To assess preparedness phase activities, we examined procedures used by staff and local officials to review and update state and local emergency operations plans, reviewed the process for planning, scheduling, and conducting exercises, and evaluated the approach used by DES to provide emergency management training to local jurisdictions. We conclude DES could increase assistance to local jurisdictions in this area by restructuring district boundaries and increasing the number of district representatives. We found the basis for planning, scheduling, and conducting emergency exercises is FEMA criteria requiring one exercise per year. The intent of the FEMA criteria was to assure a frequency which tested a wide range of local plans within a few years. However, we found counties unable to comply with the annual requirement because of the amount of time required to plan and schedule an exercise and the time required for real emergency and disaster events.
Training is a major part of the preparedness phase.
Staff capability to provide training instruction rather than work on other duties and responsibilities is a key factor tying all three areas of concern together. During our review of staff activities, we found most staff were involved with some aspect of training. As a result, some staff could not focus on primary responsibilities such as project management and planning. We recommend DES evaluate alternatives which concentrate training responsibilities with fewer staff. DES developed a combination of professional development and functional training courses.