated for training. Additional materials have been added, and made available on the FEMA website for use by other cities. One of the challenges in communicating with senior level officials has been to keep them focused on broader policy decisions, as opposed to tactical details. Issues dealing with the community employees and their families must be addressed, as well as issues dealing with the economic impact on the city of the attack. A vulnerability assessment is also a key component.
Teamwork is stressed throughout.
This workshop seems to get the attention of local officials, when other types of hazards may not. Feedback from the initial pilots was very positive. He also develops training courses and serves as the Training Division representative for the Corrective Action Program Support System. When Mr. Hickethier first joined EMI, his primary responsibilities included coordinating distance education initiatives for EMI course delivery and informing staff of distance education opportunities and methodologies. He was instrumental in the development of EMI's first computer-based multimedia exercise simulation, using video and audio formats.