Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC)

The IEMC Course Structure

The IEMC combines classroom lectures, discussions, small-group planning sessions, and exercise-based training to expose participants to new ideas and increase their awareness of the coordination needed among other agencies and organizations. During IEMC exercises, participants are assigned roles equivalent to their actual position in the community EOC.

• EL0930: IEMC/Community-Specific

  • Classroom Delivery

    Resident (E), Local (L)

  • Audience

    Who should attend

  • Prerequsities

    Recommended courses

  • Course Description

    Community-Specific IEMCs place emphasis on a specific jurisdiction's risks, response capability, core capabilities, and short-term recovery issues. They are tailored to fit the jurisdictions and are based on a selected hazard scenario. Course methodologies include classroom instruction, group planning sessions, and exercises that allow for structured decision-making in a learning environment. A key outcome of this IEMC is to provide participants with the awareness and skills to carry out emergency plans, policies, and procedures related to disaster response and assist with making the transition from response activities to short-term recovery.

  • Course Length

    4 days (28 hours)

  EL0930 Course Details

Helping You Design Your IEMC

Your IEMC is designed by your planning team with the support of training and exercise specialists at the Integrated Emergency Management Branch (IEMB) here at EMI. Each IEMC follows the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology and utilizes SMART Objectives aligned to specific Core Capabilities within the scope of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) personnel responsibilities.

In addition to selected Core Capabilities, each IEMC is designed around the selected jurisdiction's hazards and organizational structure included within its emergency plans. Data reported in the jurisdiction's Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and associated State Preparedness Report is used to design classroom and exercise components of the course.

State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal (SLTT) governments are responsible for achieving greater coordination and responsiveness during times of crisis. Accomplishing this responsibility depends on the ability of EOC personnel to effectively engage each other and emergency support function partners in all five mission areas. Maintaining an effective readiness posture can be achieved through a well-coordinated program of training and exercises like the IEMC. Designing your IEMC so that the exercises are associated with the course work presented is a preferred method to develop skills and build expertise. The IEMC, offered by the Emergency Management Institute of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), places public officials and EOC personnel in simulated, but realistic, crisis situations within a structured learning environment.

The course culminates in a Functional Exercise designed to validate participant knowledge, awareness, flexibility, leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal skills, while in a simulated EOC environment. Participants are challenged to build upon their existing knowledge and experience by incorporating classroom learning into simulated operations during the exercise. The IEMC invites individuals to rehearse their emergency management roles under realistic crisis conditions and contribute professional growth to the community’s emergency response capability.

Example Topics

Lecture topics are designed to make class participants familiar with the various aspects of EOC management. Topics vary depending on the emphasis the community wants for their program. Preparedness and response centric IEMCs include presentations on various disciplines; emergency program management, public policy, community services, public works, fire service, law enforcement, public information/media, public health/hospital management and emergency medical services. Recovery and mitigation centric IEMCs also include sessions on short and long-term recovery issues such as housing, debris management, documentation, mitigation, and long-term recovery.

Who Should Attend an IEMC

The IEMC is designed for personnel who perform specific emergency support responsibilities within their community. A sample of appropriate attendees include:

• Chief elected and appointed officials from Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management agencies
• Senior level personnel from response agencies and organizations (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, public health, public works, etc.)
• Leaders or representatives from volunteer organizations
• Representatives from private organizations who participate in response.

Required Prerequisites

Completion of the IS‑13: NDEMU Conduct and Behavior Course is compulsory before participating in any NDEMU training at the National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU).

It is important to note that this course and exam are not required annually; they only need to be completed once. This course will be treated as a mandatory prerequisite for all courses.

There are 4 highly recommended prerequisite courses to complete before attending an IEMC course: IS100, IS200, IS700 & IS2200

How to Apply for Consideration for an IEMC

The deadline for applying to the Community-Specific IEMC in FY 2027 is June 17, 2026. Applications must be submitted to your respective FEMA Region by this date.

1. Submit Documentation to your State Office

   The chief official of the jurisdiction submits a letter of request, nomination package, and supporting documentation to the respective State Emergency Management Agency.

   Sample IEMC Letter of Request

   Jurisdiction Letterhead

   Jeffrey D. Stern, Ph.D. Superintendent, Emergency Management Institute
   16825 S. Seton Ave.
   Emmitsburg, MD 21727

   Dear Dr. Stern,

   On behalf of (jurisdiction’s name), I respectfully request consideration to receive a Community-specific Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC). We have determined that (jurisdiction’s name) meets the criteria for application and selection for this course conducted by FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI). We understand that approval for an IEMC will require a major commitment from our community. As such, I believe our community is an ideal candidate and would benefit significantly from participation in this course to exercise our emergency operations center (EOC) SOPs and our emergency operations plans.

   As explained in detail in this application package, (jurisdiction’s name) has a population of approximately xxx,xxx permanent residents with a peak business-day population of xxx,xxx. (Provide community characteristics for example: A “Downtown Improvement Program” is currently underway to restore and renovate historic riverfront buildings into apartments and condominiums. In addition, the construction of new Convention Center is nearly complete. The scheduled grand opening within six months will correspond with opening of the Heritage Park open recreation area along the riverfront.)

