What should exercises include according to best practices?

Best practices for exercises in emergency management emphasize the importance of a comprehensive and collaborative approach to preparedness training. Including multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional incidents along with participation from private sector entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) enhances the realism and effectiveness of exercises.

By involving multiple agencies and sectors, exercises can simulate the complexities of real-world scenarios where various stakeholders may need to coordinate their resources, skills, and knowledge. This collaboration helps to improve communication, foster relationships among different organizations, and create a more integrated response to emergencies. Furthermore, the inclusion of diverse perspectives and resources from both public and private sectors leads to a more robust evaluation of readiness and capabilities.

In contrast, focusing solely on single agency responses or restricting participation to only government agencies limits the scope and effectiveness of the exercise. Basic response scenarios may not adequately test the capabilities and communication frameworks necessary for a coordinated response in a complex incident, which could lead to gaps in preparedness. Thus, embracing a broad and inclusive approach to exercise design is vital for enhancing overall emergency management efficacy.