Today’s FEMA Daily Digest Bulletin announced the release of Core Capability Development Sheets which are intended to help jurisdictions build or sustain each capability by integrating:

• Available training courses
• Capability targets for the THIRA
• Nationally typed resources
• Partners to support development of capabilities
• Exercise support and guidance to validate capabilities
• Assistance from the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate

In all, there are 48 Core Capability Development Sheets.  This made me raise an eyebrow when I first read it, as there are 32 Core Capabilities.  The 48 sheets account for the common Core Capabilities (Planning, Public Information and Warning, and Operational Coordination) being carried across each of the five mission areas, as well as other Core Capabilities that are carried across more than one mission area, such as Infrastructure Systems.  This is smart, since, for example, Operational Coordination has some different applications between mission areas, such as Prevention and Recovery.

The sheets themselves offer some good information and make a nice quick reference, particularly for those who aren’t hip-deep in the Core Capabilities on a regular basis.  Matching the National Preparedness Goal, each Core Capability starts off identification of the applicable mission area and a description.  The sheets also identify some training programs across DHS training consortium entities, such as EMI and CDP, which can support the capability.

I like the inclusion of example capability targets, which compliments THIRA development, but also helps users wrap their heads a bit more around the concept of each Core Capability, how progress can be measured, and what can be strived for.  They also offer some identification of resource types that fall in line with the national Resource Typing Library Tool.  I’m a bit ambivalent about this, as the resources identified are response-oriented resources.  For example, the Planning Core Capability identifies two resources – Planning Section Chief (Type 3) and an EOC Planning Section Chief.  Yes, there is obviously a strong case for operational planning in an incident (i.e. the ICS Planning Process), but there is no acknowledgment in this area of resources needed for pre-planning, even though the recommended training does focus on pre-planning.

Each sheet also provides summaries of information on potential partners to help support capability development as well as resources to assist in validating capabilities, the latter being largely exercise focused.  Every sheet has a number of links and even email addresses to DHS program areas which can provide additional information, which may be one of the best aspects of these sheets.

While it’s not indicated that the Core Capability Development Sheets are in any kind of draft form, FEMA’s Technical Assistance program does ask that feedback and comments are emailed to them at FEMA-TARequest@fema.dhs.gov.

I like the concept of these sheets and most of the information contained within.  They are a good quick reference for those that don’t work with the Core Capabilities all the time, and I envision these being circulated for study ahead of meetings, such training and exercise planning workshops (TEPWs) and THIRA/SPR meetings to make sure there is a foundational understanding of each Core Capability and some ideas on how they can be further developed for a jurisdiction.  Kudos to FEMA’s Technical Assistance program on these!  I hope they continue to develop as we all gain a better understanding of how to grow our capabilities.

I’m always interested in the thoughts of readers.  Please look these over and share what you think about them.

© 2017 – Timothy M. Riecker, CEDP

Emergency Preparedness Solutions, LLC