Planning

Plans that hold up
when it matters.

Training and exercises are only as good as the plans they're built to teach and validate. Ascenttra writes plans that are grounded in doctrine, aligned to your actual operations, and designed to be exercised — not filed away.

The Ascenttra difference

Plans built to be practiced, not shelved.

Most plans gather dust. Ascenttra's don't — because we write them with your exercise program in mind from the start. Our Plans-to-Practice Analysis integrates your plans directly into exercise design, so every gap a plan creates becomes an opportunity your exercise can address.

Our experienced plan writers follow recognized industry standards and best practices. We gather the necessary information up front, maintain open communication with your staff throughout, and deliver clear milestones so the process stays on track and on budget.

Plans-to-Practice Analysis

We analyze your plans to identify evaluation opportunities, compliance gaps, and procedural conflicts — then build those directly into your exercise design.

Compliance alignment built in

Every plan is developed against applicable standards — HSEEP, NIMS, CPG 101, EMAP — so you're covered from day one without a separate crosswalk process.

Grounded in current doctrine

Ascenttra's curated library of 1,000+ authoritative doctrinal references ensures every plan reflects current national standards and best practices.

Efficient and cost-effective

Clear milestones, up-front information gathering, and dedicated project management reduce the administrative burden on your staff and keep the project moving.

Plan types

The full spectrum of preparedness planning.

Ascenttra has extensive planning experience across the emergency management spectrum — preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. We write plans for government agencies, healthcare systems, airports, utilities, and private sector organizations.

Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)

Comprehensive all-hazards response plans covering roles, responsibilities, coordination structures, and operational procedures across all disciplines. Written to CPG 101 standards.

Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs)

Ensures essential functions continue during and after any disruption. Covers succession, alternate facilities, vital records, devolution, and reconstitution.

Facility Emergency Plans

Site-specific plans covering evacuation, shelter-in-place, lockdown, hazardous materials, and other facility-level emergencies. Tailored to your building layout, occupancy, and operational environment.

Policy Support & Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Position-specific procedures, operational guides, and SOPs that translate high-level plans into actionable steps for individual roles. The bridge between policy and practice.

Utility Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

Emergency action and response plans for energy providers, water utilities, and other critical infrastructure operators. Covers threat scenarios, notification procedures, mutual aid, and restoration priorities.

Healthcare & Hospital Plans

Hazard vulnerability assessments, surge capacity plans, HICS-aligned response plans, and healthcare coalition coordination plans. Developed to meet accreditation and regulatory requirements.

Standards & compliance

Aligned to the standards that matter.

Every Ascenttra plan is developed against applicable national standards. We don't perform compliance checks after the fact — we build to the standard from day one.

HSEEP
Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program
NIMS
National Incident Management System
CPG 101
Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101
EMAP
Emergency Management Accreditation Program
Plans-to-Practice Analysis

The link between your plans and your exercises.

Ascenttra's Plans-to-Practice Analysis is the process that ensures your exercise actually reflects what your organization has committed to on paper. It's what separates an Ascenttra exercise from a generic scenario.

01
Review your plans

We analyze your current EOPs, SOPs, policies, and procedures to understand what your organization has committed to doing in an emergency.

02
Identify opportunities & gaps

We identify evaluation opportunities, plan conflicts, procedural gaps, and compliance requirements that the exercise should address.

03
Build it into the exercise

Findings are incorporated directly into exercise objectives, scenario injects, and evaluation criteria — so the AAR produces findings your plans can actually address.

How we work

Efficient. Collaborative. On your timeline.

01
Kickoff & information gathering

We start by understanding your organization — its structure, hazard profile, existing plans, and applicable regulatory requirements. We gather what we need up front so the process stays efficient.

02
Draft development

Ascenttra develops a draft plan grounded in current doctrine and your organization's specific operational environment. Clear milestones keep the project on track.

03
Stakeholder review & revision

We facilitate review sessions with your key stakeholders, incorporate feedback, and resolve any procedural conflicts identified during the review process.

04
Compliance crosswalk

We document alignment with applicable standards — HSEEP, NIMS, EMAP, CPG 101 — in a Client Crosswalk deliverable that satisfies grant, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.

05
Final delivery & exercise integration

Final plan delivered and, where applicable, integrated directly into your exercise design via Plans-to-Practice Analysis — so your training reflects your plans from day one.

Client Crosswalk

One deliverable.
Every compliance requirement.

Ascenttra's Client Crosswalk documents your organization's compliance with applicable grant requirements, regulatory standards, and accreditation criteria in a single, reviewable deliverable. No more assembling evidence from multiple sources when an auditor or accreditor asks.

Grant compliance documentation
Satisfies HSEEP grant requirements for jurisdictions using federal preparedness funding.
Accreditation support
Documents alignment with EMAP and healthcare accreditation standards for hospital and EM agency clients.
Regulatory alignment
Maps plan content to applicable regulatory frameworks — including NIMS, CPG 101, and sector-specific requirements.
Audit-ready documentation
Structured to withstand review by grant managers, auditors, and accreditation bodies without additional preparation.
"

I just wanted to express my gratitude once again for all your work on our planning project. You made things very easy. I really appreciate the professionalism and expertise that you and Ascenttra brought to our county.

Emergency Manager, Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management
Ready to start?

Let's talk about your planning needs.

Whether you need a single SOP or a complete suite of emergency plans, Ascenttra scales to your requirements and budget. Call 1-888-MSEL-HLP or email info@ascenttra.com — a person answers every time.

Start a conversation

1-888-MSEL-HLP (673-5457) · info@ascenttra.com · www.ascenttra.com