Introduction

The idea behind this presentation is to create a basic understanding of a tabletop exercise design and delivery process.

Pre-Exercise Preparation

Before you begin the exercise design process there are a few things you want to make sure are up-to-date:

• Updated Emergency Plan – plan should be kept in constant state of readiness.

• Updated Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment – this will allow participants to conduct an exercise that is within the realm of reality.

• Updated Training/Personnel – The individual benefits from training will have a trickle down effect to both the team and community’s success in exercises and actually events.

Types of ExercisesTabletop Exercise

• A discussion based paper exercise.

• Comprised of personnel who have roles and responsibility within the emergency plan.

• Generally in a classroom setting.

• Once a tabletop exercise is completed, it is mandatory to conduct a Hot Wash and After Action Report.

Exercise Development

Exercise Development/Design Process

1. Determine the Need

2. Design the Exercise Scenario

3. Develop Exercise Material

4. Conduct the Exercise

5. Evaluate

Exercise Development 1. Determine the Need

• Determining the need to exercise can be based on multiple criteria, for example:

New emergency management team personnel. Newly elected officials. A change in the environment (natural, cultural, political) Validate emergency plan procedures. Validate risk reduction measures/response. (HRVA) After new training for personnel.

• Can be determined by a single representative or committee

• A scenario(s) should be chosen that is suitable to the exercising entities circumstances.

Exercise Development

2. Design the Exercise Scenario

Steps of the design process:

A. Determine the Scenario/Goals and Objectives

B. Determine the Scope

C. Identify the Objectives

D. Identify the Participants

E. Identify Exercise Staff

Exercise Development

A. Determine the Scenario/Goals and Objectives

• The local authority will determine the scenario to be exercised using:

Emergency plan.HRVA.Areas they feel the team should focus on.

• The scenario will also depend on the objectives and goals.

• The scenario should play off the previous scenario unless this is the first.

Exercise Development

Conducting a tabletop allows us to do the following:• Validating Warning Policies and Procedures• Validate Evacuation Policies and Procedures• Validating E.S.S Policies and Procedures • Validating Personnel Roles and Responsibilities • Verifying the accuracy of Equipment Inventory• Validating Communication Policies and Procedures• Validate Log keeping Policies and Procedures• Verifying MOU’s• Validate Hazard Risk Assessment response Policies and

Procedures• Validate E.O.C Activation Policies and Procedures

Exercise Development

B. Determine the Scope

Key elements of Scope:

• Type of exercise – tabletop.

• Participation level – type of personnel needed.

• Duration – length of time needed to accomplish the objectives/goals.

• Location – where the exercise will take place.

• Limitations – what are the physical and human capabilities.

Exercise Development

C. Identify the Objectives

S - specific

M - measurable

A - achievable

R - realistic

T - ask-Orientated

Exercise Development

D. Identify the Participants

• Participants are chosen based on the scenario’s:

Goals. Objectives. Scope.

• Once identified the participants should receive an invite as soon as possible.

Exercise Development

E. Identify the Exercise Staff

• Depends on the number of participants, depth of information and type of exercise.

• A Facilitator

• Scribe/Data Collector

Exercise Development

Exercise Material Development Tabletop

• Agenda – provides a timeline of events and topics to be covered through the duration of the exercise.

• Facilitator Guide (tabletop only) will describe the need or purpose for conducting the exercise and will outline the scope, goal and objectives that have been set for exercise.

• Participants Guide – (tabletop only) will include the same information as the facilitators guide, except the list of specific questions. The questions given to participants will help them navigate the scenario and create discussions among the participants.

Exercise DevelopmentExercise Material Development

• An After Action Report (AAR)

- Date of Exercise - Start Time- End Time- Location(s)- Type of Scenario- Exercise goals and objectives- Scenario and Timeline of Events- Debriefing date(s)- Lessons Learned/Key Findings- Plans for improvement

Exercise Development

4. Conduct the Exercise (Tabletop)

• Introductions.

• Initial Briefing.

• Scenario walk though.

• Data collection.

Exercise Development

5. Evaluation

• The information gathered during the exercise and hot wash will be incorporated into the AAR.

• The AAR information will be used to update the:

Emergency plan HRVA Emergency Management

Program