National Exercise Simulation Center (NESC)
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=47280
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently held the official opening of its newly constructed National Exercise Simulation Center (NESC) at FEMA Headquarters. The NESC provides a state-of-the-art facility to serve the all-hazards preparedness and response mission through pooling resources, maximizing efficiency and providing sustained exercise and training support to all stakeholders. The 2006 Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) Section 664 called for the establishment of a National Exercise Simulation Center that uses a mix of live, virtual and constructive simulations to: Prepare elected officials, emergency managers, emergency response providers and emergency support suppliers at all levels of government to operate cohesively; Provide a learning environment for Homeland Security personnel of all federal agencies; Assist in the development of operational procedures and exercises, particularly those based on catastrophic incidents; and Allow incident commanders to exercise decision making in a simulated environment.
Article formerly posted at https://www.hsdl.org/blog/newpost/view/s_3178