INITIAL PLANNING CONFERENCE

INITIAL PLANNING CONFERENCE

Today’s Goals• Understand exercise concept and process

• Discuss exercise structure and participation• Initiate planning now

• Propose and discuss design objectives• Identify appropriate agencies and personnel for participation• Create a scenario

• Highlight requirements and roles of all parties• Finalize receipt of relevant local SOPs and EOPs• Discuss site and participant requirements

Spanish FluSpanish Flu

Influenza as a bioweapon does not sound like a particularly grave threat. Annual outbreaks kill many people, particularly the elderly; but a case of the flu is generally percieved as an uncomfortable nuisance rather than a grave threat. But flu viruses can be devastating. In 1918 and 1919, the so-called "Spanish flu" killed an estimated 20-40 million people worldwide and, since then, the highly changeable flu virus has resurfaced in a variety of particularly virulent forms.

A recent commentary in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (Madjid et al. 2003) noted that influenza is readily transmissible by aerosol and that a small number of viruses can cause a full-blown infection. The authors continued: "the possibility for genetic engineering and aerosol transmission [of influenza] suggests an enormous potential for bioterrorism" The possible hostile abuse of influenza virus is seen as a very real threat by public health officials in the USA. Just two weeks ago, $15 million was granted by the US National Institutes of Health to Stanford University to study how to guard against the flu virus "if it were to be unleashed as an agent of bioterrorism".[1]

Scope• [Duration]• Local, State, and Federal response groups• Across the functional spectrum:

[Insert functional areas that would be involved in the response to the specific exercise scenario. For example, an agricultural terrorism scenario would involve participants from public health, medical/veterinary communities]

• [If applicable, insert the type of modules or sections that the exercise will be organized by. For example, a radiological terrorism exercise may include warning, notification, response, and recovery and restoration phases. Whereas a biological terrorism scenario may include an incubation phase.]

FUNCTIONAL AREA PARTICIPANTSFUNCTIONAL AREA PARTICIPANTS

[Insert local functional areas that may participate based on

the scope of exercise and scenario (e.g., fire/HazMat,

hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, etc.)]

[Insert local functional areas that may participate based on

the scope of exercise and scenario (e.g., fire/HazMat,

hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, etc.)]

[Insert state organizations that may participate based on the scope of

exercise and scenario (e.g., homeland security, public health, emergency

management, etc.)]

[Insert state organizations that may participate based on the scope of

exercise and scenario (e.g., homeland security, public health, emergency

management, etc.)]

[Insert federal organizations that may participate based on the scope of

exercise and scenario (e.g., DHS, FEMA, FBI, EPA, etc.)]

[Insert federal organizations that may participate based on the scope of

exercise and scenario (e.g., DHS, FEMA, FBI, EPA, etc.)]

SCENARIO ISSUESSCENARIO ISSUES

Response•EOC Activation•Agent Identification•Unified Command•Public Information

Response•EOC Activation•Agent Identification•Unified Command•Public Information

Notification and Response•Initial Response•Resource Allocation•Incident Command

Notification and Response•Initial Response•Resource Allocation•Incident Command

Warning•Background Information•Credible Threat•Federal Warnings•Plan Review

Warning•Background Information•Credible Threat•Federal Warnings•Plan Review

Recovery and Restoration•Incident Priorities•Federal Assistance•Long-Term Cleanup Issues

Recovery and Restoration•Incident Priorities•Federal Assistance•Long-Term Cleanup Issues

[Insert those issues that will be driven by the exercise scenario. The examples below are typical issues related

to a chemical, radiological or explosive scenario]

EXERCISE CONDUCT EXERCISE CONDUCT

Spokesperson designated to present findingsSpokesperson designated to present findings

Several small explosions ring Several small explosions ring out in the food court of the mall.out in the food court of the mall.Patrons begin to flee and have Patrons begin to flee and have trouble breathing. trouble breathing.

7:00 pm

EXPLOSIONS AT THE MALLEXPLOSIONS AT THE MALL

Dispatchers are Dispatchers are alerted and begin to alerted and begin to dispatch response dispatch response units to the scene. units to the scene.

Several small explosions ring Several small explosions ring out in the food court of the mall.out in the food court of the mall.Patrons begin to flee and have Patrons begin to flee and have trouble breathing. trouble breathing.

