The Exercise Team was formed within the Division of Regional and Local Health Operations, Community Preparedness Section, Preparedness Coordination Branch, to lead and be responsible for the overall development, maintenance, and defined user compliance within the Exercise and Evaluation Program. This ensures, where possible, that exercises conducted,  and documentation submitted, comply with all federal and state standards to fulfill grant requirements and to improve all-hazards capabilities. The Exercise Team is responsible for the following: 

1. Develop, maintain, and refine the specific Exercise guidance and direction on Exercise processes, standards, formats, and reporting of exercises conducted in support of all grants and grant programs containing identified Exercise mandates or requirements;
2. Coordinate with various program managers within DSHS Community Preparedness managing federal or state grants and other relevant programs in the development of Exercise policies, processes, formats, and reporting procedures to ensure HSEEP compliance, thereby ensuring compliance with the grant-based and/or executive-directed Exercise requirements;
3. Provide consultative and direct support* to the enterprise agencies, stakeholders, contractors, and other state agencies in the design, development, conduct, and documentation of Exercises and reporting of actual responses and incidents;
4. Provide or coordinate the availability of training in all aspects of Exercise design, conduct, evaluation, documentation, and reporting for agency, stakeholder, or contractor personnel charged with Exercise responsibilities within their respective organizations.

*Direct communication with the Exercise Team is encouraged. Please email preparednessexercise@dshs.texas.gov..

This is a shared mailbox, which all team members share by region.

Exercise Guidance

November 2012 Exercise Guidance -- THIS DOCUMENT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION APRIL 2014

Documents for Exercise Reporting

These exercise documents replace all issued previously.  These will be reviewed quarterly and updated as necessary.

Notice of Exercise

Multi-Year Training and Exercise Planning

Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan Template

Exercise Design and Development Assistance Tools

Exercise Needs Capacity Assessment Tool

Writing Capability-Based Exercise Objectives Manual

DSHS Exercise Planning Timeline, Discussion-based Exercises

DSHS Exercise Planning Timeline, Operation-based Exercises

DSHS Exercise Plan

Exercise Source Documents

Web Based Resources