THIRA-SPR Unified Reporting Tool User Guide

THIRA-SPR Unified Reporting Tool
User Guide
National Preparedness Assessment Division,
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA)

CONTENTS
Purpose of the User Guide ................................................................................ 1
Organization of the User Guide .......................................................................... 1
New for 2014 ................................................................................................ 2
Section 1: Getting Started—Using the Unified Reporting Tool ..................................... 3
Objectives ................................................................................................ 3
Key Terms................................................................................................. 3
Section 1 Overview ...................................................................................... 3
Using the Unified Reporting Tool ...................................................................... 3
Some Helpful Hints Before You Begin .............................................................. 4
Opening the URT and Enabling Macros ............................................................. 5
Procedure: Entering Jurisdiction Information..................................................... 5
Terms of Release and Technical Support Information ........................................... 6
Navigation and Progress ................................................................................ 7
Section 2: Completing the THIRA ....................................................................... 9
Objectives ................................................................................................ 9
Key Terms................................................................................................. 9
Section 2 Overview ..................................................................................... 11
THIRA and SPR ........................................................................................ 11
Section 2 Steps and Actions—Completing the THIRA .............................................. 12
Procedure: THIRA Step 1 – Identify the Threats and Hazards of Concern.................... 12
Procedure: THIRA Step 2 – Give the Threats and Hazards Context ........................... 13
Procedure: THIRA Step 3 – Establish Capability Targets ........................................ 14
Procedure: THIRA Step 4 – Apply the Results .................................................... 16
Procedure: Answer THIRA Post-Assessment Questions.......................................... 18
Section 3: Completing the SPR ......................................................................... 21
Objectives ............................................................................................... 21
Key Terms................................................................................................ 21
Section 3 Overview ..................................................................................... 22
Benefits of the SPR .................................................................................. 22

ii

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Engaging Stakeholders ............................................................................... 23
The SPR Assessment Process ....................................................................... 25
Section 3 Steps and Actions—Completing the SPR ................................................. 26
Capability Review Questions ....................................................................... 27
SPR Step 1 - Action 1: Rate Internal Capability .................................................. 27
Procedure: Rate Internal Capability............................................................... 28
SPR Step 1 - Action 2: Rate Internal + Mutual Aid Capability (optional) ..................... 30
Procedure: Rate Internal + Mutual Aid Capability ............................................... 30
SPR Step 2 – Action 1: Priority Statement ........................................................ 31
Procedure: Enter Priority Statement .............................................................. 32
SPR Step 2 – Action 2: Gap Descriptions .......................................................... 33
Procedure: Enter Capability Gap Description .................................................... 33
SPR Step 2 – Action 3: Recent Advances .......................................................... 35
Procedure: Enter Recent Advances (optional) ................................................... 35
SPR Step 2 – Action 4: Assessment Corroboration ............................................... 36
Procedure: Enter Assessment Corroboration ..................................................... 36
SPR Step 2 – Action 5: Responsibility for Filling Gap ............................................ 36
Procedure: Enter Responsibility for Filling Gap ................................................. 37
SPR Post-Assessment Questions .................................................................... 38
Procedure: Answer SPR Post-Assessment Questions ............................................ 39
Section 4: Advanced Functionality .................................................................... 41
Objectives ............................................................................................... 41
Key Terms................................................................................................ 41
Section 4 Overview ..................................................................................... 41
Import 2013 Responses ................................................................................. 42
Procedure: Import 2013 Responses ................................................................ 42
Procedure: Add Imported Data to a Cell.......................................................... 42
Obtaining Stakeholder Input .......................................................................... 43
Procedure: Export a Workbook of Core Capability Pages ...................................... 43
Using Stakeholder Input ............................................................................... 44
Procedure: Import SPR Contributions ............................................................. 45
Viewing Data ............................................................................................ 46
Capability Ratings Data Worksheet ................................................................ 46

iii

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Procedure: View Capability Ratings ............................................................... 47
Heat Map Worksheet ................................................................................. 48
Procedure: View Heat Map ......................................................................... 49
Producing Reports ...................................................................................... 51
Write THIRA Data to a Microsoft Word Report ................................................... 51
Procedure: Write THIRA Data ...................................................................... 51
Write SPR Data to a Microsoft Word Report ...................................................... 52
Procedure: Write SPR Data ......................................................................... 52
Submitting Your Data .................................................................................. 53
Appendix A – Capability Assessment Topics to Consider ............................................. 54
Appendix B – Planning Review Questions............................................................... 60
Procedure: Answer Planning (Part 1: CPG 101, Version 2.0) Questions ...................... 60
Appendix C – Operational Coordination Review Questions .......................................... 62
Procedure: Answer Operational Coordination (Part 1: NIMS Implementation) Questions . 62
Appendix D – Community Resilience Review Questions .............................................. 64
Procedure: Answer Community Resilience (Part 1: Individual and Community
Preparedness) Questions ............................................................................ 64
Appendix E – NIMS Tier 1 Resource Types .............................................................. 66
Appendix F – URT Troubleshooting ...................................................................... 74
Compatibility with Microsoft Office Security Settings .......................................... 74
Procedure: Security Settings Solution ............................................................. 74
Ensuring Compatibility with Microsoft Office Environments ................................... 75
Procedure: Ensuring URT Compatibility with Office Environments ........................... 75
Displaying the URT on an Overhead Projector ................................................... 75
Procedure: URT Projection Solution ............................................................... 75

iv

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

PURPOSE OF THE USER GUIDE
This THIRA-SPR Unified Reporting Tool User Guide (Guide) is your reference for the THIRA-SPR
Unified Reporting Tool (URT)—FEMA’s single tool for collecting the Threat and Hazard
Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and the State Preparedness Report (SPR). The
THIRA is a risk-assessment process that helps communities identify the capability targets and
resource requirements necessary to address anticipated and unanticipated risks. The SPR is a
capability assessment in which communities assess their abilities to achieve their THIRA
targets.
This Guide is intended for all stakeholders contributing to the THIRA or SPR, including state,
local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions and all Whole Community partners. You can use this
Guide as a companion reference guide when planning the assessment process, or as an aid
when completing a specific THIRA or SPR step or action.
The Table of Contents lists the steps needed to complete the THIRA and SPR. While viewing
the Table of Contents, you can navigate directly to a step or procedure by pressing Ctrl and
clicking on the task title. Additionally, hypertext links appear in sections that lead to crossreferenced material in the Guide and additional material on the web.

ORGANIZATION OF THE USER GUIDE
The Guide walks you through the process of completing the THIRA and SPR. It is organized by
sections, which correspond to the basic information needed to complete the THIRA and SPR.
The sections are:
•
•
•
•

Section 1 –
Section 2 –
Section 3 –
Section 4 –

Getting Started—Using the Unified Reporting Tool
Completing the THIRA
Completing the SPR
Advanced Functionality

Each section includes the following components:
Objectives

The specific skills and knowledge you gain from the section

Key Terms

Definitions of key terms you will need to understand the section

Overview
Steps
Actions

Narrative descriptions, examples, and graphics of key concepts and
processes
Methods used to complete the THIRA and SPR as detailed in CPG 201
and other policy documents
Individual procedures you perform to complete a THIRA or SPR step

Questions concerning the THIRA and SPR methodology and assessment processes should be
directed to the point of contact for your FEMA region, as indicated in the User Support section

1

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
of the URT. Questions concerning technical support for the URT should be directed to FEMA at
FEMA-SPR@fema.dhs.gov.

