FCEM&HS HOLDS 2013 REGIONAL FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE NOVEMBER 21ST

    Posted: 11/19/2013

    (COLUMBUS, OHIO) – Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security (FCEM&HS) and the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) will hold a Regional Functional Exercise (FE) on November 21st to test information sharing and evaluate current response plans among multiple Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in the Columbus MSA. A functional exercise is designed to evaluate capabilities through a simulated exercise scenario featuring complex and realistic problems which require rapid and effective responses by trained personnel in a highly stressful, time-constrained environment. 

    WHO: Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security (FCEM&HS), American Electric Power (AEP), American Red Cross (ARC), Central Ohio Amateur Radio Emergency Service (COARES), Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA), Central Ohio Severe Weather Network (COSWN), Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Central Ohio Trauma System (COTS), Columbus Division of Police (CPD), Columbus Division of Fire (CFD), Columbus Public Health (CPH), Franklin County Data Center, Franklin County Engineers Office (FCEO), Franklin County Office on Aging (FCOA), Franklin County Public Health (FCPH), Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), HandsOn Central Ohio (HOCO), Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA), Ohio State University (OSU), Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), and all MSA County EOCs. 

    WHAT: Functional Exercise for key local, city, and multi-county emergency management agencies, 
    including the private sector. This exercise will focus on communications, coordination, critical decision 
    making and integration of local, state and federal partners. 

    The event is open to the media. Officials are welcome to attend and observe. 

    WHEN: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursday, November 21, 2013 

    WHERE: FCEM&HS, 5300 Strawberry Farms Blvd., Columbus, Ohio 43230. 

    This Homeland Security funded exercise is designed to evaluate local agencies and multiple jurisdiction’s current response plans and capabilities for a natural disaster and cyber event. Capabilities being evaluated during the exercise include Communications, Emergency Operations Center Management, Emergency Public Information and Warning and Information Gathering and Recognition of Indicators and Warnings. 

    FCEM&HS is a local government agency which coordinates county-wide emergency/disaster planning, education, warning, response and recovery.

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