2026 Exercises

Spring 2026 Fire Drills AAR-IP

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Spring 2026 Fire Drills

After-Action Report/Improvement Plan

March 11, 2026

This After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) aligns exercise objectives with preparedness doctrine and related frameworks and guidance. This AAR meets Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines. Exercise information required for preparedness reporting and trend analysis is included.

Exercise Overview

Exercise Name

Spring 2026 Fire Drills

Exercise Dates

February 16 & 17, 2026

Planning Date

February 3, 2026

Hotwash Date

N/A

Scope

This exercise is a drill, planned for approximately 5 minutes at each residence hall. Exercise play is limited to activating the fire notification system in each building, monitoring the receipt and response by occupants, examining the notification system for any failures, and documenting all observations.

Focus Areas[1]

Protection, Mitigation, Response

Capabilities[2]

§  Community Resilience

§  Infrastructure Systems

§  Operational Coordination

§  Planning

§  Public Information and Warning

Objectives

§  Determine the operational status of fire notification systems

§  Examine the ability of occupants to recognize hazard communication messaging

§  Examine the occupant’s response to hazard communication messaging

§  Examine the ability of staff to encourage and guide evacuation efforts

§  Evaluate the effectiveness of previous public information programs

§  Examine for hazards that may compound fire risk/consequence

Hazard

Uncontained Fire

Scenario

Fire alarm activation signals the potential for a fire in the respective residence hall or living quarters.

Sponsor

Arkansas State University

Participating Organizations

Office of Emergency Management,

University Housing,

University Police Department Dispatch

Point of Contact

Wyatt Reed, Emergency Operations and Occupational Safety Specialist

Office of Emergency Management

Arkansas State University

WReed@AState.edu or (870) 972-3352

Analysis of Capabilities

Table 1 includes the exercise objectives, aligned capabilities, and performance ratings for each capability as observed during the exercise and determined by the evaluation team.

Objective

Capability[3]

Performed without Challenges (P)

Performed with Some Challenges (S)

Performed with Major Challenges (M)

Unable to be Performed (U)

Determine the operational status of fire notification systems

Community Resilience

X

 

 

 

Infrastructure Systems

X

 

 

 

Public Information and Warning

X

 

 

 

Examine the ability of occupants to recognize hazard communication messaging

Community Resilience

X

 

 

 

Infrastructure Systems

X

 

 

 

Planning

X

 

 

 

Public Information and Warning

X

 

 

 

Examine the occupant’s response to hazard communication messaging

Community Resilience

X

 

 

 

Planning

X

 

 

 

Examine the ability of staff to encourage and guide evacuation efforts

Community Resilience

X

 

 

 

Operational Coordination

X

 

 

 

Planning

X

 

 

 

Evaluate the effectiveness of previous public information programs

Community Resilience

X

 

 

 

Planning

X

 

 

 

Operational Coordination

X

 

 

 

Examine for hazards that may compound fire risk/consequence

Community Resilience

X

 

 

 

Table 1. Summary of Core Capability Performance

Rating Definitions:

Performed without Challenges (P): The targets and critical tasks associated with the capability were completed in a manner that achieved the objective(s) and did not negatively impact the performance of other activities. The performance of this activity did not contribute to additional health and/or safety risks for the public or for emergency workers, and it was conducted in accordance with applicable plans, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.

Performed with Some Challenges (S): The targets and critical tasks associated with the capability were completed in a manner that achieved the objective(s) and did not negatively impact the performance of other activities. The performance of this activity did not contribute to additional health and/or safety risks for the public or for emergency workers, and it was conducted in accordance with applicable plans, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws. However, opportunities to enhance effectiveness and/or efficiency were identified.

Performed with Major Challenges (M): The targets and critical tasks associated with the capability were completed in a manner that achieved the objective(s), but some or all of the following were observed: demonstrated performance had a negative impact on the performance of other activities; contributed to additional health and/or safety risks for the public or for emergency workers; and/or was not conducted in accordance with applicable plans, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.

Unable to be Performed (U): The targets and critical tasks associated with the capability were not performed in a manner that achieved the objective(s).

The following sections provide an overview of the performance related to each exercise objective and associated capability, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

Capability Definitions:

Community Resilience: Enable the recognition, understanding, communication of, and planning for risk and empower individuals and communities to make informed risk management decisions necessary to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from future incidents.

Infrastructure Systems: Stabilize critical infrastructure functions, minimize health and safety threats, and efficiently restore and revitalize systems and services to support a viable, resilient community.

Operational Coordination: Establish and maintain a unified and coordinated operational structure and process that appropriately integrates all critical stakeholders and supports the execution of core capabilities.

Planning: Conduct a systematic process engaging the whole community as appropriate in the development of executable strategic, operational, and/or tactical-level approaches to meet defined objectives.

Public Information and Warning: Deliver coordinated, prompt, reliable, and actionable information to the whole community through the use of clear, consistent, accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate methods to effectively relay information regarding any threat or hazard, as well as the actions being taken and the assistance being made available, as appropriate. 

