EXERCISES, TRAINING & DRILLS

The purpose of any exercise is to validate training, reveal planning strengths and weaknesses; uncover resource needs and shortfalls; improve coordination within your organization and community; clarify roles and responsibilities; and improve overall performance of all employees, managers, and the Crisis Management Team. It is essential to practice “the Plan” periodically to ensure it works and is updated as the environment changes. FEMA suggests four ways (we suggest five ways) to accomplish this goal:

1. Drills simulate an emergency in a limited scope, typically involving one supporting agency.

• An informal discussion of simulated emergencies.

• May test a single component or function of the Emergency Management Plan (for example, a “Lock-Down” drill).
   

2. Tabletop Exercises simulate an emergency situation in an informal, stress-free environment designed to elicit discussion to resolve coordination and responsibility issues based on existing Emergency Management Plans.

• An informal discussion of simulated emergencies.

• No time pressures.

• Low stress.

• Useful for evaluating plans and procedures.

• Helpful to resolve questions of coordination and responsibility.

3. Functional Exercises simulate a real emergency under time-sensitive conditions by testing coordination among various functions and outside response agencies.

• Focuses on policies, procedures, roles and responsibilities.

• More stressful and realistic simulation of real life situations.

• Usually takes place in “real time”.

•  Emphasizes the emergency functions of the Emergency Management Plan. Examples might include perimeter security (securing all doors of the building), utility shut-downs, and accounting for all the people who should be in the building at the time (to include visitors and contractors).

• Activation of the Crisis Management Team and Emergency Response Teams.
   

4. Full Scale Exercises test an entire community's response capability. This involves using real equipment.

• Takes place in “real time” and tests total response capability as close to a real emergency as possible.

• Includes mobilization of emergency personnel and community resources required to demonstrate coordination and response capability that would be anticipated to support the organization in crisis.

• Coordinates many agencies and functions, both internal and external to the district

• Intended to test several emergency functions, either concurrently or in sequence

• Could involve activating an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
   

5. Training: Training is important on many levels:

• General awareness training for all employees to help recognize and report things before it becomes a crisis

• First Aid, CPR, fire extinguisher, Floor Warden, and Emergency Response Training (ERT) for applicable employees

• Department level training to address specific tasks need to be addressed by appropriate departments:

   Communications / PIO: This department needs to train on standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to a crisis to outline individual roles and responsibilities such as who writes briefing material, who edits, and who communicates the information during an emergency
  
   Facilities / Maintenance: Define and train on roles related to who knows the how to turn utilities on/off within each of the building, as compared to who may be tasked with assisting first responders with searches and/or fire system activation / deactivation
  
   Safety / Security: Train on who will participate in Unified Command / Crisis Management Team vs. who understands, and has the ability to manage security systems (card access systems, CCTV viewing, alarm systems, etc.)
   

Whether it's a tabletop, functional, or a full-scale scenario based exercise, ARMADA will design, conduct, facilitate and evaluate an exercise that meets applicable standards such as National Incident Management System and Joint Commission. In addition, ARMADA can assit with role-player recruitment to enhance the realism of the exercise. Exercises are customizable and can meet the needs of various clients to include:

ARMADA Consulting Solutions

• Coordinate, Customize and Execute Organizational Training Programs

• Exercise Design, Facilitation and Evaluation

• After Action Plan Development.

• Improvement Planning.

Training Courses (Sample List)

• General Security Awareness.

• Crisis Management.

• Active Shooter.

• Bomb Search/Threat.

• Hospital Incident Command System.

• Disaster Triage.