Training & Exercises
DSI’s Training & Exercise Team delivers HSEEP-guided seminars, workshops, drills, and full-scale exercises that are student-centric, relevant, effective, and comprehensive. We also work hard to “train the trainer” in order to prepare local governments and nonprofits for future events.
Emergency Management Operations
DSI has presented training sessions for local government on how to run and/or how to improve the management of a local emergency operations center (EOC). Many counties have received funds to construct new or improved EOCs but have not trained their stakeholder partners on how an EOC is run. DSI has developed a training session on EOC management, using the principles of Incident Command System (ICS) and Emergency Support Functions (ESF). Topics of the course include EOC activation, activation roster development, message flow within the EOC, securing mutual aid through proper channels, chain of command, understanding ICS, and more.
Ensuring your ICS/ESF staff are aware of how their EOC operates is critical if you are going to be successful in managing your disaster. DSI can assist you in every aspect of getting your key stakeholder staff well trained on your EOC management.
If you find you have untrained staff who would work in your EOC, please contact DSI.
School Safety (Including Active Shooter)
Given the recent school shooting incidents around the country, the need for communities to test their capabilities to respond to a threatening incident at a school is of paramount importance. For years, DSI has conducted "School Shooter" exercises to test the jurisdiction's capabilities to respond to and manage a dangerous situation at a school involving children of various ages. DSI has encouraged jurisdictions to perform functional or full exercises to evaluate their capabilities, given the extreme nature of such an event.
The picture above was taken in Wakulla County as they tested their capabilities in an exercise developed and delivered by DSI. This included the use of a school facility on a day that the students were not present. Realistic actors were brought in to simulate intruders into a school with threatening intentions. Local resources were tested to their maximum capabilities. These exercises are extremely realistic. Should your jurisdiction need a school safety exercise, contact DSI. We have a wealth of experience and many subject matter experts in this specialty arena and would look forward to working with you on your particular simulation.
Public Assistance Recovery
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
One of DSI's most active sections is recovery management. This includes all aspects of the recovery process, from conducting initial damage assessments, preliminary damage assessments, preparing project worksheets for the applicant, grants management, and grant closeout. DSI has developed training modules to educate any would-be or current applicant of their roles, responsibilities, and processes in the entire Public Assistance Program.
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
In addition to the PA program training provided by DSI, we have also trained staff on the Individual Assistance (IA) Program, to include conducting preliminary damage assessments for individuals and businesses. DSI has a full training curriculum on the applicant's role and understanding the program in an IA declaration.
COG/COOP
A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) is an effort within individual departments and agencies to ensure that the Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs) continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents, pandemics, and technological or attack-related emergencies.
A comprehensive COOP should include a planning tool with defined processes and detailed information about how to effectively utilize a built-in all-hazards (natural or manmade) module. This tool will identify mission essential functions and employees and establish a plan that allows employees to be functional at the office or remote due to a disruption. Without a defined COOP, inefficiencies and crisis management becomes the focus as opposed to the mission critical services and activities that stakeholders need.
Comprehensive COOPs include:
Software to build and store your plan and documents for operations accessible through the internet.
Development of a pandemic Hazards/Risk Assessment.
Training on preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation actions for a pandemic event.
Identification of essential reports to utilize during a pandemic-related disruption.
DSI has provided numerous training sessions, and educated hundreds of local and state first responders on Continuity of Operations Planning, and Continuity of Government procedures. DSI and BOLD Planning Solutions have jointly developed a state of the art COOP/COG planning software that walks each user through the COOP/COG planning process. Providing the necessary training on how to develop and use a COOP or COG plan is a vital capability DSI has.
Each training course discusses the following key elements of any COOP and/or COG operation:
Risk/Hazard Assessment
Identification of Essential Functions
Identification of Primary and Alternate Facilities
Ensuring the safety of vital records and resources
Identification of COOP Teams and Responsibilities
Delegation of Authorities
Communications
DSI and its Associate Members can provide any level of training and education you will need in order to ensure your jurisdiction is ready to implement a COOP or COG operation. Successful plan development and training now will prevent major problems later.
Were you prepared for COVID-19? If you weren’t, it will be critical to get a well-designed and functional COOP in place for any future disasters. Or, if you already have a COOP in place, it will need to be updated to include lessons learned during this pandemic.
Wind & Flood Mitigation
DSI, under contract to the Florida Association of Counties, developed a comprehensive wind mitigation training course for elected officials and their key staff. Such training has significant short and long-term benefits. All county commissioners and other key county leadership need to be knowledgeable of all aspects of local wind mitigation projects and measures, thus empowering them to implement such measures in their counties. There are many facets to implementing a successful wind mitigation program and many programs available to help local governments do so. This course is designed to educate those in attendance on all aspects of wind mitigation.
The longer-term benefit is this project has the potential to affect thousands of Floridians through their elected leadership over time. This course is available to be given additional times in the future, resulting in a long term benefit for the citizens of the State of Florida. It will also benefit county infrastructure by theoretically reducing the future wind-related damages to buildings, critical infrastructure/key resources (CIKR), and reduce the wind related impacts on the residents.
Flood Mitigation includes any activity (physical improvements or plan development) that can mitigate the destructive impacts of flooding. DSI has developed a flood mitigation course that identifies the various methods to mitigate against floods, and most importantly, to secure needed funding for flood mitigation projects. This effort has been validated through the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida Association of Counties.
National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS)
DSI has trained hundreds of first responders on the use of NIMS/ICS. DSI is certified to provide all of the ICS courses to include:
IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System
IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
IS-800 National Response Framework, An Introduction
DSI also trains users on how to use ICS forms, to include:
ICS Form 201, Incident Briefing
ICS Form 202, Incident Objectives
ICS Form 204, Assignment List
ICS Form 205, Incident Radio Communications Plan
ICS Form 211, Check-In List
ICS Form 213, General Message Form
ICS Form 214, Unit Log
ICS Form 216, Radio Requirements Worksheet
ICS Form 221, Demobilization Plan
