Community Emergency Management Exercises  We all need to be prepared, as individuals and as a community, for whatever emergencies may occur. The Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) is sponsoring a series of community-based tabletop exercises to help you, your family, and your neighbors take appropriate steps to prepare for an emergency and understand recovery measures during and after an emergency. Experience has shown that after a major disaster, requests for fire, police, medical, and other public services begin to mount. At some point, the increased demand for services could result in delayed response times. For this reason, neighborhoods should learn to be self-reliant in an emergency. Individuals and organizations should be prepared to be without assistance for 72 hours or longer. A neighborhood that has organized prior to a disaster will know what to do when the disaster occurs and not waste precious time figuring out who can do what. Individuals and neighborhoods that are prepared will know what to expect during times of disaster, what to do, and how to come together in an organized, timely response. Select the following links to learn more about organizing your community and participating in the exercises: Community Emergency Preparedness Committees and Emergency Management Plans Community Tabletop Exercises Sponsored by HSEMA All exercises are sponsored by the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), with coordination and representation from our District Partners.