Emergency Management of Tomorrow Research: Emergency Operations Center of the Future Tabletop Exercises

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) partnered with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) on the Emergency Management of Tomorrow Research (EMOTR) program. PNNL hosted three tabletop exercises (TTX) to develop concepts for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the Future and provide recommendations to assist DHS S&T in future decision-making with regards to research and development (R&D) and investments toward establishing a framework for a national, coordinated approach to emergency management (EM). Each TTX brought together emergency managers and first responders with diverse backgrounds; federal, state, and local EOC stakeholders; and academic researchers.

The TTXs were designed to be sequential, spanning a variety of EM organization sizes and population densities. The first EMOTR TTX in Madison, WI, focused on technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Virtual EOC concept—which relies heavily on efficient communication and distributed capabilities from county, state, and federal organizations. The second TTX, held in Nashua, NH, focused on human-machine teaming and how the most useful emerging technologies and tools can be optimized for maximum EM function effectiveness. The final TTX in Seattle, WA, focused on human-machine teaming and enhanced community partnerships during disaster response, identifying ways to maximize efficiency in EM awareness and response when circumstances are overwhelming.