Functional Exercise

An operations based functional exercise is a fully simulated interactive exercise that typically tests the capability of an organization’s operational plan. It is a coordinated response to a situation in a time pressured, realistic simulation.

The focus of a functional exercise is on coordination, integration and interaction of an agency or organizations policies, procedures, roles and responsibilities before, during or after the simulated event. It simulates an incident in the most realistic manner short of moving resources.

Participants in a functional exercise assemble in an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for exercise play.

Participants in a functional exercise assemble in an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for exercise play.

A Functional Exercise Is:

  • A more complex exercise then the tabletop exercise, it requires carefully scripted messages injected to cause participants to make decisions and act on them.
  • Geared for policy, coordination and operations personnel.
  • Provides an opportunity for participants to respond in real time with decision making and actions.


Pre-Emergency Planning, LLC can design, develop and facilitate a functional exercise to test and evaluate the skills and capabilities of your department or agency to coordinate decision making and response activities.