Residence Hall Breakdowns:

This area will identify the strengths and weaknesses of each residence hall as it relates to exercise objectives and core capabilities.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Living-Learning Community (LLC) #1

Time: 2:54 | Number Evacuated: 20

Living-Learning Community (LLC) #2

Time: 5:27 | Number Evacuated: 24

Living-Learning Community (LLC) #3

Time: 6:02 | Number Evacuated: 14

Living-Learning Community (LLC) #4

Time: 3:50 | Number Evacuated: 22

Living-Learning Community (LLC) #5

Time: 5:21 | Number Evacuated: 10

Living-Learning Community (LLC) #6

Time: 3:03 | Number Evacuated: 14

Miscellaneous Residence Halls

Arkansas Hall

Time: 7:14 | Number Evacuated: 29

Kays Hall

Time: 6:01 | Number Evacuated: 107

University Hall

Time: 4:02 | Number Evacuated: 67

Northpark Quads

Northpark Quad #1

Time: 5:38 | Number Evacuated: 36

Northpark Quad #2

Time: 4:20 | Number Evacuated: 41

Northpark Quad #3

Time: 5:31 | Number Evacuated: 63

Northpark Quad #4

Time: 6:02 | Number Evacuated: 39

Northpark Quad #5

Time: 3:56 | Number Evacuated: 43

Pack Place

Pack Place #1

Time: 6:59 | Number Evacuated: 27

Pack Place #2

Time: 5:42 | Number Evacuated: 47

Red Wolf Den

Red Wolf Den #1

Time: 3:09 | Number Evacuated: 11

Red Wolf Den #2

Time: 2:28 | Number Evacuated: 9

Red Wolf Den #3

Time: 2:53 | Number Evacuated: 15

Sorority Houses

Zeta Tau Alpha

Time: 1:56 | Number Evacuated: 10

Alpha Gamma Delta

Time: 1:54 | Number Evacuated: 7

Alpha Omicron Pi

Time: 1:28 | Number Evacuated: 10

Chi Omega

Time: 1:24 | Number Evacuated: 9

Delta Zeta

Time: 1:37 | Number Evacuated: 10

The Circle:

The Circle Building #1

Time: 5:47 | Number Evacuated: 25

The Circle Building #2

Time: 6:08 | Number Evacuated: 13

The Circle Building #3

Time: 4:55 | Number Evacuated: 16

The Circle Building #4

Time: 4:58 | Number Evacuated: 14

Strengths

Strength 1 (Staff Leadership): University Housing staff effectively controlled the response to drills by directing residents, notifying UPD, and following established procedures. The facilitator rarely (if ever) had to assist in directing residents or assisting University Housing Staff. (Capability: Community Resilience, Operational Coordination, Planning)

Strength 2 (Knowledge of and Adherence to Procedures): Fewer issues are noted of failure to comply with established procedures and increased usage of assembly areas. No student conduct referrals were needed in this exercise. Staff were receptive and engaged in fulfilling exercise needs and requirements. (Capability: Community Resilience, Planning)

Areas for Improvement

Area for Improvement 1 (Access Control Integrations): It did not appear that access control systems were voluntarily released at certain residence halls without usage of a motion sensor. This could present a vulnerability if a condition existed that prohibited the motion sensor from working properly. This issue needs to be further addressed with relevant stakeholders. (Capability: Community Resilience, Infrastructure Systems, Planning)

Area for Improvement 2 (Policy Clarifications for ADA Considerations): A resident wanted to re-enter a residence hall to retrieve a service animal. Better clarification is needed on the proper way to handle this situation in the future, especially if this is for a non-drill scenario.  (Capability: Community Resilience, Infrastructure Systems, Planning) 

Appendix A: Improvement Plan

This IP is developed specifically for Arkansas State University as a result of the drills conducted in the Spring of 2026:

Area for Improvement

Corrective Item

Implementation Plan

Primary Responsible Organization

Organization POC

Access Control Integrations

Determine Appropriate Access Control Responses

Campus stakeholders need to meet and determine the standards around access control systems as they relate to applicable codes, laws, and desired outcomes. This will define the desired outcome of access control systems in given situations, such as a fire alarm.

ITS

(Primary)

ITS:

Scott Wheat or Designee

Assess Current Access Control Integrations

Once the first corrective item of this area for improvement is completed, an assessment of current access control integrations should be completed to determine if they comply with the standard.

ITS

(Primary)

ITS:

Scott Wheat or Designee

Identify Needed Repairs or Projects for Compliance

Once the second corrective item of this area for improvement is completed, the necessary corrective actions should be identified and assigned to the relevant campus stakeholders.

ITS

(Primary)

ITS:

Scott Wheat or Designee

Policy Clarifications for ADA Considerations

Determine Entry Policy for Drills

Stakeholders will work with campus stakeholders, such as Access & Accommodations and Legal, to determine the proper way to handle ADA considerations for drills and incidents.

Emergency Management

(Primary)

Emergency Management:

Wyatt Reed

Training

Once the first corrective item under this area for improvement is completed, that knowledge will then be taken and used to train appropriate stakeholders.

Emergency Management (Primary)

Emergency Management:

Wyatt Reed

 

 

[1] Selected from National Preparedness Goal’s Five Mission Areas (DHS, 2015)

[2] Selected from National Preparedness Goal List of Core Capabilities (DHS, 2015)

[3] Selected from National Preparedness Goal List of Core Capabilities (DHS, 2015)