   We request an IEMC program that will help to prepare us for (type of IEMC requested and primary hazards or event for the exercise scenario). The attached documents provide detailed information concerning our current emergency management program and our disaster history.

   We request your endorsement of this nomination package to be forwarded to the FEMA Region (#) Administrator along with our application package.

   If this application is selected for a community specific IEMC in FY2027, the requesting community agrees to follow and apply all relevant evaluation and assessment guidance (EEG, Lessons Learned) and to follow the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) format. The community is responsible for the development of a formal After- Action Report and improvement plan. A copy of the After-Action Report, and Improvement Report will be provided by the community to the FEMA/EMI/IEM Branch within eight months of course completion.”

   Thank you for your consideration.

   Sincerely,

   Vicki Moore
   Mayor

   Note:

   The application request letter should be addressed to the Superintendent, Emergency Management Institute, but sent first to the State Emergency Management Agency for endorsement, State Emergency Management Agencies then on to the FEMA Region for endorsement. FEMA Regional Office. The FEMA Region will forward it to the Superintendent, Emergency Management Institute.

   Nomination Package Information

   Application Packages for CS-IEMC should be no more than seven pages in total and must include the following information:

   Section 1. General Information about the applying community:

   • Community Name
   • Sponsoring Region/Agency
   • Has an IEMC ever been conducted for this community? If yes, when and what hazard was exercised?
   • Is the community requesting an on-campus course E0930 (in Emmitsburg, MD), a local delivery L0930 at a training venue in your community, or would either delivery method be acceptable?
   • Name, Title, Email and Phone for Primary Point of Contact
   • Name, Title, Email and Phone for Secondary Point of Contact
   • Will this IEMC be included in your department or jurisdictional Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP)?
   • Does the course/exercise support your jurisdictional Threats and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment? If yes, then provide supporting evidence
   • Is this community scheduled to host a National Special Security Event (NSSE) within the next two years? If yes, then provide supporting evidence
   • Is this community scheduled to participate in a National Level Exercise within the next two years? If yes, then provide supporting evidence
   • Description of the community’s demographics and critical infrastructure
   • Explanation of why the community desires a CS-IEMC

   Section 2. Letter of Request from the Community Senior Elected and/or Appointed Official

   Please include a formal, signed, cover letter from the community’s senior executive officer, or designee for this application, requesting the CS-IEMC. This letter should be addressed to the Superintendent of the Emergency Management Institute and include the following verbiage within its text:

   “If this application is selected for a community specific IEMC in FY2027, the requesting community agrees to follow and apply all relevant evaluation and assessment guidance (EEG, Lessons Learned) and to follow the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) format. The community is responsible for the development of a formal AAR and Improvement Plan. A copy of the AAR, and Improvement Plan will be provided by the community to the FEMA/NDEMU/IEM Branch within eight months of course completion”

2. State Review and Endorsement

   The State Emergency Management Agencies will review the package and attach a letter from the State’s accountable executive with the appropriate endorsements and forward the complete package to the appropriate FEMA Regional Office.

   • This letter should explain how this request will meet State’s emergency management objectives.
   • Include complete contact information, and any additional comments supporting the justification of the nomination package.

3. FEMA Regional Office Reivew

   The State’s endorsement letter and the jurisdiction’s application package are forwarded to the appropriate FEMA Regional Office by June 17, 2026.

   • The FEMA Regional Office will review the application package, attach a letter from the FEMA Regional Administrator with the appropriate endorsements, and forward the completed package to the National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU)
   • This letter will include the nomination’s priority rank, rationale for ranking, and any additional relevant comments.
   • Prior to the start of the final reviewing process, NDEMU/IEM will request a consolidated prioritized ranking of CS-IEMC applications from each FEMA Region

4. Final Deadline

   Applications must be received by the Integrated Emergency Management Branch, from the FEMA Regional Offices, no later than July 1, 2026.

   • FEMA Regional Offices should submit applications via email to [email protected].
   • A copy of the application can be mailed to:
     • IEMC Application
     • C/O IEM Branch
     • L-101
     • 16825 S. Seton Avenue
     • Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Application Review Process

The review process for the awarding selections is a collaborative effort between NDEMU and the FEMA Regions.

The IEM Branch will review applications:

• If additional information is needed, the IEM Branch will contact and discuss the application packets with the appropriate FEMA Regional Office.
• The IEM Branch will provide the Superintendent of NDEMU with Community-Specific IEMC candidate recommendations for selection, to include the original prioritized ranking of application packets received from the FEMA Regions.
• The Superintendent will make the final decision regarding the selection of Community-Specific IEMC.
• If you have any questions concerning the IEMC Application process, please contact the Integrated Emergency Management Staff via email at [email protected]

Accommodations & Contact Information

If you require a reasonable accommodation (sign language interpreters, Braille, CART, etc.), please make request NLT 15 days prior to the class start date.

When making any requests, please provide details on the accommodation; however, DO NOT include medical or other personal information that is protected under the Privacy Act of 1974 or the Health Information Privacy Protection Act (45 CFR Part 160 Subparts A and E of Part 164). Last-minute requests will be accepted; however, they may not be possible to fulfill.

Please send these requests to the Integrated Emergency Management Branch