Emergency Management Oversight News

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (HS-63) Participation in the Conduct of Composite Performance Tests (CPTs)

In 2004, the Office of Security Evaluations (HS-61) and the Office of Emergency Management Oversight (HS-63) began to collaborate on the design and conduct of performance tests intended to evaluate the integration of security and emergency management considerations during a Force-on-Force exercise. In the most complex test to date of a site's security and emergency preparedness, Independent Oversight was involved in the recently-completed Los Alamos National Laboratory Composite Performance Test (CPT). In addition to the typical security-related objectives of a Force-on-Force exercise, this test focused on the performance of the emergency management functions that would be needed in an after-hours emergency involving the potential for release of a hazardous material and personnel injuries resulting from a malevolent act. The Independent Oversight inspection team concluded that the LANL CPT was an effective vehicle for demonstrating integrated security and emergency response. The CPT also indicated areas where the emergency management and security organizations could make improvements in the integration of response plans and procedures (e.g., impact of SECON implementation plans on the functioning of the emergency response organization) and in the planning of exercises that involve substantial participation by both organizations.

Noteworthy Practices, Opportunities For Improvements, and Lessons Learned

HS-63 will continue to highlight "Noteworthy Practices" and "Opportunities for Improvements (OFI)" found during emergency management inspections. These practices are good working practices or recommended actions found at DOE sites that another DOE site may find useful. Usually the practice will not have been widely implemented and therefore may give another DOE site an alternative to achieving a specific goal.

HS-63 would like to stress the importance of lessons learned. Performance, cost savings, improved safety, greater productivity and better results can all be gained from using lessons learned by others. Lessons learned are also an important component of the feedback and continuous improvement function within the Integrated Safety Management System. The DOE Office of Health, Safety and Security and the Department of Homeland Security have established on-line lessons learned databases which the emergency management community can take advantage of. We encourage the use of both web sites. The DOE-HSS on-line lessons learned database can be found on DOE Lessons Learned Database and the DHS lessons learned database can be found on https://www.llis.dhs.gov/.