Emergency Planning Course

Lesson 1 • Hazard Identification and Classification

Covers natural, technological, and human-caused hazard categories and their distinct risk profiles. Establishes the hazard taxonomy used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • The Emergency Management Cycle

Introduces the four-phase cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Positions evacuation planning within the preparedness and response phases.

Lesson 3 • Roles and Responsibilities of Planners

Defines the specialist's duties relative to management, safety officers, and external agencies. Clarifies authority, accountability, and coordination expectations.

Lesson 4 • Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement

Identifies internal and external stakeholders whose input shapes plan quality. Teaches methods for securing buy-in early in the planning process.

Lesson 1 • Risk Assessment Methodologies

Compares qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative assessment approaches. Guides selection of the appropriate method based on data availability and site complexity.

Lesson 2 • Critical Asset and Resource Identification

Identifies assets and resources whose loss would impair evacuation capability. Feeds directly into resource planning and continuity sections of the emergency plan.

Lesson 3 • Building the Risk Register

Consolidates assessment outputs into a structured risk register with ownership and review dates. Establishes the register as a living document updated throughout the plan lifecycle.

Lesson 4 • Vulnerability and Consequence Analysis

Evaluates physical, social, and operational vulnerabilities that amplify hazard impact. Links vulnerability findings to consequence severity ratings in the risk register.

Lesson 1 • Plan Types and Formats

Distinguishes basic, functional, and full-scale plan formats and their appropriate use cases. Aligns format selection with organizational size, hazard profile, and regulatory requirements.

Lesson 2 • Core Plan Elements

Covers mandatory elements: purpose, scope, situation overview, concept of operations, and authorities. Teaches concise, action-oriented writing for each element.

Lesson 3 • Plan Writing and Document Control

Applies plain-language writing standards and version-control practices to plan documents. Ensures plans remain current, accessible, and legally defensible.

Lesson 4 • Notification and Warning Systems

Designs internal and external notification chains and warning signal protocols. Ensures warning systems reach all occupants, including those with sensory impairments.

Lesson 1 • Accessibility and Inclusive Evacuation

Designs evacuation procedures that address mobility, sensory, and cognitive impairments. Introduces areas of refuge, personal emergency evacuation plans, and buddy systems.

Lesson 2 • Egress Principles and Calculations

Applies occupant load, exit width, and travel distance formulas to determine egress adequacy. Connects calculation outputs to code-compliant exit placement decisions.

Lesson 3 • High-Rise and Complex Facility Egress

Addresses phased evacuation, elevator use, and stairwell management in tall and complex buildings. Applies floor warden systems to coordinate multi-floor evacuations.

Lesson 4 • Route Mapping and Signage

Creates clear evacuation route maps and specifies compliant signage placement. Addresses multilingual and pictogram-based signage for diverse occupant populations.

Lesson 1 • Functional Needs Assessment

Applies the CMIST framework to assess communication, medical, independence, supervision, and transport needs. Translates assessment results into individual accommodation plans.

Lesson 2 • Evacuation Assistance Techniques

Trains planners in safe carry, transfer, and mobility-assist techniques for non-ambulatory individuals. Covers equipment selection and staff training requirements.

Lesson 3 • Identifying Special Population Groups

Defines special populations across healthcare, educational, correctional, and public assembly settings. Establishes a population registry process to support pre-incident planning.

Lesson 4 • Reunification Planning

Establishes family and caregiver reunification procedures for schools, healthcare, and public venues. Covers identity verification, tracking systems, and emotional support protocols.

Lesson 1 • EOC Layout and Technology Setup

Designs physical and virtual EOC layouts that support information flow and decision-making. Specifies technology requirements including displays, communication systems, and backup power.

Lesson 2 • EOC Concepts and Activation Levels

Defines EOC functions, types, and tiered activation levels tied to incident severity. Clarifies the EOC's coordination role versus the on-scene command function.

Lesson 3 • Multi-Agency Coordination

Coordinates resources and decisions across multiple agencies operating from a shared EOC. Covers mutual aid agreements, resource typing, and inter-agency communication protocols.

Lesson 4 • Staffing, Roles, and Position Checklists

Assigns EOC positions using a functional structure aligned with ICS. Develops position-specific checklists covering activation, operational, and deactivation tasks.

Lesson 1 • Evaluating Exercise Performance

Applies structured evaluation tools to measure performance against exercise objectives. Distinguishes strengths from areas for improvement using observable, evidence-based criteria.

Lesson 2 • Exercise Program Design Principles

Applies a capabilities-based design approach to build a multi-year exercise program. Links exercise objectives to identified plan gaps and regulatory requirements.

Lesson 3 • Discussion-Based Exercise Types

Designs and facilitates seminars, workshops, tabletops, and games to test plans conceptually. Covers scenario development, facilitation techniques, and participant engagement methods.

Lesson 4 • Operations-Based Exercise Types

Plans and executes drills, functional exercises, and full-scale exercises to test operational capability. Addresses safety, controller roles, and realism in live exercise environments.

Lesson 1 • Incident Documentation and Data Collection

Establishes documentation protocols during and immediately after an incident. Captures timeline data, decision logs, and resource records needed for thorough post-incident analysis.

Lesson 2 • Root Cause and Contributing Factor Analysis

Applies root cause analysis tools to distinguish symptoms from underlying system failures. Identifies contributing factors that, if unaddressed, will produce repeat incidents.

Lesson 3 • Benchmarking and External Learning

Uses peer organization benchmarking and published incident reports to supplement internal lessons. Builds a culture of proactive learning that extends beyond the organization's own incidents.

Lesson 4 • Plan Review Cycles and Governance

Establishes scheduled and trigger-based plan review cycles with defined governance roles. Ensures plans remain current following organizational changes, new hazards, or regulatory updates.