NEW FOR 2014
While the THIRA and SPR follow the same methodology as in 2013, FEMA has made a few
changes to this year’s URT based on feedback from the 2013 URT. The purpose of these
changes is to make the URT more usable (giving you more flexibility in providing responses)
and to make the assessment more objective. Significant changes are listed below.
URT modifications:
• The Welcome and Overview worksheet includes space to provide approving authority
information for your THIRA and SPR assessment.
• An Import 2013 Responses feature was added to the Navigation and Progress
worksheet so you can import your 2013 THIRA and SPR data as a starting point for the
2014 assessments.
• After entering Jurisdiction Information and viewing the Terms of Release, the URT
places you on the Navigation and Progress worksheet. From this point, you can move
to any section of the assessment you desire. While this Guide suggests a certain logical
sequencing for your assessment (Figure 2-1 and Figure 3-1), you can enter THIRA and
SPR data in any order in the URT.
THIRA modifications:
• On the THIRA Step 1 - Identify the Threats and Hazards of Concern worksheet,
Terrorism was removed as a specific human-caused threat and replaced by a checkbox
to indicate whether or not your selected human-caused threat is terrorism related.
• On the THIRA Step 3 - Establish Capability Targets worksheet, you must enter at least
one Desired Outcome and Impact statement for each core capability to complete the
assessment.
• The National Incident Management System (NIMS) resources used in dropdown menus
on the THIRA Step 4 - Apply the Results worksheet have been updated and a link is
provided to the most recent NIMS-typed resource information.
SPR modifications:
• Review questions have been added to the Planning, Operational Coordination, and
Community Resilience SPR worksheets. These questions consolidate reporting
requirements previously collected through separate FEMA surveys.
• In cases where communities indicate they are less than fully capable of meeting their
THIRA targets, the SPR now asks which functional areas the primary capability gaps
fall into. The URT collects this gap information via checkboxes that replace the gap
statements listed on the 2013 Capability Assessment worksheets.
• On the Capability Assessment worksheet, mutual aid capability ratings are optional.
• On the Capability Assessment worksheet, text gap descriptions are optional.
• On the Capability Assessment worksheet, an assessment corroboration entry is
required.

2

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 1: Getting Started

Section 1: GETTING STARTED—USING THE UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL
OBJECTIVES
In this section you will learn how to:
•
•
•
•

Open the URT and enable macros
Enter your jurisdiction, point of contact, and approving authority information
Review the URT disclosure, overview, modification, and user support information
Navigate within the URT and check your progress

KEY TERMS
Unified Reporting Tool (URT): The URT is the format in which the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) collects 2014 assessment and survey data. The Tool incorporates
the THIRA steps found in the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201, Second Edition
and the SPR steps used to assess current capabilities. It is a stand-alone Microsoft Excel file
that guides you through the task of developing your THIRA or combined THIRA and SPR.
Overall Progress: The percentage of completion of THIRA and SPR assessment steps as seen
on the Navigation and Progress worksheet.
THIRA: The 2014 Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) is a
comprehensive approach for states, territories, urban areas, and tribes to identify and assess
threat and hazard risks and the capability requirements those risks impose.
SPR: The 2014 State Preparedness Report (SPR) is a capability assessment in which
communities report on their abilities to achieve their THIRA targets.

SECTION 1 OVERVIEW
The information presented in this section provides an overview of the URT’s functionality and
layout. It includes instructions on how to open the tool, review basic information about the
THIRA and SPR, enter information about your community, navigate throughout the
assessment, and check your progress.

USING THE UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL
The URT is a macro enabled Microsoft Excel file that eases the burden of providing THIRA and
SPR assessment data to FEMA. The data entry worksheets automate the process of completing
THIRA and SPR assessments. You enter information through the use of drop-down menus, text
boxes, checkboxes, and control buttons that sequence you through the THIRA and SPR
assessments. Once all steps are completed, you should submit the URT to your respective
FEMA Regional Preparedness Coordinator and send a copy to FEMA-SPR@fema.dhs.gov (see
Submitting Your Data). Your FEMA regional staff will review the data file and FEMA will use

3

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 1: Getting Started

the file to inform preparedness programs and to develop reports such as the National
Preparedness Report.
The systems requirements for running the URT are the same as required to run Microsoft
Office. Minimum requirements for Office 2010 are:
• Processor: 500 MHz
• Memory (RAM): 256 MB (512 MB recommended)
• Hard disk: 3 GB
• Display: 1024 X 768
You must save the Microsoft Excel file as an “.xlsm” (Excel macro-enabled workbook) file.
This URT runs best on Microsoft Office 2010. The Tool will run on earlier versions of Excel
and Excel 2013, but for best results use Excel 2010. If you have problems running the 2014
URT, see Appendix F – URT Troubleshooting.
For a Section 508-compliant version of the URT survey, contact FEMA-SPR@fema.dhs.gov.
Some Helpful Hints Before You Begin
Before completing the THIRA you should solicit input from preparedness stakeholders. You
can do this by creating THIRA-SPR core capability pages and distributing them to subjurisdictions and contributors. See Engaging Stakeholders and Obtaining Stakeholder Input for
more information about soliciting stakeholder input.
Be sure to allow plenty of time to incorporate input from stakeholders. As stated in the FY
2014 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Funding Opportunity Announcement: “Urban
Area Security Initiatives (UASIs) are required to submit an annual update to their THIRA.
UASIs will submit their THIRA to the designated State Administrative Agency…State
submissions of the THIRA and SPR are due no later than December 31, 2014. The State should
coordinate with each eligible Urban Area to ensure that the UASI THIRA submissions occur in
advance of this deadline, as the State must include the Urban Area’s input when conducting
the statewide SPR assessment.”
You may find it helpful to “cut and paste” information from different sections of the URT
and/or documents outside the URT to a text block. When doing so, always paste text into the
formula bar (the bar immediately above the worksheet) or double click in the text block and
paste. This will prevent your new text formatting from interfering with worksheet formatting.
When using a link within the URT, you may want to quickly navigate back to your original
page and location. Use the Alt+LeftArrow key combination (hold down the Alt key and press
the Left Arrow key) to quickly get back to where you started.
When saving your file after entering a large amount of data, you may receive the Windows
error message, “Excel not responding.” Allow Excel up to one minute to save the file before
forcing the application to close. It is always a good idea to incrementally save your work as
you add data to the URT.

4

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 1: Getting Started

Opening the URT and Enabling Macros
You must enable Microsoft Excel macros for the URT to work properly. The macros are used
to sequence you through the THIRA and SPR assessment steps, import and export assessment
data, and generate reports. To enable macros, open the URT and select the “Enable Macros”
or “Enable Content” prompt from the security warning at the top of the screen.
•

The warning you receive is automatically generated by Microsoft Excel when opening,
for the first time, any file containing code that does not come from a “trusted” source
or file location you have previously designated. You can safely enable the macros in
the URT. The macro code in the URT will not harm your computer.

Your security settings may automatically disable macros. If this is the case, you must save the
URT to a folder on your workstation and restart the URT from that location before you can
enable macros. See the Compatibility with Microsoft Office Security Settings section.
If you have enabled the macros but the URT generates errors when you try to run them, you
will need to take extra steps to configure the tool properly for your computer. If you
encounter this problem, send your file to the THIRA/SPR Help Desk at FEMASPR@fema.dhs.gov or call 202-786-9576. See the Ensuring Compatibility with Microsoft Office
Environments troubleshooting procedure.
When you first open the URT, you are presented with the Welcome and Overview worksheet.
This worksheet provides you with basic information about the THIRA and SPR and lists the
steps you must accomplish to complete them. Begin using the URT by entering your
jurisdiction information.
Procedure: Entering Jurisdiction Information
To enter your jurisdiction name and contact information (see Figure 1-1):
— Open the URT and read the welcome, notice, overview, 2014 tool modification, and
user support text.
— In the Jurisdiction Name field, enter the name of your state, territory, urban area, or
tribe.
— In the Assessments field, select the THIRA checkbox if you will be completing only the
THIRA assessment or both checkboxes if you will be completing the THIRA and SPR
assessments. You cannot complete the SPR without completing the THIRA.
o

The steps and actions detailed in this Guide assume you are completing both the
THIRA and SPR assessments. If you select THIRA only, the tool will not show SPRrelated pages, some SPR functions will be disabled, and your screen images may
differ from the Guide’s figures. Once in the THIRA assessment, you can always go
back to the Welcome and Overview worksheet and select SPR to complete the
SPR.

5

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 1: Getting Started

— In the Point of Contact and Approving Authority text boxes, enter the following
information:
o
o
o
o
o

In the Name field, enter the name of the data collection POC/approver for your
jurisdiction.
In the Title field, enter the POC’s/approver’s title.
In the Organization field, enter the POC’s/approver’s organization.
In the E-mail address field, enter the POC’s/approver’s e-mail address.
In the Phone number field, enter the POC’s/approver’s phone number.

