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<br /> <br /> EMPG Program Appendix | February 2021 Page H-9 <br />Training and Exercises <br />Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) <br />Recipients are expected to engage senior leaders and other whole community stakeholders to identify <br />preparedness priorities specific to training and exercise needs, which will guide development of a <br />state/territory multi-year IPP. Similar to the EMPG Program Work Plan development process, these <br />priorities should be informed by various factors, including jurisdiction-specific threats and hazards (i.e., the <br />THIRA); areas for improvement identified by real-world events and exercises (i.e. AARs); external <br />requirements such as state or national preparedness reports (i.e. SPRs), homeland security policy, and <br />industry reports; and accreditation standards, regulations, or legislative requirements. Recipients must <br />document these priorities, in conjunction with the Work Plan development process, and use them to deploy <br />a schedule of preparedness events and activities in the IPP. Information related to IPPs and Integrated <br />Preparedness Planning Workshops (IPPWs) can be found on the FEMA website at <br />https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/exercises/hseep and <br />https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/. <br /> <br />Recipients shall ensure that their EMPG Program Work Plans and IPPs align with and are complementary <br />to one another and are used in tandem to support shared priorities for building and sustaining the <br />state/territory’s preparedness capabilities. Recipients should use the same shared set of priorities in both <br />their IPP and EMPG Program Work Plan, so that EMPG Program investments and projects help recipients <br />implement the planning, training, and exercise activities in their IPPs and advance their IPP priorities. To <br />this end, recipients should develop their IPPs and EMPG Program Work Plans together to create a planned, <br />organized, and methodical approach for closing capability gaps over multiple years. This will help ensure <br />that priorities for both the IPP and EMPG Program Work Plan are based on closing capability gaps <br />documented in their THIRA/SPR and other relevant sources of information. For example, if a recipient <br />selects Logistics and Distribution Management, Resilient Communications, and Housing as its priorities for <br />its EMPG Program Work Plan, those should also be priorities in its IPP. Additionally, IPPs should include <br />all planning, training, and exercise activities funded by the EMPG Program and included in EMPG Program <br />Work Plans, as well as activities funded by other sources. This will ensure that recipients’ preparedness <br />projects, investments, and activities are concentrated, focused, and oriented towards closing gaps related to <br />their top priorities, regardless of funding source. <br /> <br />Validating Capabilities through Exercises <br />All recipients are required to develop and maintain a progressive exercise program consistent with <br />Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidance in support of the National <br />Exercise Program (NEP). The NEP serves as the principal exercise mechanism for examining national <br />preparedness and measuring readiness. The NEP is a two-year cycle of exercises across the nation that <br />validates capabilities in all preparedness mission areas. The two-year NEP cycle is guided by Principals’ <br />Strategic Priorities, established by the National Security Council, and informed by preparedness data from <br />jurisdictions across the Nation. See Exercises | FEMA.gov for additional information. <br /> <br />Although there are no minimum exercise requirements, FEMA Regional Administrators and State <br />Emergency Management Directors will negotiate an exercise program that addresses the priorities and <br />capability gaps identified through the collaborative work plan development process. These exercises must <br />be included in the FY 2021 EMPG Program Work Plan submitted for regional approval and should also be <br />included in the state/territory’s IPP. See the EMPG Program Work Plan section for additional guidance. <br /> <br />The NEP provides exercise sponsors the opportunity to receive exercise design and delivery assistance, <br />tools and resources, enhanced coordination, and the ability to directly influence and inform policy and