Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
exercises. Here, exploration of assumptions and plans of participants are reviewed.
Because discussion-based exercises are not tied to an actual response timeline, par-
ticipants have time to address items as a group, such as plans and procedures. Items
could include familiarization with, or revision of, plans and procedures.
These exercises serve to
◾
Familiarize participants with current plans, policies, agreements, and proce-
dures (training)
◾
Develop new plans, policies, agreements, and procedures
◾
Identify opportunities for enhancements, integration, or improvements to
existing plans, policies, and procedures
◾
Do not involve dispatch to the field of manpower, equipment or other resources
Discussion-based exercises
are available in four different formats and are the sub-
ject of this material:
◾
Seminar:
An informal discussion to familiarize participants to new or updated
plans, policies, or procedures (e.g., Winter Weather Advisory Procedures or
Building Evacuation Procedures).
◾
Workshop:
Is very similar to a seminar but the participants are gathered
to provide their input into a new draft plan, policy, or procedures (e.g., IT
Workshop to define disaster procedures or a Multi County Workshop to
develop a comprehensive plan and exercise program).
◾
Tabletop Exercise (TTX):
Involves key decision-making personnel from dif-
ferent departments, roles, agencies, and organizations discussing plans, pol-
icy, and procedures within the context of one or more scenarios (e.g., County
Flood TTX, Corporate Disaster Relocation TTX, Water Contamination
TTX, Pandemic Outbreak TTX). Activities in a tabletop do not involve the
activation of outside procedures or field activities such as setting up of triage
tents, calls to outside agencies, or sending directions to staff outside the room
such as field staff.
◾
Games:
Involve two or more teams, typically competing, that are conducting
a simulation or a practice of specific operations and must follow specific rules,
data, and procedures to mirror real-world events (e.g., information security
defend and breach, financial growth, Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
data/GIS output, laboratory testing and results).
Operations-based exercises
offer much of the same as discussion-based exercises:
◾
Involve deployment of resources and personnel
◾
Are typically more complex than discussion-based types
◾
Require execution of plans, policies, agreements, and procedures