— In the Approving Authority text box, enter the Approval Date (when approved). The
format for the date is month/day/year; e.g., 4/30/2014.
— Scroll to the bottom of the worksheet and click the Begin>> button.
o

The URT contains many hyperlink command buttons that guide you through the
THIRA and SPR assessment process. Alternatively, you can use the worksheet tabs
at the bottom of the window to navigate through the URT.

Figure 1-1: Data Fields Used to Enter Jurisdiction Information
Terms of Release and Technical Support Information
Clicking on the Begin>> button takes you to the Terms of Release worksheet. This worksheet
contains release and use information that details how FEMA will protect your assessment data
to encourage you to provide accurate assessments.
— Read the Terms of Release text.
— Scroll to the bottom of the worksheet and click the Continue to Navigation>> button.

6

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
o

Section 1: Getting Started

Any distribution of THIRA or SPR information by FEMA will be marked FOR OFFICIAL
USE ONLY (FOUO), handled in accordance with the Terms of Release, and contain
the same confidentiality notice found in the URT.

Clicking on the Continue to Navigation>> button will take you to the Navigation and
Progress worksheet.

NAVIGATION AND PROGRESS
The Navigation and Progress worksheet (see Figure 1-2) is your “control panel” for the THIRA
and SPR assessments. From this worksheet you can access all other THIRA and SPR worksheets
and track your progress. The majority of the worksheet is a table consisting of the 31 core
capabilities listed down the vertical axis (column F) and the THIRA and SPR assessment steps
listed across the top of the horizontal axis (row 4). The table lists the assessment steps
beginning with the THIRA steps starting in column G:
• Step 1: Threat and Hazards
• Step 2: Context Statements
• Step 3: Desired Outcomes
• Step 3: Impacts
• Step 3: Capability Targets
• Step 4: Resource Requirements
• Post-Assessment Questions
This is followed by the first two SPR steps, Reporting Requirements and Priority (columns O
and P) and the steps associated with each Planning, Organization, Equipment, Training, and
Exercises (POETE) solution area (columns R through AJ):
• Internal Rating
• Mutual Aid Rating
• Gap Description
The last three columns of the table track entries for Assessment Corroboration, Gap
Responsibility, and the Post-Assessment Questions (columns AL to AN).
The Navigation and Progress worksheet table is a matrix that identifies progress made in
each THIRA and SPR step for each core capability. The boxes in Columns G through AN turn
from red to green as you complete each required section of the THIRA and SPR, and from
white to green as you complete each optional section. The THIRA is complete when columns G
through M are entirely green or white and the SPR is complete when columns O through AN
are entirely green or white. The black background for cells in column O indicates that the
reporting requirement questions do not apply to these core capabilities.
The upper left portion of the worksheet contains an Overall Progress status box. This box
tracks the percentage of completion of the THIRA and SPR steps across all capabilities.
Navigation within the URT is very flexible. Once at the Navigation and Progress worksheet,
you navigate to different worksheets in the following ways:

7

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Section 1: Getting Started

THIRA Steps 1-3: click the THIRA Steps 1-3>> button (covered in Section 2).
THIRA Step 4 for each capability: click the associated THIRA Step 4 button (covered in
Section 2).
SPR Assessment for each capability: click the associated SPR Assessment button
(covered in Section 3).
To view results: click the SPR Data>> or SPR Heat Map>> buttons (covered in
Section 4).
To import 2013 URT data: click the Import 2013 Responses>> button (covered in
Section 4).
To import and export 2014 SPR results: click the Export Core Capabilities>> or Import
SPR Contributions>> buttons (covered in Section 4).
To print out THIRA or SPR data to a Microsoft Word document: click on the Write Word
Document>> button (covered in Section 4).

Additionally, you may select the individual worksheet tabs at the bottom of the Excel
window. The worksheet tabs are color coded in the same manner as the Navigation and
Progress worksheet cells to indicate the progress you have made.

Figure 1-2: Navigation and Progress Worksheet
8

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Section 2: COMPLETING THE THIRA
OBJECTIVES
In this section you will learn how to:
•
•
•
•
•

Enter threats and hazards that are a concern to your community
Enter context statements to the threats and hazards you identified
Enter capability targets for each core capability
Apply your results by entering resource requirements for each core capability
Answer the THIRA post-assessment questions

KEY TERMS
Core Capability: Distinct critical elements necessary to achieve the National Preparedness
Goal. Core capabilities are designed to provide an integrated approach to preparedness,
linking programs together and allowing for a direct assessment of progress. The SPR is a selfassessment of the 31 core capabilities from the National Preparedness Goal.
Capability Target: Specific, measurable definitions of success for each core capability given
the threats and hazards that the community faces, based on desired outcomes and impacts
(see Table 2-1).
Core Capability

Capability Target

Screening, Search, and
Detection

Screen 100 percent of targeted cargo, conveyances, mail, baggage,
and people associated with an imminent terrorist threat or act using
technical, non- technical, intrusive, or non-intrusive means.

Access Control and
Identity Verification
Long-term Vulnerability
Reduction

Establish disaster area access control procedures (physical and
cyber) for up to 20,000 responders and volunteers within 72 hours
of event start.
Establish building codes sufficient to reduce the severity of damage
from a major earthquake (magnitude 7.3) by 2020 for new
construction. Retrofit 20 percent of existing vulnerable critical
facilities to withstand a major earthquake by 2030. Ensure state
designated shelters are able to accommodate approximately 40,000
people and withstand a major earthquake by 2020.

Fatality Management
Services

During the first 72 hours of an incident, conduct operations to
recover 255 fatalities in a 20-square-mile disaster area.

Infrastructure Systems

Within 14 days restore 90 percent of electrical power within the
six-county disaster zone (8 damaged electrical power facilities).

Table 2-1: Example Capability Targets
Desired Outcomes: The standards to which the community must manage an incident.
Outcomes may be timelines (within 72 hours of event start) or percentages (100 percent
completion of an activity).
9

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Impacts: Descriptions of how each threat and hazard will affect the community. Some
examples are displaced households, fatalities, injuries/illnesses, direct economic impacts to
the community, indirect economic impacts from supply chain system disruption, and
disruption to infrastructure.
Threat/Hazard Category: There are three threat/hazard categories: natural, technological,
and human-caused.
Threat/Hazard Context Description: A brief explanation of the different conditions under
which a threat or hazard might occur that are of greatest concern to the community. The
context description helps identify desired outcomes.
Threat/Hazard Type: Specific threats/hazards within a threat/hazard category (see Table
2-2).




















Natural

Technological

Resulting from acts of
nature

Involves accidents or the failures
of systems and structures

Animal Disease
Avalanche
Drought
Earthquake
Extreme Temperatures
Flood
Hurricane/Typhoon
Invasive Species
Pandemic - Human
Severe Storm/High Winds
Sinkhole/Landslide/
Expansive Soils
Space Weather
Tornado
Tsunami
Volcanic Eruption
Wildfire
Winter Storm/Ice Storm
Other (Describe in Step 2)














Dam Failure
Fuel shortage
Hazmat Release – Chemical
Hazmat Release - Radiological
Mine Accident
Mine/Underground Fire
Pipeline Explosion
Transportation Accident
Urban Conflagration
Utility Interruption
Water Contamination
Other (Describe in Step 2)

Human-caused
Caused by the intentional
actions of an adversary















Active Shooter
Aircraft as a Weapon
Arson
Biological Attack
Chemical Attack
Civil Disturbance
Cyber Attack
Explosive Devices
Food/Water Contamination
Improvised Nuclear Attack
Mass Migration
Metal Theft
Radiological Attack
Other (Describe in Step 2)

Table 2-2: Threat/Hazard Categories and Types

10

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

SECTION 2 OVERVIEW
This section provides a brief background on the four-step THIRA process and post-assessment
questions. For more detailed information on the THIRA, see the CPG 201, Second Edition.
THIRA and SPR
The THIRA and SPR are complementary and interconnected. Jurisdictions use the THIRA to
identify core capability resource requirements and the SPR to assess their internal and mutual
aid capability relative to those requirements. As such, jurisdictions must first use the THIRA
to identify capability targets before they can use the SPR. The URT serves as the data
collection mechanism for the THIRA and SPR assessments. Figure 2-1 shows the four steps of
the THIRA process.

