If you’ve ever asked yourself whether your Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP) is really ready for the unexpected, you’re not alone. Even the most experienced emergency managers know that plans can sit on a shelf for years, gathering dust, while staff change, priorities shift, and requirements evolve. That’s why we created this self-assessment tool. As practitioners, we hope to give you a quick, practical way to check whether your EOP includes the essential elements of a modern, functional plan.

This tool distills key components from FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101, version 3. FEMA’s guidance is widely recognized as a standard for developing and maintaining emergency plans, and our self-assessment captures the core principles you need to consider. Keep in mind, this is not a formal audit or compliance review. The self-assessment is designed as a practical resource that helps you identify foundational strengths in your plan and highlights areas that may need further development.

Why This Tool Matters

We designed this resource specifically for emergency managers because we know the time constraints you face. You’re balancing staffing, training, operations, and planning responsibilities while ensuring your community is prepared for everything from storms and fires to technological incidents or public health emergencies. It’s a lot. The self-assessment allows you to get a meaningful snapshot of your plan’s readiness without spending weeks combing through every detail.

Self-assessment results can also be a powerful tool when seeking buy-in. For example, if you’re preparing to present a pitch for updating the EOP to a planning committee, local leadership, or governing body, the assessment can help demonstrate why updates are necessary. Instead of saying “we should update the plan,” you can show concrete areas where the plan meets best practices and where it falls short. This makes the case for resources, support, and engagement much stronger.

Who Can Benefit From the Self-Assessment

This tool is useful for a variety of users:

• New fire chiefs or local emergency management directors who are getting acclimated to their jurisdiction and want a quick way to understand the plan they inherited.
  
• Municipal teams preparing for a regular EOP review or update. Even if your plan has been updated recently, the self-assessment can help identify gaps that might not be obvious at first glance.
  
• Planning committees and staff members who want a structured way to facilitate discussion about the plan’s strengths and weaknesses.
  
• State or regional emergency managers who are supporting multiple local jurisdictions and need a quick, consistent approach for evaluating plan readiness.

In short, anyone responsible for emergency preparedness can use this tool to better understand the plan’s current state and make informed decisions about next steps.

How the Self-Assessment Works

The self-assessment includes 25 criteria based on FEMA’s CPG 101 guidance. Each criterion represents a key element of a functional, actionable LEOP. Examples include clearly defined roles and responsibilities, identification of essential resources, procedures for incident response, coordination with external partners, and plans for continuity across leadership changes.

To use the tool:

1. Review each criterion and check off the items your plan meets. Be honest—this is about assessing real readiness, not checking boxes to impress someone.
   
2. Tally your results to determine where your plan falls on the readiness scale.

For simplicity, all 25 criteria are weighted equally in this tool. However, in practice, some elements may be more critical than others. For example, if your Concept of Operations (CONOPS) section is weak, that could be a bigger concern than missing minor administrative components. Use your judgment to consider which gaps have the greatest impact on plan functionality.

Within the tool, we use the following readiness scale:

• 20-25 checkboxes: Comprehensive EOP. Your plan has a solid foundation. Maintain regular reviews and integrate any missing elements.
  
• 12-19 checkboxes: Developing EOP. Your plan meets some core criteria, but targeted updates can strengthen clarity, coordination, and usability.
  
• 0-11 checkboxes: Foundational EOP. Your plan is missing several essential criteria. Prioritize updates to ensure it is functional and ready for real-world use.
  

Tips for a Smooth Assessment Process

To get the most out of the self-assessment tool, we recommend that users:

1. Use it collaboratively: Include key stakeholders, such as first responders, public works, communications staff, and elected officials. This ensures multiple perspectives are considered and strengthens buy-in.
   
2. Document gaps: Note which criteria are partially met or missing. This makes it easier to prioritize updates.
   
3. Pair with exercises: If possible, run tabletop exercises or drills to test identified weaknesses. Observing how the plan functions in practice can provide additional insights.
   
4. Schedule regular reviews: Even if your plan scores high on the self-assessment, revisit it at least annually. Community risks, personnel, and resources change over time.

Making It Work for Your Jurisdiction

The strength of this self-assessment lies in its simplicity. It’s not about creating extra work or adding bureaucracy. It’s about giving emergency managers a practical tool to measure readiness, identify gaps, and communicate needs clearly.

For example, imagine a small town with a recently retired fire chief and a new emergency management director. By walking through the self-assessment, the new director can quickly see that roles are well-defined for fire and police, but coordination with neighboring towns and certain non-profits is missing. That insight immediately informs next steps, which may include scheduling meetings with partners, updating annexes, and ensuring continuity plans reflect current personnel.

We can also apply the self-assessment tool toward a city preparing for a routine EOP review. The assessment can help the team focus on areas that have changed since the last update, such as new hazards, staffing changes, or technology upgrades. Instead of revisiting sections that are already solid, the team can use time efficiently and make targeted improvements.

Final Thoughts

Emergency Operations Plans are living documents. Their effectiveness depends on regular review, honest assessment, and collaboration among all stakeholders. This self-assessment tool provides a straightforward way to gauge your plan’s readiness, highlight strengths, and uncover areas for improvement.

By taking a few minutes to walk through the 25 criteria, you can gain confidence in your plan, secure support from leadership and committees, and take practical steps to make your LEOP a functional, integrated, and ready-for-emergencies resource.

At Next Wave Preparedness + PDR Strategies, we understand the challenges emergency managers face every day. That’s why we designed this tool to be quick, practical, and actionable. Your community deserves a plan that works, and this self-assessment is a simple first step toward ensuring it does.