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Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA) and Member Community Tabletop Exercise
Lessons Learned and How You Can Apply Them To Your Community
2011 APWA Chicago Metro Chapter Conference & Trade Expo
Robert L. Martin, P.E.Water Services DirectorAlfred Benesch & [email protected]
Robert L. Martin, P.E.Water Services DirectorAlfred Benesch & [email protected]
Focused practice activity that places the participants ina simulated situation requiring them to function in thecapacity that would be expected of them in a realevent.
What is a Tabletop Exercise (TTE)?
TTE Purpose
• Promote preparedness by testing – Policies– Plans– Training personnel
• Many successful responses to emergencies over the years have demonstrated that exercising pays huge dividends when an emergency occurs
After-Action Report – 1995 Bombing
• The After-Action Report following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City made the following recommendation regarding problems that were identified in integrating the response efforts of multiple agencies…
After-Action Report – 1995 Bombing
• “Planning, training, and exercising are the only feasible recommendations. If an integrated emergency management system is to be utilized and effective in future disasters, all levels of government must be on the same page of the book. Effective coordination cannot be achieved during the chaos following any disaster. Relationships must be established, plans written and tested, and procedures agreed upon. Regardless of what our particular role is, our mission is the same… to provide effective response and recovery through coordinated logistics, communications, and information support systems.”
TTE Benefits
• Increase readiness in the event of an actual emergency
• Provide a means to assess effectiveness of response plans and response capabilities
• Serve as a training tool for response personnel and their involvement with response agencies
• Provide and opportunities to practice skills and improve individual performance in a non-threatening environment
• Require participants to network with each other and pre-plan decisions on how to use resources
• Identify planning conflicts and gaps
• Identify resources needs and opportunities for sharing of resources
• Clarify internal and external roles and responsibilities
TTE Benefits (cont.)
Why do we need to do TTE?
VA’s & ERP’s• Vulnerability
Assessments (VA)• Emergency Response
Plans (ERP)
When was the last time…?
• …you looked at these?• …you updated it?
Consider the following…
– Does that person still work there?– Didn’t he change positions?– We changed cell phone carriers and we all got new phone
numbers– Do the new employees or newly promoted employees even
know where the ERP is?
TTE Facts
• Developed by the US EPA
TTE Disaster Scenarios• Flood • Hurricane• Earthquake• Tornado• Vandalism• Ice Storm• Radiological Dispersion
Device• Wastewater Hazardous
Materials Contamination• Water Contamination• Pandemic Flu
TTE Climate Change Scenarios• Extreme Drought • Intense Fire in Protected
Catchment• Extreme Flooding• Impact of Freeze Thaw Shift
on Main Breaks Scenario• Sea Level Rise
Importance of TTEs
What happens if your go-toperson decides to take avacation overseas?
• Inaccessible by phone or email
• Unsure of where to get repair parts for the piece of equipment that never breaks
TTEs are more important now than ever.
Many organizations are having retirements and with the retirements institutional knowledge is walking outthe door
Ask yourself…
• Who would you call from your County, State, or Federal Government if you need assistance?
• Would you like to know this now rather than 3 AM Sunday morning?
Why not conduct a TTE while that institutional knowledge is still there?
TTE Exercise Objectives
• Define or refine participants’ roles and responsibilitiesin regards to managing the consequences of a water contamination incident, which should be reflected in their plans, policies, and procedures and other preparedness elements currently in place or under development
• Build relationships between utilities and stakeholders
• Determine neighboring utility infrastructure capabilities and needs
TTE Exercise Objectives (cont.)
• Identify infrastructure coordination requirements of state agencies coordinating under the appropriate Emergency Support Functions
• Identify other needed enhancements related to training, exercises and other preparedness elements currently in place or under development
TTE Roles and Responsibilities (cont.)