Figure 2-1: The THIRA Process
In Step 1 of the THIRA process you list the threats and hazards that are a concern to your
community. In this step you focus on what should and should not be on the list. You enter
threats and hazards in the URT by first selecting the hazard category and then the hazard
type from drop-down menus. This creates a threat/hazard table that grows in size as you add
more information in later THIRA steps.
In Step 2 of the THIRA process you briefly describe the conditions under which a threat or
hazard might occur which pose the greatest concern to your community. These context
descriptions should provide a sense of scale by including one or two key factors that would
influence the consequences of the threat or hazard. The context descriptions are entered in
the threat/hazard table directly below the threat/hazard type.
In Step 3 of the THIRA process you determine a capability target for each core capability. A
capability target is based on a desired outcome statement combined with an impact
statement. The desired outcome statement describes the standards to which your community
plans to manage the threat or hazard, and the impact statement describes how each threat
and hazard will affect the community. You create a capability target for each core capability.
The threat/hazard table provides space under each threat/hazard for desired outcomes and
impacts and a space across all threats and hazards for a capability target.

11

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

In Step 4, you apply the results of the THIRA by estimating the resources required to meet
capability targets. You document the resources (NIMS typed and other resources) you need to
achieve your community’s capability targets in a resource requirement table. The URT
contains a separate Resource Requirement worksheet for each core capability, and these
worksheets are linked together by the Navigation and Progress worksheet. The Navigation and
Progress worksheet contains buttons that you use to navigate to the Resource Requirement
worksheets, and the cells in the progress table change color to help you keep track of your
progress.

SECTION 2 STEPS AND ACTIONS—COMPLETING THE THIRA
To complete the THIRA, you will use a series of worksheets that guide you through the THIRA
process. The steps and actions you need to take to complete the THIRA are detailed in the
following section.
Procedure: THIRA Step 1 – Identify the Threats and Hazards of Concern
Use the THIRA Step 1 – Identify the Threats and Hazards of Concern worksheet to enter the
threats and hazards that are a concern to your community. Starting with the second column,
each column represents a threat/hazard category and threat/hazard type (see Figure 2-2).
For each threat/hazard:
— From the Navigation and Progress worksheet, click on the THIRA Steps 1-3>> button.
o

You may find it helpful to import your 2013 URT data to your 2014 URT and view
last year’s responses to the THIRA and SPR assessments. See IMPORT 2013
RESPONSES in Section 4 for more information on how to do this.

— Select a threat/hazard category from the drop-down list in the upper box.
— Select a threat/hazard type from the drop-down list in the corresponding lower box.
o

Note that the threat/hazard type menu is context sensitive. It displays only the
threat/hazard types for the respective threat/hazard category selected above it.
Common across the three categories is the “other” type. If you select the other
type, you must name and describe the threat or hazard in THIRA Step 2 – Give the
Threats and Hazards Context.

— If you select a Human-caused threat category/type, and the threat is terrorismrelated, click the Terrorism checkbox inside the type cell.
o

Note that when you make a selection from the drop-down list, the cell is active
and highlighted. When the cell is active, the drop-down list is active. This prevents
you from selecting the Terrorism checkbox. To access the checkbox, click in any
other cell and then click the Terrorism checkbox.

12

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Figure 2-2: Enter Threat/Hazard Categories and Types
— To add an additional threat or hazard column, click the Add Additional Threat/Hazard
button.
o

The URT was built with room for three columns to enter threats and hazards. You
can add or delete columns to accommodate your threats and hazards.

— To delete a threat or hazard, check the Delete box above the hazard you want to
remove, and then click the Delete Selected Threat/Hazard button in the first column
of the table.
o

Be careful when using the delete function. Deleted threats and hazards cannot be
undone. The columns are created and deleted through a macro which is an action
that Microsoft Excel cannot undo or redo.

— Once you have identified all of your community’s threats and hazards, click Continue
to Step 2>>.
Step 1 creates a threat/hazard table for your community that will grow in size as you add
more information in later THIRA steps.
Procedure: THIRA Step 2 – Give the Threats and Hazards Context
Continue to use the worksheet to enter the conditions under which a threat or hazard might
occur that pose the greatest concern to your community. The threat/hazard table you
created in Step 1 appears in this worksheet with an additional text box below each
threat/hazard type (see Figure 2-3). For each threat/hazard:
— Enter a brief context description that explains the conditions under which the threat
or hazard might occur in the box below the threat/hazard type.
o

If you selected the “other” threat/hazard type in Step 1, ensure that you name
and describe the threat or hazard in addition to the conditions under which the
threat or hazard might occur in your context description.

13

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Figure 2-3: Enter Context Descriptions
— Once you have completed context descriptions for all threat/hazard types, click the
Continue to Step 3>>.
o

o

You can add, modify, or remove threats and hazards while completing Step 2. If
you change the threat/hazard category, ensure that you change the threat/hazard
type appropriately.
Be careful when using the delete function. Deleted threats and hazards cannot be
undone.

Procedure: THIRA Step 3 – Establish Capability Targets
Continue using this worksheet to develop and enter targets for each core capability. The
threat/hazard table you created in Step 2 now appears with additional desired outcome,
impact, and capability target rows for each core capability. Create the capability target by
using the desired outcome and impact statements from each threat/hazard type (see Figure
2-4). For each core capability:
— Enter a desired outcome that describes the standards to which the community must
manage an incident (at least one entry per core capability is required).
— Enter the impacts that describe how each threat and hazard will affect the community
(at least one entry per core capability is required).
— Enter the target: a specific, measurable definition of success for each core capability
(an entry for each core capability is required).
o

A Core Capability Journal Notes/Comments text box is in the far right column in
each core capability row. Use of the text box is optional, but may help you keep
track of the departments, agencies, or people who helped you determine your
community’s capability outcomes, impacts, and targets. There is also an Overall
Journal Notes/Comments text box at the top of the column to capture more
general information about your threats, hazards, and/or capability targets.

14

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Once you have entered capability targets, click the Continue to Navigation Page>> button.
•

•

•

The URT will not limit the sequencing of these entries. To complete the THIRA you will
eventually have to establish capability targets for all 31 core capabilities. You can
start the SPR assessment at any time, coming back to THIRA Step 3 when you are
ready to establish more targets.
However, completing Steps 1 through 3 of the THIRA process before Step 4 will likely
help you determine the NIMS-typed resources needed to achieve your capability
target.
Additionally, completing THIRA Steps 1 through 4 before beginning the SPR will likely
help you provide an accurate assessment.

Figure 2-4: Enter Desired Outcomes, Impacts, and Capability Targets
(rows continue for all 31 core capabilities)

15

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Procedure: THIRA Step 4 – Apply the Results
In Step 4, you apply the results of the THIRA by estimating the key, shareable resources
required to meet capability targets. Resource requirements are entered into the URT through
a series of worksheets, one for each core capability. In this step you list the resources (NIMStyped or other resources) your community needs to attain the desired capability target. You
access the Resource Requirement worksheets from the Navigation and Progress worksheet
using the THIRA Step 4 button for each capability (red outline in Figure 2-5).

Figure 2-5: Select THIRA Resource Requirement Worksheets from the Navigation
and Progress Worksheet (partial view of worksheet)
To reach the Resource Requirement worksheets from the Navigation and Progress
worksheet:
— Locate the THIRA Step 4 button in the row for the capability for which you want to
enter resource requirements.
— Click on the THIRA Step 4 button.
Each Resource Requirement worksheet provides room for a number of resource records
(rows) to document the resources needed by your community to attain your capability target.
Enter the records in two different tables: NIMS-typed Resources and Other Resources (see
Figure 2-6). To enter data in the NIMS-typed Resources table (see Appendix E for a listing of
the drop-down menu selections):

16

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

— Select a resource category from the drop-down menu in the Category column.
— Select a NIMS-typed resource from the drop-down menu in the Resource column.
o

Once you select the category, the resource menu only displays those resources
associated with the category selected.

