The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) establishes a common approach to exercises, including Continuous Improvement efforts during and after an exercise. It provides a set of guiding principles for exercise programs, as well as approaches to exercise program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and action planning.

Exercise evaluation assesses the ability to meet exercise objectives and core capabilities by documenting strengths, areas for improvement, potential best practices, mission critical issues, and COAs in AARs and action plans. Through action planning, emergency managers implement the COAs identified after an exercise to improve plans and build and sustain capabilities.