The mission of the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect citizens and institutions from all hazards by operating and maintaining a comprehensive all-hazard community-based, state-of-the-art emergency management infrastructure .

In keeping with this mission, HSEMA will provide District residents with the opportunity to learn what steps they can take to be more prepared when disaster strikes.

HSEMA recognizes that the neighborhoods of DC are very distinct and face different challenges.  HSEMA also understands the need for citizens to be prepared to sustain themselves for at least 72 hours.

With these considerations in mind, HSEMA will engage District residents, neighborhood leaders and representatives of local civic organizations to be prepared for a disaster by holding neighborhood tabletop exercises all across the District. 

HSEMA’s goal is to increase the preparedness of DC families and neighborhoods.  Using a hurricane scenario, participants will work through a table top exercises that will examine existing neighborhood plans and identify specific concerns and vulnerabilities.

These community exercises will assist local residents in making contingency plans so that during a disaster, local residents can get vital information, are well stocked with food, water and medicines and have practiced contingency plans if an evacuation is necessary.

It will also establish an on-going planning process for concerned residents, community leaders and representatives of local civic organizations to address their neighborhood concerns together.