— Select a resource type from the drop-down menu in the Type column.
— Enter the number of resources needed to achieve the capability target level in the
Number Required column.
— If you need to add more table rows, click the Add Entry or Add Multiple Entries
buttons under the NIMS-typed Resources heading in the first column of the table.
o

The Add Multiple Entries button brings up a dialog box where you can specify the
number of rows to add. Use this to add a large number of rows to the table.

Use the Other Resources table to enter key, shareable resources that are not NIMS-typed but
are required to achieve the desired outcome. To enter data in the Other Resources table:
— Enter the resource name in the Resource column.
— Specify the resource category in the Category column.
o

The dropdown menu for this column is the same as found in the NIMS-typed
Resources table’s Category column with the addition of an Other selection. Select
Other if your community’s resource does not fit into one of the NIMS categories.

— Enter the number of resources needed to achieve the capability target level in the
Number Required column.
— Click the Add Entry or Add Multiple Entries buttons under the Other Resources
heading to add more rows to the table.

Figure 2-6: Enter NIMS Tier I and Other Resources

17

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

Once you have listed the capability’s resource requirements, click the Go To Assessment
button to proceed to the SPR assessment for the capability, or click Return to Navigation to
go back to the Navigation and Progress worksheet and enter resource requirements
information for other capabilities.
Procedure: Answer THIRA Post-Assessment Questions
The Navigation and Progress worksheet provides a THIRA Post-assessment Questions>>
button to access eight questions about your community’s THIRA process and, for those
communities with a UASI, a series of questions about your Urban Area Working Group. The
THIRA post-assessment questions ask for information on departments, agencies, and
organizations that participated in your THIRA; and the data sources and tools used in the
assessment. All questions on this worksheet that are not listed as optional must be fully
answered for this section to be completed. To answer these questions:
— From the Navigation and Progress worksheet, click on the THIRA Post-assessment
Questions>> button.
— For questions 1 and 2, place a number in the Number Participating column for each
type of department, agency, or organization participating in the assessment (see
Figure 2-7).
o

If the department, agency, or organization is not listed, you can add it to the
bottom of the far left column. If no departments, agencies, or organizations
participated in the assessment, click the checkbox at the bottom of the table.

— Question 3 is optional and allows you to list individual departments, agencies, NGOs,
or jurisdictions that participated in the THIRA process.

Figure 2-7: THIRA Post-assessment Question #1

18

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 2: Completing the THIRA

— For questions 4 and 5, enter information about the data sources used to inform the
THIRA and the limitations you may have found during your THIRA development,
respectively.
— For question 6, click the appropriate checkboxes or enter the appropriate text to
identify the modeling and/or visualization tools used in your assessment (see Figure
2-8).
o

If you used a modeling or visualization tool not listed, click the Other checkbox
and enter the name of the tool in the text box to the right.

Figure 2-8: THIRA Post-assessment Question #6
— If your community does not possess a UASI, select State/Territory or Other from the
dropdown box in the Type area for question 7. This will credit you with completing
question 7 (see Figure 2-9).
— If your community possesses a UASI, select Urban Area from the dropdown box in the
Type area for question 7. Answers to the Urban Area Working Group questions are
selected through a series of dropdown boxes and checkboxes in the following areas:
1. Composition
2. Charter
3. UAWG Point of Contact
You must complete all areas to receive credit for completing question 7.
— For question 8, click the appropriate radio button. If you answer yes to the first part
of question 8, complete the follow-on questions about climate change impacts.
— To return to the Navigation and Progress worksheet, click the <>
button to access eight questions about your community’s assessment process and
preparedness trends. The SPR post-assessment includes questions on:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Governmental department and agency participation
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) stakeholder participation
The three capabilities you’ve made the most progress in
The three capabilities in which current capability is most in danger of decreasing
Key training and education course requirements that will assist you
Multi-jurisdictional collaboration

You must fully answer all questions on this worksheet that are not listed as optional for this
section to be completed.

To complete this action, you will need to:
•

•

•

Consider using journal notes from each capability assessment worksheet to keep track
of the departments, agencies, and individuals that participate in your community’s
assessment.
When identifying those capabilities that made significant progress or are in danger of
decline, consider:
o Recent or expected changes to capability levels and resources.
o Growth in or shrinking of funding.
o Growth in or shrinking of full and/or part-time staffs, augmentees, and volunteers.
o Recent or expected change to the availability of mutual aid within the community or
community to community.
o Increased risk or demand (i.e., in response to weather forecasts, topography, and/or
changing demographics).
Consider the appropriate timeframe for your responses:
o The timeframe for capabilities that made significant progress is the prior year.
o The timeframe for capabilities that are in danger of decline is the coming year.

37

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 3: Completing the SPR

Procedure: Answer SPR Post-Assessment Questions
To answer these questions:
— From the Navigation and Progress worksheet, click on the SPR Post-assessment
Questions>> button.
— For questions 1 and 2, place a number in the Number Participating column for the
type of department, agency, or organization participating in the assessment (see
Figure 3-10).
o

If the department, agency, or organization is not listed, you can add it to the
bottom of the far left column. If no departments, agencies, or organizations
participated in the assessment, click the checkbox at the bottom of the table.

Figure 3-10: SPR Post-assessment Question #1
— Question 3 is optional and allows you to list individual departments, agencies, NGOs,
or jurisdictions that participated in the SPR process.
— For question 4, select three of the 31 core capability checkboxes to indicate the core
capabilities in which your community has made the most progress this year.
— For question 5, select three of the 31 core capability checkboxes to indicate the core
capabilities that are in the greatest danger of decreasing in the next year.
— For question 6, list three key training and education requirements that will assist you
in building and sustaining core capabilities.
— For question 7, identify any additional recent promising practices or accomplishments
specific to multi-jurisdictional collaboration.
— If you represent a UASI or tribe, select Urban Area or Other from the dropdown box in
the Type area for question 8. This will credit you with completing question 8 (see
Figure 3-11).
38

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 3: Completing the SPR

— If you represent a state or territory, select State/Territory from the dropdown box in
the Type area for question 8. Answers to the Senior Advisory Committee questions are
selected through a series of dropdown boxes and checkboxes in the Charter and SAC
Point of Contact areas. You must complete all areas to receive credit for completing
question 8.
Once you have completed the SPR post-assessment questions, check the Navigation and
Progress worksheet to ensure that all SPR steps indicate green or white and your overall SPR
progress indicates 100 percent. If both your THIRA and SPR progress indicate 100 percent, you
have completed the 2014 assessment. See the Submitting Your Data section for instructions
on sending your data to FEMA.

Figure 3-11: SPR Post-assessment Question #8

39

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 4: Advanced Functionality

Section 4: ADVANCED FUNCTIONALITY
OBJECTIVES
In this section you will learn how to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Import your 2013 URT data into the 2014 URT and add the data to your assessment
Create a workbook of core capability pages to distribute to stakeholders and
contributors
Import multiple stakeholder responses into the 2014 URT and view the results
View your community’s capability ratings data in table and graph form
View a heat map of your community’s capability ratings data
Generate a Microsoft Word THIRA or SPR report

KEY TERMS
Capability Ratings Data Worksheet: A standardized display of THIRA and SPR data generated
by the URT. The data are provided in table and chart formats.
Contributor: A subject matter expert that provides input to part or all of a community’s
THIRA-SPR process without filling out an official assessment. The specialized expertise of the
contributor may provide the community with detailed information on one or more parts of the
assessment.
Microsoft Excel Tab: Each worksheet in a Microsoft Excel workbook has a tab at the bottom
portion of the application window. Clicking on the tab makes the worksheet visible and active
so that you can work on it.
Sub-jurisdiction: A geographical subdivision of a jurisdiction that provides input on its local
threats/hazards and capability levels to its parent jurisdiction. The sub-jurisdiction’s inputs
can help the parent jurisdiction better understand its preparedness landscape.
Write Word Document: An automatically generated Microsoft Word document that lists THIRA
or SPR data for all 31 core capabilities.

