Lesson 1 introduction
- 1. Conducting Exercises in Emergency Management
- 2. Lesson One Lesson Objectives: • Define the word “Exercise” • Outline the different ways exercises can improve readiness. • Identify the main goals for conducting exercises. • Distinguish between the seven different exercise types. • Describe the building block approach to conducting exercises.
- 3. Rationale for Conducting Exercises • Definition(s) - Exercise: – Something done or performed as a means of practice or training. – A putting into action, use, operation, or effect. • Exercises Improve Readiness By: – Providing the opportunity to evaluate agency operations and plans. – Allowing the demonstration of community resolve in the event of a catastrophic event. • The main goals for conducting exercises are: – Clarify roles and responsibilities. – Identify resource gaps. – Develop and improve interagency coordination. – Improve individual performances. – Identify opportunities for improvement.
- 4. The Building Block Approach • Typically, exercises range widely in cost, size, scope, complexity, purpose, and approach. • Exercise should be planned in a cycle that increases in complexity. Each successive exercise should build on the scale and experience of the previous one. • In the building block approach, there are seven accepted types of exercises. Each of the seven types fall into one of two categories: Discussion-based exercises and Operations-based exercises.
- 5. The Building Block Approach
- 6. Categories • Category One: • Category Two: – Discussion-based exercises – Operations-based exercises • Seminars • Drills • Workshops • Functional Exercises • Tabletops • Full-Scale Exercises • Games
- 7. Discussion-Based Exercises • Concept: – Discussion-based exercises, as suggested by the name, primarily focus on participant discussions. • Discussion-based exercises: – Are typically, less complex or compound with regard to implementation and execution. – Provide an environment for discussing or developing plans, agreements, training, and procedures. – Typically focus on strategic, policy-oriented issues. – Include seminars, workshops, tabletops, and games. – Do NOT involve the deployment of resources. • Note: – In this type of environment, a facilitator or a presenter will lead the discussions to help keep participants on track and that exercise objectives are being met.
- 8. Discussion-Based Exercises Cont. • Definition for later use: – Facilitator; a person responsible for leading or coordinating the work of a group, as one who leads a group discussion. – In emergency management, the facilitator can vary in each exercise. As the exercises become more complex, they require a more experienced individual to lead the exercise. – A facilitator is typically a member of the group who has a wide knowledge-base of the department’s or agency's overall logistics. • Types of discussion-based exercises: – Seminars; No facilitator is needed. – Workshops; Any group member can facilitate. – Tabletops; Requires an experienced individual within the group. – Games; Facilitation is less of a priority in this phase.
- 9. Discussion-Based Exercises Cont. Discussion-Based Personnel: • Presenters – Deliver the exercise presentation. • Facilitators/Moderators – Lead group discussion. • Controllers – Interpret rules and provide players with information. • Evaluators – Observe and collect exercise data. • Players – Discuss issues based on professional knowledge. • Observers/VIPs – View but do not participate in exercise.
- 10. Seminars • Concept: – A seminar is an informal discussion-based exercise led by a presenter or facilitator, used to teach or orientate participants. • Seminar Goals: – Introduce participants to new or existing plans, policies, or procedures. – Explore or assess interagency capabilities or inter- jurisdictional operations. – Construct a common framework of understanding. • Behavior Characteristics: – Casual atmosphere. – Few time constraints. – Lecture-based
- 11. Workshops • Concept: – A workshop is a formal discussion-based exercise led by a facilitator or presenter, used to build or achieve a product. • Workshop Goals: – Develop new ideas, processes, or procedures. – Develop a written product as a group in coordinated activities. – Obtain consensus, agreement, or compromise. • Behavior Characteristics: – Workshops require more participant discussion than a lecture-based seminar. – Break-out sessions are commonly used to explore parts of an issue with smaller groups.
- 12. Tabletop Exercises • Concept: – Tabletop exercises (TTX) involve senior staff, elected or appointed officials, or other key personnel in an informal group discussion centered on a hypothetical scenario. • Goals: – Identify strengths and shortfalls. – Enhance understanding of new concepts. – Seek to change existing attitudes and perspectives. • Behavior Characteristics: – Requires an experienced facilitator. – In-depth discussions. – Slow-paced problem solving.
- 13. Games • Concept: – In the world of Emergency Management, a game is a simulation of operations using rules, data, and procedures designed to depict an actual or assumed real-life situation. • Goals: – In a game, participants: • Explore the processes and consequences of decision-making. • Conduct “what-if” analyses of existing plans. • Test existing and potential strategies. • Behavior Characteristics: – This does not involve the use of actual resources. – Simulations typically included two or more teams. – Includes models and simulations of increasing complexity as the game progresses.
- 14. Operations-Based Exercises • Operations-based exercise: – Involve deployment of resources and personnel. – Are more complex than discussion-based types. – Require execution of plans, policies, agreements, and procedures. – Clarify roles and responsibilities. – Improve individual and team performances. – Include drills and both functional and full-scale exercises.
- 15. Operations-Based Exercises Cont. • Category Two: – Operations-based exercises Include: • Drills • Functional Exercises • Full-Scale Exercises
- 16. Drills • Concept: – Drills consist of supervised activity that tests a specific operation or function of a single agency. • Goals: – Obtain training on new equipment. – Test and assess new procedures. – Practice and maintain role skills. – Prepare and plan for future complex exercises. • Behavior Characteristics: – Immediate feedback. – Realistic but isolated environment.
- 17. Functional Exercises • Concepts: – A functional exercise (FE) is a single or multi-agency activity designed to evaluate capabilities and multiple functions using simulated response. • Goals: – Evaluate the management of Emergency Operations Centers, command post, and headquarters. – Assess the adequacy of response plans and resources. • Behavior Characteristics: – Simulated deployment of resources and personnel. – Rapid problem solving. – Highly stressful environment.
- 18. Functional Exercises Cont. • This format is applicable where the activity is capable of being effectively evaluated in isolation from other emergency management activity. • In contrast to the Full-Scale Exercise, the objective of the Functional Exercise is to: – Demonstrate the execution of specific plans and procedures, – Directly apply established policy, plans, and procedures under emergency conditions, within or by a particular functional team(s). • Most deployment of resources is simulated.
- 19. Functional Exercises Cont. • Differences between drills and Functional Exercises. – Drills involve a single function; Functional Exercises involve multiple functions. – Drills involve actual deployment of resources and personnel; Functional exercises use simulation.
- 20. Full-Scale Exercises • Concept: – Full-Scale Exercises (FSE) are high-stressed multi- agency, multi-jurisdictional activities involving actual deployment of resources in a coordinated response, as if a real incident had occurred. – Goals: • Assess plans and procedures under crisis conditions. • Evaluate coordinated responses under crisis conditions. – Behavior/Conduct Characteristics: • Mobilization of units, personnel, equipment, and gear. • Highly stressful, realistic environment. • Includes scripted exercise scenarios.