Partners in Preparedness Emergency Management / Discussion Base Exercises 101 and Functional Assessment Support Team (FAST)
Feb 22, 2016
Partners in Preparedness
Emergency Management / Discussion Base Exercises 101 and
Functional Assessment Support Team (FAST)
Outline
• National Incident Response System (NIMS)
• Incident Command System
• Emergency Operations Centers
• Discussion Based Exercise Design and Participation
• Functional Assessment Support Teams (FAST)
National Incident Management SystemThe System we are to use for the Management of Incidents.
5 Components
Preparedness
Communications and Information Management
Resource Management
Command and Management
Ongoing Maintenance and Management
Command and Management
Command and Control of Incidents.
3 Components
Incident Command System
Muliagency Coordination Systems
Public Information
Incident Command System
Incident Commander Public Information Safety Liaison
Operations Plans LogisticsFinance and Admin
Multi Agency Coordination Systems
Coordinate Support For Incidents
Emergency Operations Centers
Joint Field Offices
Multi Agency Coordination Centers
Preparedness Exercises
Test policies, plans, procedures, equipment and training/skills.
2 Basic Types of Exercises
Discussion Based talk about Policies Plans and Procedures
Operations based participants actually perform tasks and functions.
What Are Objectives?• As the cornerstone of design
and development, objectives:
– Provide a framework for scenario development
– Drive a Master Scenario Events List (MSEL)
– Guide development of individual organizational objectives
– Provide evaluation criteria
Lessons Learned:Limit the number of objectives to enable exercise conduct,
facilitate reasonable scenario design, and adequately support
successful completion of the exercise.
SMART Objectives
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Objectives for Operations-Based Exercises• Focus on integration of multiple entities at systems-level
and tactical-level.
Example:Evaluate the ability of Americana’s incident command to activate essential HazMat personnel during a chemical incident in Americana in accordance with existing SOPs.
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Objectives for Discussion-Based Exercises• Focus on strategic, policy-oriented issues.
Example:Evaluate the plans for Americana’s incident command activation of essential HazMat personnel during a chemical incident in Americana in accordance with existing standard operating procedures (SOPs).
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What are the types of Discussion-Based Exercises?• Seminars• Workshops• Tabletops• Games (will not discuss)
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Who Is Involved in Discussion-Based Exercises?• Evaluators• Facilitators• Recorders• Observers/VIPs
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Seminars• Typically conducted in a lecture-based format
– Limited feedback or interaction from participants
• Content can vary, but may include existing or current:– Capabilities– Mutual aid agreements (MAAs), etc.– Disaster plans, SOPs, or EOPs– Real-world or exercise experiences and lessons learned– Agency/jurisdictional directions and goals– Discuss hazards threats and vulnerabilities
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Workshops• Desired outcome/product should be clearly defined.• Begin with background and rationale of the workshop.• Presentation followed by facilitated breakout sessions.• Participants reconvene in a plenary session.
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Seminar Style
Screen
Participants
ObserversObservers
Facilitator
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Workshop Style
Screen
Participants
ObserversObservers
Facilitator
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Conference Style
Screen
Participants
Facilitator
ObserversObservers
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Tabletop Exercises• Two methodologies
– Breakout– Plenary
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Breakout Methodology• Uses several breakout groups seated at various tables with
a facilitator at each table– Table assignments may vary by function or jurisdiction
• Scenario is presented to all at the same time
• Individual groups consider probable actions
• Each group reports back to large group
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Tabletop Exercise Style
Screen
Group 4
Group 2
Group 3
Group 1 Group 6
Group 5
ObserversObservers
Facilitator
Observers
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Plenary Methodology• Players grouped in a large room according to role
– No periods set aside for small-group discussions– Requires active facilitation– Useful for exercises involving agencies without a traditional
role in incident management
• Can be done by a team of facilitators
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Conference Style
Screen
Participants
Facilitator
ObserversObservers
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Seminar Style
Screen
Participants
ObserversObservers
Facilitator
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Wrap-Up Activities• Participants and observers
complete feedback forms that should include:– Logistics evaluation– Improvements needed– Level of satisfaction
• Conduct a debriefing or Hot Wash.
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Hot Wash• Purpose: Examine the issues identified during the
exercise from exercise participants and facilitators.
• Capture notes for the After Action Report (AAR).
• Collect feedback forms and give them to the Exercise Planning Team Leader.
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Debrief• Conduct immediately after the exercise with Exercise
Planning Team to:– Discuss issues or concerns– Propose improvements to exercise design
• Capture notes from debriefing for the AAR.
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Evaluation Activities• Evaluation occurs during all exercises.• Hot Wash is conducted with participants.• Participant feedback forms are distributed, completed, and
collected for analysis after all exercises.
Emergency Management InstituteOn Line Emergency Management Independent
Study (IS) Courses
IS 700 National Incident Management System
IS100 Introduction to Incident Command System
IS 120.a An Introduction to Exercises
IS 130 Exercise Evaluation
IS 139 Exercise Design