SECTION 4 OVERVIEW
This section provides information on the advanced features of the URT that you can use to
produce an accurate assessment of your community’s preparedness. New for 2014 is the
ability to import data from your 2013 URT into this year’s URT. Retained from 2013 are
features that export select core capability to create a separate THIRA/SPR reporting tool for
sub-jurisdictions and contributors, print your THIRA and SPR data for each capability, and
view your THIRA and SPR data in table and chart form. You may copy and paste the tables and
charts into your own analyses and reports.

40

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 4: Advanced Functionality

IMPORT 2013 RESPONSES
To add your 2013 responses to the 2014 URT, you will follow a two-step process:
1. You first import your responses into the 2014 URT to preview them. Doing this does
not enter them as your 2014 responses, but simply allows you to see them as
comments in the corresponding cells of your 2014 URT. You can identify these cells by
the red triangle that will appear in their upper right corner. When you hover your
cursor over these cells, a comment box will appear with your 2013 data.
2. After reviewing your 2013 responses and confirming that you want to reuse them in
the 2014 URT, you then add them to your 2014 assessment. To do so, follow the Add
Imported Data to a Cell procedure below.
Procedure: Import 2013 Responses
To import your 2013 URT data:
— From the Navigation and Progress worksheet, click the Import 2013 Responses>>
command button.
— From the Import 2013 Responses worksheet, click the Import 2013 Responses button
to open the data file dialog box.
— Within the Select 2013 THIRA/SPR Data File dialog box, locate the 2013 URT file that
you want to import (contact FEMA-SPR@fema.dhs.gov if you need a copy of your 2013
submission) and click the Open button.
o

Your screen will flicker as the macro imports your 2013 data. It will take a couple
of minutes for the macro to complete, and you may receive the Excel “(Not
Responding)” warning.

— Clicking on the Remove 2013 Responses button will permanently remove all 2013
response text and comment boxes.
Procedure: Add Imported Data to a Cell
Once you have imported your 2013 data, the worksheet cells related to your 2013 data will
have comment boxes. To copy the 2013 data from the comment box to your 2014 assessment:
— Review your 2013 data by hovering the cursor over the appropriate cell.
— Click the Add 2013 response button. Check that the cell now contains the data from
you 2013 URT.
o
o

Clicking the Add 2013 response button will overwrite any text that you have
entered in the cell with the text from the comment box.
After importing text from the comment box, you may edit it for your 2014
submission.

41

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 4: Advanced Functionality

OBTAINING STAKEHOLDER INPUT
The URT is a broad capability assessment that examines all 31 core capabilities across the
Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery mission areas. It collects
information on hazard profiles and preparedness levels that vary widely from region to region,
particularly within large jurisdictions such as states. You will need to work collaboratively
with stakeholders to get the information needed to complete an accurate assessment of each
community’s capabilities. This will likely include both governmental and non-governmental
partners, such as the private and nonprofit sectors and faith-based organizations.
The URT allows you to solicit the opinions of different stakeholders by exporting core
capability pages (or selected groups of capabilities) to sub-jurisdictions or contributors. Think
of the core capability subsets as miniature URT workbooks that you can create to collect
information from specific stakeholders. For instance, you may want to create a workbook for
a group of subject-matter experts to gain their expertise in the Prevention mission area core
capabilities: Forensics and Attribution; Intelligence and Information Sharing; Interdiction and
Disruption; and Screening, Search, and Detection. Similarly, you may want to create multiple
workbooks with all core capabilities for your sub-jurisdictions to obtain regional input on
capability targets, levels, and gaps.
Procedure: Export a Workbook of Core Capability Pages
To create a Microsoft Excel workbook containing only a subset of the core capability pages
you plan to assess:
— From the Navigation and Progress worksheet, click the Export Core Capabilities>>
command button.
— Using the table on the Export Capabilities worksheet, select the core capabilities you
would like to include by clicking on the checkboxes to the right of each capability
name. If you have a lot of capabilities to include, click on the Check All button and
then deselect capabilities you don’t want. You can deselect all checkboxes by clicking
on the Clear All button (see Figure 4-1).
— After you have identified all capabilities, click the Export Selected Capability Pages
button to generate the new workbook.
— Within the Save As dialog box, locate the folder in which to save your document,
enter the file name in the dialog box, and click the Save button. You must save the
file as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm).
o

Clicking Save builds the report, one capability at a time. Your screen will flicker as
the macro builds the file. It will take a couple of minutes for the macro to
complete, and you may receive the Excel “(Not Responding)” warning.

o

You will know that the Export Selected Capability Pages macro has completed
when a new workbook opens on your desktop showing the Navigation and Progress
worksheet containing your selected capabilities.
42

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Section 4: Advanced Functionality

— To leave the Capability Export worksheet, click <> command button.
— Scroll the window to the tables or graphs you want to view.
— To leave the Capability Ratings Data worksheet, click the <> command
button.
— Scroll the window to the table you want to view.
o For the Capability Rating Heat Map, a numeric value and color code is provided for
each capability solution area rating (see Figure 4-5).
Legend:
• 5: dark green
• 2: orange

• 4: light green
• 1: red

• 3: yellow
• N/A or no response: white

Figure 4-5: Capability Rating Heat Map

48

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
o

Section 4: Advanced Functionality

For the Functional Area Gap Heat Map, an “X” indicates that the capability
solution area possesses a functional area gap. The Xs are summed in the far right
column, and each capability solution area is color coded to their rating value (see
Figure 4-6).
Legend:
• Pink shaded core capabilities: High-priority core capabilities.
• Color-coded cells: Internal capability ratings.
• X-marks: Functional area is a primary gap within this POETE element.

Figure 4-6: Functional Area Gap Heat Map
— To leave the Heat Map worksheet, click the <>
button.
— On the Write Word Document worksheet, click the Write THIRA to Word button.
— In the Save As dialog box, locate the folder in which to save your document, enter the
file name in the dialog box, and click the Save button.
o

Clicking Save builds the report, one capability at a time. Your screen will flicker as
the macro builds the report. It will take a couple of minutes to write out the
capabilities.

— To leave Write Word Document worksheet, click the <>
button.
— On the Write Word Document worksheet, click the Write SPR to Word button.
— In the Save As dialog box, locate the folder in which to save your document, enter the
file name in the dialog box, and click the Save button.
o

Clicking Save builds the report, one capability at a time. Your screen will flicker as
the macro builds the report. It will take several minutes to write out all 31 core
capabilities.

— To leave Write Word Document worksheet, click the <> button.
— For the first question, select the checkboxes that best indicate the programs and
activities that jurisdictions within your community engaged in to foster individual and
community resilience (see Figure D-1).
o

If jurisdictions within your community engaged in activities not listed, select the
Other checkbox and enter the activity in the text box to the right of the checkbox.

— Enter your answers to the remaining questions using the text boxes under each of the
questions.
o

There is no practical limit to the number of characters you can enter in these text
boxes.

A text box for Journal Notes/Comments is at the bottom of the worksheet. Use of the text
box is optional, but may help you keep track of the departments, agencies, or people who
helped you identify your community’s America’s PrepareAthon! activities.

63

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Appendix D

Once you have answered the ICPD community resilience questions, click on the Go to
Assessment Step 2 >> button to proceed to the second part of the Community Resilience
capability assessment, or click the Return to Navigation button to return to the Navigation
and Progress worksheet. If you want to proceed to THIRA Step 4 for the Community
Resilience capability, click the Go to THIRA button.

Figure D-1: Community Resilience Review Questions (partial view of worksheet)

64

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Appendix E

APPENDIX E – NIMS TIER 1 RESOURCE TYPES
Use the table below as a reference to the NIMS-type Resource category name, resource name, and type
drop-down menu structure found on the THIRA Resource Requirement worksheet.
Category Name
Animal Health
Emergency

Emergency Medical
Services

Resource Name
Large Animal Rescue Strike Team
Large Animal Sheltering Team
Large Animal Transport Team
Small Animal Rescue Strike Team
Small Animal Sheltering Team
Small Animal Transport Team
Incident Management Team Animal Protection
Animal Case Manager
Animal Control Specialist
Animal Disease Epidemiologist
Animal Industry Specialist
Animal Premises Site Manager
Animal Shelter Manager
Animal Technician
Permit specialist
Risk Assessment Specialist
Species Specialist
Vector Control Specialist
Veterinarian
Air Ambulance (Fixed-Wing)
Air Ambulance (Rotary-Wing)
Ambulances (Ground)
Ambulance Strike Team
Ambulance Task Force
Emergency Medical Task Force
Mass Casualty Support Vehicle
Multi-Patient Medical Transport Vehicle
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
Air Medical Transport Manager or Administrator
Air Medical Transport Mechanic
Air Medical Transport Paramedic
Air Medical Transport Physician
Air Medical Transport Pilot (Rotorcraft)
Air Medical Transport Registered Nurse
Ambulance Strike Team / Ambulance Task Force Leader

Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II

Type
III

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X

Type
IV

Type
V

X
X
X
X

X
X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types

65

Type
VI

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name
Emergency Medical
Services (cont.)

