The initial steps to planning an exercise include identifying:

• Exercise purpose
• Proposed exercise scenario, capabilities, tasks, and objectives
• Available exercise resources
• Proposed exercise location, date, and duration
• Exercise planning team and exercise participants

An exercise Interim Planning Meeting can establish:

• The exercise planning schedule
• Clearly defined, obtainable, and measurable exercise capabilities, tasks, and objectives
• Identified exercise scenario variables (e.g., threat scenario, scope of hazard, venue, conditions)

Additional information and tools for exercise planning and assistance can be found at the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Website.