The Federal Emergency Management Agency has stretched its exercise capacities with the opening of the National Exercise Simulation Center on January 12. The center, which was mandated as part of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, will offer virtual and live all-hazard preparedness and response simulations.
The center is key to creating a Federal Coordination Center at FEMA headquarters, according to a FEMA press release. Other pieces of the effort include the Disaster Operations Directorate and National Response Coordination Center. When fully functional, FEMA will provide coordinated planning, training, and operational support to emergency officials at the local, state, regional, and federal levels.
The new simulation center now supports basic training and exercises. Eventually, the center will offer realistic incident scenarios, 24-hour simulation exercises, modeling and planning support, mock-media capabilities, and real world coordination activities.