Operational Planning Guidance (OPG)
Catastrophic incidents create devastation beyond normal expectations and are very difficult to predict. It is the mission of the Department to safeguard the American people, our Homeland, and our values. Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland Security coordinates preparedness activities within the United States to respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. However, DHS planning and preparedness efforts have not historically been developed to accommodate catastrophic disasters, and this complicated real-world response operations for these low-probability, high-consequence events. Thus, identified as a priority by DHS senior leaders and tasked by the Secretary in the FY2017 Operational Planning Guidance (FY2017 OPG) catastrophic disaster planning is a DHS priority. For these reasons, a Departmental plan to prepare for and respond to a catastrophic incident is a Departmental responsibility and the OPG-tasked CDS CONOPS will address the S1 guidance, while a tabletop exercise (TTX) will put the plan into action safeguarding Americans and protecting our Homeland.
…show more content…
National Preparedness is fundamental to safeguarding the American people and our Homeland from a catastrophic disaster.
Although catastrophic incidents are very difficult to predict they will have a major effect on our Homeland and planning for such an event is critical for preparedness. Through lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, we learned that deployment practices and response authorities needed reevaluation and a shorter delivery time for large-scale deployment of resources is required, respectively. In addition, the unaccompanied alien child crisis required DHS Components and interagency partners to respond to atypical missions in new ways. Moreover, we must continue to increase preparedness through efficient and effective
planning. Through real-world experiences and lessons learned, DHS senior leaders identified catastrophic disaster support planning as a priority and the Secretary through the OPG communicated this planning requirement to our Operational Planning stakeholders. Furthermore, the guidance specifically tasks the development of a plan that will describe how the Department will manage the deployment of Component capabilities during a catastrophic incident while preserving our ability to perform our Mission Essential Functions. Consequently, validating the CDS CONOPS through a TTX is critical since it is only a matter of time until the Department will need to execute our plan. A TTX will play a vital role in achieving the planning objectives and enhancing national preparedness by enabling senior leaders and planners to test and validate the CONOPS and identify both capability gaps and areas for improvement in a low-risk and cost-effective environment. During a four-hour facilitated TTX in the summer of 2017, senior leaders are encouraged to discuss issues in-depth, collaboratively examining areas of concern, and solving problems. After completing the TTX, they will have examined DHS Interagency roles and responsibilities, authorities, and capabilities during a national-level catastrophic incident exercise scenario. In addition, senior leaders will validate incident thresholds, conditions, and activities that affect these roles and responsibilities of our mission essential functions. The result of this CDS CONOPS-based TTX will be a high quality plan that increases preparedness.
In summary, the CDS CONOPS will identify how the Department will prepare for and respond to a catastrophic incident, while a tabletop exercise (TTX) will validate the plan and will keep the American people safe. Planning for such an event is critical for preparedness. Through lessons learned, we know that catastrophic incidents are very difficult to predict; however, it will have a major effect on our Homeland. As a result, the Secretary directed the development of a DHS CDS CONOPS to prepare for and respond to a catastrophic incident. By executing a TTX in a low-risk and cost-effective environment, it will result in a high quality plan that increases our preparedness to respond to a catastrophic incident that keeps the America people safe.
National Preparedness is fundamental to safeguarding the American people and our Homeland from a catastrophic disaster.
Although catastrophic incidents are very difficult to predict they will have a major effect on our Homeland and planning for such an event is critical for preparedness. Through lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, we learned that deployment practices and response authorities needed reevaluation and a shorter delivery time for large-scale deployment of resources is required, respectively. In addition, the unaccompanied alien child crisis required DHS Components and interagency partners to respond to atypical missions in new ways. Moreover, we must continue to increase preparedness through efficient and effective
planning. Through real-world experiences and lessons learned, DHS senior leaders identified catastrophic disaster support planning as a priority and the Secretary through the OPG communicated this planning requirement to our Operational Planning stakeholders. Furthermore, the guidance specifically tasks the development of a plan that will describe how the Department will manage the deployment of Component capabilities during a catastrophic incident while preserving our ability to perform our Mission Essential Functions. Consequently, validating the CDS CONOPS through a TTX is critical since it is only a matter of time until the Department will need to execute our plan. A TTX will play a vital role in achieving the planning objectives and enhancing national preparedness by enabling senior leaders and planners to test and validate the CONOPS and identify both capability gaps and areas for improvement in a low-risk and cost-effective environment. During a four-hour facilitated TTX in the summer of 2017, senior leaders are encouraged to discuss issues in-depth, collaboratively examining areas of concern, and solving problems. After completing the TTX, they will have examined DHS Interagency roles and responsibilities, authorities, and capabilities during a national-level catastrophic incident exercise scenario. In addition, senior leaders will validate incident thresholds, conditions, and activities that affect these roles and responsibilities of our mission essential functions. The result of this CDS CONOPS-based TTX will be a high quality plan that increases preparedness.
In summary, the CDS CONOPS will identify how the Department will prepare for and respond to a catastrophic incident, while a tabletop exercise (TTX) will validate the plan and will keep the American people safe. Planning for such an event is critical for preparedness. Through lessons learned, we know that catastrophic incidents are very difficult to predict; however, it will have a major effect on our Homeland. As a result, the Secretary directed the development of a DHS CDS CONOPS to prepare for and respond to a catastrophic incident. By executing a TTX in a low-risk and cost-effective environment, it will result in a high quality plan that increases our preparedness to respond to a catastrophic incident that keeps the America people safe.