In keeping with its 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, FEMA will conduct its 2018 National Level Exercise on April 30 – May 11, 2018. The exercise, which is based on a mid-Atlantic major hurricane scenario, will test federal, state and local governments’ ability to respond to catastrophic events. Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and the District of Columbia will join departments and agencies across the federal government in participation. Others, including the private sector (a known key player in helping communities respond and recover from disasters), non-profit organizations and individuals are also invited, and urged, to get involved in the biennial exercise.

As the first of its kind since the release of FEMA’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, the 2018 National Level Exercise will test lessons learned from the unprecedented 2017 Hurricane Season. Exercise activities are based on a mid-Atlantic hurricane scenario, where a major hurricane makes landfall in Virginia, causing severe damage to homes and businesses. Per FEMA, the scenario will include power outages and cascading effects to critical infrastructure systems, including impacts to communications, transportation, water, wastewater and hospitals.

The 2018 National Level Exercise fully supports the three goals of the Strategic Plan: build a culture of preparedness, increase readiness for potential catastrophic events, and reduce the complexity of FEMA. More importantly, the exercise will provide everyone in hurricane-prone areas the opportunity to better prepare for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. It officially starts on June 1st.

As a leader in emergency, continuity and hazard mitigation planning, BOLDplanning certainly understands and appreciates the need to prepare for natural disasters and other critical events. We’re also very proud that a number of our clients will be actively participating in the 2018 National Level Exercise. This is your (and our) chance to show everyone you’re ready, and that you’re BOLD!