Fire and Hazardous
Materials

Resource Name
Emergency Medical Responder
Emergency Medical Task Force Leader
Emergency Medical Technician
Emergency Vehicle Operator
Emergency Vehicle Operator- Heavy
EMS Physician
Medical Supply Coordinator
Paramedic
Area Command Team, Firefighting
Brush Patrol, Firefighting (Type VI Engine)
Crew Transport (Firefighting Crew)
Engine, Fire (Pumper)
Fire Boat
Fire Truck - Aerial (Ladder or Platform)
Foam Tender, Firefighting
Fuel Tender (Gasoline, Diesel, AvGas, aka Gas Tanker)
Hand Crew
HazMat Entry Team
Helicopters, Firefighting
Helitanker (Firefighting Helicopter)
Incident Management Team, Firefighting
Interagency Buying Team, Firefighting
Mobile Communications Unit (Law/Fire)
Portable Pump
Strike Team, Engine (Fire)
U.S. Coast Guard National Strike Force
Water Tender, Firefighting (Tanker)
Airport Firefighter
Emergency Vehicle Technician
Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator
Fire Inspector
Fire Officer I/II (Company/Unit)
Fire Officer III/IV (Command)
Firefighter
HazMat Officer
HazMat Safety Officer
HazMat Technician
Plans Examiner
Public Safety Telecommunicator
Wildland Firefighter

Appendix E
Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II

Type
III

Type
IV

Type
V

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
N/A
X
X
X
X
X
N/A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X

X

X

X
X
X

X
X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
X
X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)
66

Type
VI

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name
Fire and Hazardous
Materials (cont.)
Incident management

Law Enforcement

Resource Name
Wildland Fire Officer
Wildland/Urban Interface Protection Specialist
Airborne Communications Relay Team (Fixed-Wing)
Airborne Communications Relay (Fixed-Wing) (CAP)
Airborne Transport Team (Fixed-Wing)
Communications Support Team (CAP)
Crisis Incident Stress Management Team
Donations Coordinator
Donations Management Personnel/Team
EOC Finance/Administration Section Chief/Coordinator
EOC Management Support Team
EOC Operations Section Chief
EOC Planning Section Chief
Evacuation Coordination Team
Evacuation Liaison Team (ELT)
Incident Management Team
Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team
Individual Assistance Disaster Assessment Team Leader
Mobile Communications Center (Mobile EOC)
Mobile Feeding Kitchen (Mobile Field Kitchen)
Public Assistance Coordinator
Rapid Needs Assessment Team
Shelter Management Team (Incident Management)
Volunteer Agency Liaison
Finance/Administration Section Chief
Incident Commander
Liaison Officer
Logistics Section Chief
Operations Section Chief
Planning Section Chief
Public Information Officer
Safety Officer
Bomb Squad/Explosives Team
LawEnforcementAviation-Helicopters-Patrol&Surveillance
Law Enforcement Observation Aircraft (Fixed-Wing)
Law Enforcement Patrol Team (Strike Team)
MobileFieldForceLawEnforcement(CrowdControlTeams)
Public Safety Dive Team
SWAT/Tactical Teams

Appendix E
Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II
X

Type
III

Type
IV

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X

X

X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
V

X

X

X

X
X
X
X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)

67

Type
VI

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name
Mass Care

Medical and Public
Health

Resource Name
Field Kitchen Unit
Shelter Management Team (Mass Care)
State Mass Care Coordinator
Shelter Manager
Field Kitchen Manager
Ancillary Support Team (Laboratory, Pharmacy, or
Radiology Services)
Emergency/Critical Care Team
Environmental Health
Epidemiology (Surveillance and Investigation)
Isolation and Quarantine
Mass Dispensing Consultant Team
Medical/Public Health System Assessment Team
Mobile Field Medical Team
Palliative Care/Hospice Team
Public Health and Medical Team in a Shelter
Receiving, Staging, and Storing (RSS) Task Force
Specialty Services Team
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Assessment Team Leader
Behavioral Health Specialist, Licensed
Behavioral Health Specialist, Unlicensed
Dental Assistant/Hygienist
Dentist
Dialysis Technician
Dietician/Nutritionist
Environmental Health Generalist
Epidemiology Interviewer
Epidemiology Team Leader
Laboratory Technologist/Technician
Mass Dispensing Team Leader
Mass Dispensing, Consultant
Mass Dispensing, Dispenser
Mass Dispensing, Operations Team Consultant
Mass Dispensing, Patient Intake/Line Flow Consultant
Mass Dispensing, Public Information Consultant
Mass Dispensing, Vaccinator
Medical Unit Team Leader
Patient Care Technician
Pharmacist

Appendix E
Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

Type
III
X
X

Type
IV
X
X

Type
V

X

X

X
X

X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)

68

Type
VI

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name
Medical and Public
Health (cont.)

Public Works

Resource Name
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomist
Physician
Physician Assistant
PublicHealthandMedicalSupportTeamLeaderinaShelter
Public Health Data Entry Staff
Public Health Disaster Assessor
Public Health Information Technology Specialist
Radiologic Technician
RSS Distribution Leader
RSS Finance and Administrative Team Lead
RSS Logistics Team Lead
RSS Operations Team Lead
RSS Tactical Communications Leader
RSS Task Force Leader
Registered Nurse
Respiratory Therapist
Social Worker
Surgical Technician
Aerial Lift - Articulating Boom
Aerial Lift - Truck Mounted
Aerial Lift - Telescopic Boom
Aerial Lift, Self-Propelled, Scissor, Rough Terrain
Air Compressor
Air Conditioner/Heater
AirCurtainBurners(FireBox-AboveGround,RefractoryWalled)
Air Curtain Burners (Trench Burner, In-Ground)
Buses
Chillers & Air Handlers (500 Ton to 50 Ton)
Concrete Cutter/Multi-Processor for Hydraulic Excavator
Cranes, All Terrain & Rough Terrain
Cranes, Crawler (Lattice)
Damage Assessment and Repair Team – Sewer Mains
DamageAssessmentandRepairTeam–WaterPumpFacilities
Damage Assessment, Repair and Start-Up Team - Water
Production Facilities
Damage Assessment, Repair and Start-Up Team Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Electronic Boards, Arrow Boards
Electronic Boards, Variable Message Signs (VMS)

Appendix E
Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II

Type
III

Type
IV

Type
V

Type
VI

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X

X

X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X
X
X

X

X
X
X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)

69

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name
Public Works (cont.)

Resource Name
EmergencyManagementSupportTeam–Water/Wastewater
Floodlights
Generators
Grader
HydraulicExcavator(LargeMassExcavation13cyto3cybuckets)
HydraulicExcavator(MediumMassExcavation4cyto1.75cybuckets)
HydraulicExcavator(Compact-ShortRadius1.75cyto0.62cybuckets)
Hydraulic Excavator Truck Mounted
Road Sweeper
Scraper, Earth Moving
Snow Blower (Chassis Mounted)
Snow Blower (Loader Mounted)
Snow Cat
Track Dozer
Track Loader
Trailer, Equipment Tag-Trailer
Trailer, Dump (one type/example only)
Trailer, Flat Bed Truck (two types/example only)
Trailer, Gooseneck Trailer
Trailer, Small Equipment
Truck, Off-Road Dump
Truck, On-Road Dump
Truck, Plow
Truck, Sewer Flusher
Truck, Tractor Trailer
Tug Boat (general)
Water Pumps, De-Watering
Water Pumps, Drinking Water Supply - Auxiliary Pump
Water Pumps, Water Distribution
Water Pumps, Wastewater
Water Truck (example only)
Wheel Dozer
Wheel Loader Backhoe
Wheel Loaders (Large 41cy to 8cy)
Wheel Loaders (Medium 7cy to 3cy)
Wheel Loaders (Small 7cy to 2cy)
Wheel Loaders, Skid Steer (Small)
Wheel Loaders, Telescopic Handler
Wood Chipper
Wood Tub Grinder

Appendix E
Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II

Type
III

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
IV

Type
V

X

X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X

X

X
X
X
X

X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)
70

Type
VI

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name
Public Works (cont.)

