What type of drills practice specific skill sets needed for emergency response?

Functional exercises are designed to practice specific skill sets required for emergency response in a realistic but controlled environment. These exercises typically involve the actual deployment of personnel and resources, allowing participants to engage in hands-on simulation of emergency scenarios. Participants practice their roles and responsibilities in a dynamic setting, which helps enhance coordination among different agencies and sectors involved in emergency management. This type of exercise focuses on operational aspects rather than just discussions or theoretical planning, ensuring that teams can effectively perform their tasks under the pressures of a real-world situation.

Tabletop exercises, while useful for discussing and outlining procedures, do not involve active participation in executing tasks in a simulated environment. They are more about reviewing plans and policies with a focus on discussions rather than practicing necessary skills. Community outreach events are aimed at educating the public and building awareness rather than honing response skills. Mass casualty simulations are extensive scenarios that may integrate various response roles but are generally broader than just the specific skill sets practiced in functional exercises.