Preparedness Portfolio

Overview

Under the leadership of the Preparedness Portfolio Manager, the portfolio focuses on strengthening Nevada’s preparedness capabilities. The Planning Program focuses on deliberate strategic, operational, and tactical planning efforts to ensure effective coordination and readiness for emergencies. The Training & Exercises Program emphasizes rigorous training and realistic exercises to build the skills and confidence of Nevada’s emergency responders and emergency management practitioners. The Mitigation Program proactively identifies and addresses vulnerabilities by analyzing hazards, assessing risks, and implementing long-term strategies such as infrastructure improvements, policy development, and community education to reduce the impact of disasters and enhance overall preparedness. 20 Together, these programs ensure Nevada’s emergency management and homeland security enterprise is equipped to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.

Planning Program:

This program performs the annual Threats and Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA)and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), which identifies and assesses threats and hazards that Nevada may experience and develops a gap analysis of capabilities based on those threats and hazards. The State Planning Program develops plans and assists local jurisdictions and tribal nations with their emergency management planning efforts. State Planning also manages the industry plans submission program for jurisdictions, schools, utilities, and resort hotels in accordance with state regulations.  

Exercise Program:

This program uses the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) to develop exercises and test state capabilities, while also assisting local and tribal jurisdictions with exercises and evaluations. The program analyzes the results of those exercises to develop improvement plans. The State Exercise Officer also acts as the Division’s Internship Coordinator. Additionally, the Exercise Program organizes the three annual Regional Integrated Planning Symposiums (RIPS). The RIPS gathers emergency managers and stakeholders from the Northern, Southern, and Eastern regions for three days of training, capability assessments, and the development of the 5-year Integrated Preparedness Plan.

  • After-Action Report: A document created following an emergency exercise or real-world incident, designed to analyze the response, identify areas of strength, pinpoint areas for improvement, and provide actionable recommendations to enhance future preparedness and response capabilities by capturing key lessons learned from the event.

Mitigation Program:

This program develops plans and manages grants that reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property. It is responsible for developing the Enhanced Statewide Mitigation Plan, which identifies and ranks hazards and develops mitigation strategies for each hazard.

Training Program:

This program develops, schedules, and facilitates training for FEMA-certified Incident Command System (ICS) courses, FEMA position-specific courses, capabilities-based training, and hazards-based training. The program also offers the Emergency Management Institute (EMI)-accredited 3-week Basic Academy for new emergency managers and the EMI-accredited Advanced Academy for advanced emergency practitioners.

Internship Program

This program provides students with a unique opportunity to apply classroom skills and theory to real-life work situations. This hands-on program is designed to strengthen fundamental emergency management concepts and develop the confidence and skills of the next generation to prepare them for future employment opportunities.

Work with a Northern or Southern Nevada Site Supervisor to assist the Division of Emergency Management / Homeland Security in coordinating the prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery programs and resources through partnerships to build resilient communities for Nevada’s residents and visitors.