Search and Rescue

Resource Name
Assistant Public Works Director - Logistics
Assistant Public Works Director - Operations
Civil/Field Engineer
Debris Collection Supervisor
Debris Removal Manager
Debris Site Supervisor
Engineering Branch Manager
Engineering Division Manager
Equipment Operator
Public Works Director
Quality Assurance Personnel
Structural Engineer
Utility Systems Reconstruction Manager
Wastewater Collection Manager
Wastewater System Manager
Wastewater Treatment Manager
Water Distribution Manager
Water System Manager
Water Treatment Manager
Air Search Team (Fixed-Wing)
Airborne Reconnaissance (Fixed-Wing)
Canine SAR Team - Avalanche Snow Air Scent
Canine SAR Team - Disaster Response
Canine SAR Team - Land Cadaver Air Scent
Canine SAR Team - Water Air Scent
Canine SAR Team - Wilderness Air Scent
Canine SAR Team - Wilderness Tracking/Trailing
Cave SAR Team
Collapse SAR Team
Mine and Tunnel SAR Team
Mountain SAR Team
Radio Direction Finding Team
Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team
US&R Incident Support Team
US&R Task Forces
Wilderness SAR Team
Disaster Collapsed Structure Canine Search Manager
Disaster Collapsed Structure Canine Search
Technical Specialist (Advisor)
Disaster Collapsed Structure Canine Search Technician

Appendix E
Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Type
II

Type
III

Type
IV

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X

X

Type
V

X
X
X
X

X

X

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)

71

Type
VI

X

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE
Category Name

Appendix E

Emergency Services Rescue Manager
Emergency Services Rescue Technician
Helicopter Search and/or Rescue Crew Chief
Helicopter Search and/or Rescue Pilot
Helicopter Search and/or Rescue Technician
Human Remains Canine Search Manager
HumanRemainsCanineSearchTechnicalSpecialist(Advisor)
Human Remains Canine Search Technician
Logistics Search and/or Rescue Technician
Medical Search and/or Rescue Technician
Mountain Search and/or Rescue Manager
MountainSearchand/orRescueTechnicalSpecialist(Advisor)
Mountain Search and/or Rescue Technician
Mountain Search and/or Rescue Unit Leader
Structural Collapse Rescue Manager
Structural Collapse Rescue Technician
Structural Collapse Search Manager
Structural Collapse Search Technician
Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Manager
Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Technical Specialist (Advisor)
Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Technician
Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Technician - Boat Bowman
Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Technician - Boat Operator
Swiftwater/Flood Rescue Unit Leader
Swiftwater/Flood Technician - Animal Rescue
Water Canine Search Manager
Water Canine Search Technician
Wilderness Air Scent Canine Search Manager
Wilderness Air Scent Canine Search Technician

Type
I
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Wilderness Search and/or Rescue Manager
WildernessSearchand/orRescueTechnicalSpecialist(Advisor)
Wilderness Search and/or Rescue Technician
Wilderness Search and/or Rescue Unit Leader
Helicopter Search and/or Rescue Crew Chief
Helicopter Search and/or Rescue Pilot
Helicopter Search and/or Rescue Technician

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Resource Name

Type
II

Type
III

Type
IV

Type
V

Table E-1: NIMS Tier 1 Resource Categories, Names, and Types (continued)

72

Type
VI

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Appendix F

APPENDIX F – URT TROUBLESHOOTING
As FEMA’s single tool for collecting the THIRA, SPR, and survey data, the URT must operate in
many different software environments. While the tool will work trouble free in most of these
environments, it uses an application programming language to automate the process of
completing THIRA and SPR assessments which may conflict with your Microsoft Office
software settings. Since some environments may be less friendly than others, we provide the
troubleshooting tips below.
Compatibility with Microsoft Office Security Settings
Microsoft Excel will generate a security warning when opening, for the first time, any file
containing code that does not come from a trusted source or file location you have previously
designated as trusted. Normally, Microsoft Excel will give you the opportunity to Enable
Macros or Enable Content from the security warning at the top of the screen. However, after
downloading and saving an Excel file with macros on your workstation or copying the file for
the first time to your workstation, Microsoft Excel may automatically disable macros, giving
you no opportunity to enable them.
Problem:
When you open the URT, you receive a security warning that says “Macros have been
disabled.” When you click on the Options button, the security dialog box only provides the
option to “Protect from unknown content,” rather than allowing you to Enable Macros or
Enable Content.
Procedure: Security Settings Solution
You must save the file again to your workstation to establish the URT as known content for
Microsoft Excel. Within the open Excel tool:
— Click OK in the Security Alert dialog box.
— Click the File menu on the tool bar, and click the Save or Save As command to save
the file to your computer.
o

This procedure saves the file a second time to establish the URT as known content
for Excel, allowing you to enable macros the next time you run the URT.

— Click on the File menu on the tool bar, and click the Close command to close the file.
— Open the URT again from the newly saved file location on your workstation.
— Microsoft Excel will generate a security warning again, but this time you will be able
to Enable Macros or Enable Content from the security warning at the top of the
screen.

73

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Appendix F

Ensuring Compatibility with Microsoft Office Environments
Each version of Microsoft Office establishes a way for the applications (Excel, Word, and
Access) to communicate with each other. This communication is accomplished through
reference libraries which provide the mechanisms to share information. However, this also
means that earlier versions of Microsoft Office (Office 2007) may not work properly with
applications saved using later versions of Microsoft Office (Office 2010 or 2013). For instance,
saving the URT in Excel 2013 establishes Office 2013 references, and the URT may not work
properly when using Office 2010 or 2007.
Problem:
When using earlier versions of Microsoft Office, the URT displays an error message related to
having a “missing” library. This error occurs when URT features that use Microsoft Word (see
Write SPR Data to a Microsoft Word Report or Write THIRA Data to a Microsoft Word Report)
cannot find the correct reference library they require.
Procedure: Ensuring URT Compatibility with Office Environments
— If you find that you must use a version of Microsoft Office earlier than the URT’s saved
version, send your URT file to the THIRA/SPR Help Desk at fema-spr@fema.dhs.gov.
— The Help Desk will modify the URT’s reference libraries for use with your earlier
version of Microsoft Office and send the file back to you.
Displaying the URT on an Overhead Projector
You may find it helpful to display the URT using a projector or large screen display during
stakeholder meetings or internal reviews. However, making entries in the URT while the URT
is displayed in this manner can lead to text box and font sizing problems. The problem occurs
when editing the Gap Description and Recent Advances text boxes on a capability
assessment worksheet. These customized text boxes may not size or display correctly after
making an entry and when using an overhead projector. Follow the procedures below to
prevent this from happening.
Problem:
When displaying the URT on an overhead projector and editing the Gap Description and
Recent Advances text boxes, the text box and font size change making the screen difficult to
read.
Procedure: URT Projection Solution
Follow these procedures to prevent or correct a problem when displaying the URT:
1. Only select one device to display the URT at a time. The text box and font size
problem occurs when editing and displaying URT on two devices (e.g., your laptop and
projector), typically when using different screen resolutions.
74

UNIFIED REPORTING TOOL GUIDE

Appendix F

2. If you must display the URT on two devices at the same time, ensure the devices are
set to use the same screen resolutions and at their optimal screen resolutions. The
text box and font size problem usually occurs when displaying the URT on a low
resolution device, such as a projector running at a resolution lower than 1280 X 768.
3. If you encounter the problem, contact the THIRA/SPR Help Desk at FEMASPR@fema.dhs.gov or 202-786-9576.

75