Explore who are critical stakeholders (Organizations) to consider in disaster exercise planning
This week’s Discussion Board topics allow you to explore who are critical stakeholders (Organizations) to consider in disaster exercise planning, and to create an outline for a disaster exercise series based on the risks and hazards where you live or work. There are 2 parts need your input:
- Discuss different stakeholders in disaster and why it is important for them to participate in different steps of disaster exercise design, conduct, evaluation and improvement: Choose between a list of possible stakeholders
- Discuss exercise topics based on THIRA or HVA’s in your communities and outline a discussion-based and operations-based exercise series based on one of those threats or risks
The following example may help you to answer these questions. remember we are talking about Disaster Management.
The Discussion based exercise contained 3 types which are: Seminar, Table Top Exercise, and Game.
Operation based exercise contains 3 types as well which are: Drills, Functional exercise, and Full scale exercise
Example 1:
Stakeholders to consider in exercise planning include (but are not limited to):
- Local Emergency Management Personnel / Government personnel in ICS Org Chart during EOC activation
- Fire/EMS
- Law Enforcement (Local, County, City, State, Federal, etc. as necessary)
- Local, Regional Healthcare/Hospital EM personnel
- Public Works
- School District Representative / School Law Enforcement
- VOAD / Non-Profit Groups
- Critical Industry/Manufacturing and/or Hazmat Industrial Representative
- Department of Public Health
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Sanitation
- Intelligence Agencies (as necessary)
- Elected Officials
- Department of Social Services
- Faith Leaders, Community Activist Leadership
- Disability advocate Organizations
- English as a Second Language Liaisons
- Military Representatives / National Guard
It is important for these groups to participate in different steps of exercise design, conduct, evaluation, and improvement because of the specialized knowledge they bring to the table / who they represent. These groups can assist the exercise planning team in creating a more wholesome, equitable, and comprehensive exercise. With these different perspectives tackling the same exercise/drill process, the planning team can adjust the exercise from the beginning stages based on input from these community leaders and representatives. The input from these groups could allow for a more realistic exercise, and potentially identify weak points and corrective actions ahead of the exercise being conducted.
The THIRA/HVA of the Washington DC metro area is extensive. Being the nation\’s capital, the DC metro area plans for a wide breadth of possible incidents. Because of its unique city/state hybrid government structure, the area must be ready to respond to threats of all types and sizes. Focusing specifically on terrorism incidents, a discussion-based and operations-based exercise series could include the following:
Discussion-Based
- A series of seminars geared toward organizations and groups not typically directly included in EM-related operations (Faith-based organizations, senior living facilities, schools, industrial facilities, etc.) to discuss the EM plans and procedures in place for this type of event
- A TTX with primary response groups (Fire, EMS, Police, etc) working through the current Terrorism response plans (ideally with federal agency input and partnership)
- A series of games for IMT representatives that strengthen the partnerships and education of these critical group members
Operations-Based
- Small-scale readiness drills with VOAD groups (Red Cross, for example) in which equipment is stood up and checked for usability, with staff training on set-up procedures and logistical needs (in the need of a shelter, for example)
- Functional Exercises with support groups (Disability Advocates, ESL Reps, Etc.) demonstrating needs, capabilities, and potential roadblocks
- (In a perfect world) A full-scale exercise with Federal, DC, and public partners, running through response to a mass terrorism event.
Example 2:
1. Discuss different stakeholders and why it is important for them to participate in different steps of exercise design, conduct, evaluation, and improvement: Choose between a list of possible stakeholders
The list of stakeholders may be dependent on the scope of the exercise you are conducting. Some organizations may not be needed depending on what is being tested. It is important to include them in the exercise planning because they may offer a perspective that might have been missed otherwise. They also may advise if plans and processes being tested can integrate with their plans and processes. The organization planning the exercise may have unrealistic expectations of external stakeholders, which could cause a problem during the exercise. More importantly, it is beneficial to include these outside groups because they offer an outside-looking-in perspective.
- Police, Fire, EMS
- Local EM
- County EM
- Public Health (State or municipal)
- Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other volunteer groups.
- Local heads of government (public works, public safety, etc)
- Other \”like\” organizations
- Healthcare Coalition Reps
- Functional Needs Organizations
2. Discuss exercise topics based on THIRA or HVA’s in your communities and outline a discussion-based and operations-based exercise series based on one of those threats or risks
The highest risks identified by the coalition HVA are weather-related (severe weather, snow, etc).
Discussion-Based
- Seminar: A seminar geared toward a county severe weather (blizzard) plan including responsibilities, transportation, communications, snow removal plans, etc. The audience would be healthcare organizations that are not familiar with the local jurisdictions\’ snow plans.
- TTX: one of my favorites is running a power loss TTX that was caused by severe weather (snow). Geared towards nursing homes who then have to react to the loss of power and impacts of severe weather. It shows how the facility\’s response to power loss can be slowed by severe snowfall.
- Game: One of my colleagues ran a Jeopardy-style game once and I thought that was a really cool idea. Break into teams and compete against each other. Throw in questions about weather plan and response and mitigation stuff. Make it fun with prizes at the end.
Operations-Based
- Drill: Run a call-down communication drill for staff who are requested to come in during severe weather. Test the call-down process and how successful it is or isn\’t.
- Functional Exercise: Run a functional exercise for staff who are required to stay over. This can be accomplished by running through plans or processes that require the allocation of rooms or places where the staff will stay. Test how they are getting linen, toiletries, food, etc. Doesn\’t have to be a huge event but run through a small-scale scenario to see what the gaps are.
- FSE: Run an exercise that involves the local EM or county EM for a facility that has been impacted by snowfall (staff shortages, logistics, power issues, etc). I would certainly try this during nice weather to avoid any safety issues. Practice getting vendors or resources brought in to support the facility. Run through how the staff is going to be transported if needed. Run through the resource request process. Test redundant comms to various organizations. Test the organization\’s ability to support the facility if there is a power loss. There are all sorts of injects that could be thrown in to make this beneficial.
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