• Players respond to the situation presented based on expert knowledge of response procedures, current plans and procedures, and insights derived from training and experience
• Facilitators lead the exercise by presenting the scenario narrative and facilitating the discussion period and “hot wash” (Action-Planning Session or review session)
• Evaluators monitor the exercise, track accomplishments according to objectives, and may ask questions
• Observers observe the exercise but do not participate in the facilitated discussion period
TTE Exercise Rules
There is no single solution
Varying viewpoints, even disagreements are expected
Dialogue encouraged within a safe, open, stress-free environment
Respond based on your knowledge
TTE Exercise Rules (cont.)
Your organization’s positions or policies do not limit you
Make your best decision based on the circumstances presented
Assume cooperation and support from other responders and agencies
Basis for discussion consists of scenario narratives, your experience, your understanding, and your intuition
TTE Exercise Rules (cont.)
All information required to drive discussion during the tabletop exercise is contained in exercise material
Treat every scenario as if it will affect your area - don’t “fight” the scenario
The TTE included the following staff members: • CLCJAWA staff• Member utilities staff
CLCJAWA TTE Exercise
Water Contamination Scenario
Water Contamination Scenario (cont.)
• The local news reports a generalized increase in stomach flu for the community.
• Due to several recent intrusions and intentional contamination incidents on drinking water utilities around the region, the drinking water utility staff is concerned.
• The drinking water utility decides to increase sampling, but during morning briefings, finds that a large percentage of the utility staff are out sick or are at home taking care of sick family members.
Water Contamination Scenario (cont.)
• The agency’s executive director calls in the afternoon stating that there are rumors that the drinking water is the source of the outbreak of illness and that news reports have started to mention drinking water in association with the outbreak.
• A local hospital calls later in the afternoon and states that laboratory tests are completed and that positive Cryptosporidium results had been reported in clinical samples from sick patients.
Water Contamination Scenario (cont.)
• Central Lake County JAWA has called an emergency meeting including participation from Lake County Health Department, along with agency member utilities.
• An environmental group is asking whether the wastewater plants will be affected by Cryptosporidium and if the treatment plants will be able to remove or kill it before the water is discharged to the environment.
Water Contamination Scenario (cont.)
• The drinking water utility decides to take samples from the water distribution system to send to a laboratory for analysis.
• The member water utilities that receive water from the potentially affected agency are calling to see if the source of the contamination has been determined.
• Other drinking water utilities along Lake Michigan are calling to determine whether other utilities may also be at risk.
General ERP Questions
• The questions are divided among eight categories that cover select areas of an ERP
• Due to their broad focus, some questions can fit into several categories simultaneously
Categories• Notification and Activation• Coordination• Logistics• Communications• Finance and Administration• Demobilization • Recovery
Scenario-Specific Questions
• The questions are divided among eight themes that cover a variety of issues relevant to the water sector.
• The answers to these questions should be dependent on the scenario.
Emergency Response Plans
• Utility Preparedness• Laboratory Support• Business Continuity• Local and State Coordination• Federal Coordination• Mutual Aid and Assistance• Law enforcement
Action-Planning Session
• Assigned responsibilities, resources and timelines for each action/task/follow-up
Lessons Learned
Need to get Lake County Health Department involved in future exercises because they will be essential in decision making during a health event.
Each utility needs to review and update their ERPs
The utilities are reliant on cell phones. A disaster could overwhelm the cell phone system making communications difficult.
Need to establish a Water Quality Task Force.
Cryptosporidium
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a handbook regarding Cryptosporidium – Issuing a boil water advisory (BWA) for the protection of public
health from waterborne pathogens has serious implications for a community and must be done only after careful considerations
– Decisions must frequently be made within relatively short periods of time and with either incomplete or inconclusive information.
– The most effective way for a community to make decisions is to establish a local task force well in advance of any potential crisis to discuss issues that are critical to BWA decision making.
– The task force should consist of representatives from public health and regulatory agencies and the water utility.
Most Common Complaint
• Insufficient information
– This is exactly what happens during an emergency situation.
– You are being asked to make decisions with insufficient information.
One more thing…
• Wouldn’t you rather plan prior to the emergency and know that you have some sort of plan?
Questions?
Robert L. Martin, P.E.Water Services Director
Alfred Benesch & Company
205 N. Michigan AvenueSuite 2400, Chicago, IL 60601
