The risk management systems used by public agencies and private corporations to protect lives and assets from threats posed by natural disasters, system failures and terrorism must include proactive plans that ensure the effective management of incidents when they do occur. Experience and data show that exercises are a practical and efficient way to prepare for crises. They test critical resistance, identify procedural difficulties and provide plans for corrective actions to improve crisis and consequence management response capabilities without the penalties that might be incurred in real crises. Exercises also provide a unique learning opportunity to synchronize and integrate cross-functional and intergovernmental crisis and management response. The Challenge Emergency response organizations must always be ready to alert affected parties, mobilize necessary resources, monitor and manage the incident, initiate continuity plans for continued business and services and respond to public perceptions and legal consequences of the incident. Effective emergency exercise planning requires disciplined, knowledge-based planning and the tools to fully understand the interdependencies and failure mechanisms in existing systems.   The IDEA Approach IDEA uses a framework for decision processing based on its experience that enables government and business to prepare comprehensive and interdependent incident management plans. In order to develop effective plans appropriate for our clients, IDEA evaluates six organizational profiles:

the level and type of economic impact the business has on its community, the number of employees, and external parties affected by the business. types of assets under control of the organization, and interdependencies with other assets and with other agencies/businesses. the single most important factor in defending the enterprise. Employees must accept their role, and the management organization at all levels must be prepared to respond to all threats. the operational and business dependencies on technology. Technology includes information, assets, communication and data collection. the organization''s relationship with customers, tenants, suppliers, the public, investors and emergency agencies. the existing policies, plans, programs, structure, education, what exists, how well it works, and what is needed. IDEA can support agencies in developing emergency exercise programs that meet the guidelines and intent of HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program). IDEA uses its proprietary, automated planning and management tools to support incident plan development and management processes. IDEA uses a systems-based planning process to integrate advanced planning techniques with state-of-the-art software. IDEA's proprietary software tool, CAPTURE, provides real-time incident management capabilities to ensure an effective, coordinated response.

EXPERTISE SNAP SHOTS :  Homeland Security Planning - Interoperability - Emergency Exercise Planning - Strategic Business Planning