7:00 pm

EXPLOSIONS AT THE MALLEXPLOSIONS AT THE MALL

Dispatchers are Dispatchers are alerted and begin to alerted and begin to dispatch response dispatch response units to the scene. units to the scene.

Caucus/DiscussionCaucus/DiscussionFacilitated DiscussionFacilitated Discussion

Situation UpdateSituation Update Situation ManualSituation Manual

Situation ManualSituation Manual

Design Objectives• The community will select 4-5 objectives that will

incorporate desired concepts into the exercise

• Sample Objectives:• Assess the capability to detect, identify, monitor, and

respond to a terrorist incident• Examine the local interface with State and Federal agencies

in the conduct of incident management activities• Discuss the ability of local medical facilities to establish and

operate decontamination stations at their location• Assess the adequacy of local plans for the flow of public

information and interface and use of media resources

Agent Selection• [Insert a list of potential threats, hazards or agents that

the exercise scenario may be based upon. Planning team members will need to select from this list. For example, the list below is sample chemical agents.]• Nerve Agents (High Lethality)

Sarin, VX• Blistering Agents (Lower Lethality)

Lewisite, Mustard• Blood Agents (Moderate Lethality)

Hydrogen Cyanide, Cyanogen Chloride• Choking Agents (Moderate Lethality) Chlorine

Characteristics

• Persistent Chemical Agents• Lingers in area for days• Blister Agents• Nerve Agents• Industrial Chemicals

• Non-Persistent Chemical Agents• Dissipates within hours• Blood agents• Nerve agents• Industrial gases

[Insert the characteristics that will help the planning team select the threat, hazard or agent for the exercise scenario. This determination should be based on the exercise objectives and the venue (e.g., stadium, arena, park) that will be included in the scenario. For example, below is a list of characteristics for chemical agents. If the venue is open-air (e.g., a stadium), the planning team may want to select a persistent agent that does not dissipate as quickly as a non-persistent agent]

Other Scenario Information

• Single or multiple devices• Will disperse agent into the venue based on delivery method selected

• Secondary Devices• May be conventional or chemical filled• Target first responders or Incident Command

[Insert other scenario information that would relate to the triggering of the terrorism event (e.g., device(s) that initiate the incident) and will add realism. For example, planning team members may choose from the following list for a terrorism event involving a chemical, radiological or explosive scenario.]

Venue

• Open / Outdoor• Weather• Dissemination method

• Enclosed / Indoor• HVAC considerations• Dissemination method

[Insert information related to the potential venue that will be the site of the initiating event during the exercise scenario. Planning team members should select the venue based on the hazard, threat or agent identified. Other considerations include weather, dissemination methods (e.g., HVAC system), and the venue’s characteristics (i.e., open air or enclosed).]

Sample Scenario

[This is a example of the variables that will contribute to building an exercise scenario.]

AgentAgent VenueVenue # # DevicesDevices

WarningWarning CasualtiCasualtieses

Non- Non- PersistentPersistent

PersistentPersistent

Open AirOpen Air

EnclosedEnclosed

SingleSingle

MultipleMultiple

SecondarySecondary

No NoticeNo Notice

Credible Credible ThreatThreat

500+500+

<1000<1000

>1000>1000

>5000>5000

Support Requirements• Facility

• Location – Site Visit• Times

• Lunch• Equipment

• Large Projection Screen• Public Address System (Wireless?)

• Support Requirements• Room Setup• Sign-In / Administration Support• Coffee / Refreshments• Facilitators / Presenters / Subject Matter Experts• Security

• Access• Media Support / Considerations

• Video and Multimedia Support

After-Action ReportImprovement Plan

[Jurisdiction]

After Action Report/Improvement Plan

[DATE]

[Jurisdiction]

After Action Report/Improvement Plan

[DATE]

• Distribution• Local Jurisdictions• Federal Partners

• Purpose• Provide Feedback• Pass on Lessons

Learned

ObjectivesRecommendationsObservationsInnovations

Planning Decisions• Select Design Objectives• Identify Participants• Determine Scenario Elements / Venue• Identify Exercise Location / Room Layout• Identify Relevant EOPs and SOPs• Confirm Final Planning Conference (FPC): [Date] / [Time] /

[Location]

Final Planning Conference

• Meeting Objectives

• Review draft documentation (e.g., Situation Manual)

• Finalize logistical details

• Delivery Items for FPC• Create draft documentation and presentation• Continue logistical planning and administration support

for exercise• Identify Facilitators / Presenters

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS