“Readiness Assurance” is the ongoing process of verifying and demonstrating readiness to respond. A readiness assurance program provides assurances that emergency plans, implementing procedures, and resources are adequate and sufficiently maintained, exercised, and evaluated, and that improvements are made in response to identified needs. Each NNSA emergency management program must implement a readiness assurance program consisting of the following components:

• Evaluations (including appraisals and assessments) - Identify findings (i.e., weaknesses or deficiencies) in emergency management programs and/or provide assurances that emergency capabilities are sufficient to implement emergency plans.  Readiness assurance evaluation activities can include: program and exercise evaluations, tracking performance indicators, and no-notice exercises;
• Improvements - Ensure that appropriate and timely improvements are made in response to needs identified through coordinated emergency planning, resource allocation, program assistance activities, evaluations, training, drills, and exercises; and,
• Emergency Readiness Assurance Plans (ERAPs) - Document the readiness of the emergency management program based on emergency planning and preparedness activities and the results of the readiness assurance program, including evaluations and improvements.  The ERAP is a planning tool to identify and develop needed resources and improvements, and to highlight changes and achievements in the program.