Develop Exercise Evaluation Guide ( EEG) for Tabletop ExerciseâTTXâ. please be familiar with TTX
Step One: Assess Needs
Goals: Review scenario–hazards, vulnerable areas, functions in need of exercising (IS139 pg.1.7)
Hazards—
Primary → flood, sustained power failure (HIGH PRIORITY)
Secondary → power outages, overwhelmed medical system, transportation blockages
Vulnerable areas—
Health care facilities (i.e. nursing homes, etc.) needing evacuation
Emergency Department with possible surge
Functions to exercise—
Capability 1: Healthcare system preparedness
Function 2 coordinate healthcare planning to prepare the healthcare system for a disaster
Function 3: identify and prioritize essential healthcare assets and services
Capability 3: Emergency operation coordination
Function 2: assess and notify stakeholders of healthcare delivery status
Function 3: support healthcare response efforts through coordination of resources
Capability 10: Medical surge
Function 2: coordinate integrated healthcare surge operations with pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services operations
Function 3: Assist healthcare organizations with surge capacity and capability.
Step Two: Define Scope
Goals: Determine type of emergency, location, functions, participants, exercise type
Type: Weather (potential flooding)
Location: Liberty County
Functions: Capabilities 1, 3, and 10 (fxns 2 &3 of each)
Potential Participants:
County Emergency Management
Hospital Emergency Management
Liberty City Hospital
Fire Department
Emergency Medical Services,
Medical Reserve Corps
American Red Cross
Players Assignment
Scope
The Liberty County severe weather tabletop exercise, planned for [insert date], will include the healthcare facilities throughout the county, emergency response personnel, representatives from local large venues (Commercial Sector), and the National Weather service. This exercise will emphasize the collaboration of federal, state, and local agencies in regards to how information gathered, processed, coordinated and distributed in preparation for a major weather event is utilized through emergency operations coordination and in conjunction with healthcare preparedness teams.
Step Three: Finalize Statement of Purpose
Purpose
The purpose of the Liberty County natural disaster TTX is to test existing plans, policies and procedures related to the selected capabilities without incurring significant costs and time commitment required to deploy and test actual resources. The exercise will permit participants to thoroughly work through a flooding event in a controlled environment and within a compressed timeframe, ultimately improving how effectively Liberty County officials can attempt to prevent or minimize any loss of life or property.
Step Four: Write Objectives
Goals: Determine number of objectives, use SMART guidelines, align with functions/capabilities
Exercise Objectives
| Name | Capability/Fxn | Objective | Expected Actions |
| Cap. 1, Fxn 2 | Coordinate with healthcare stakeholders within one hour at the onset of disaster to ensure an adequate response from the healthcare system, follow up every four hours or when deemed necessary, | - Engage relevant response and healthcare partners to assess the pre-identified risks - Engage healthcare partners to engage in coordinated response -Activate HICS/EOP | |
| Cap. 1, Fxn 3 | Objective 1: Describe the procedures among local government and stakeholders (Edison Electric company) to support hospital backup power for a 48-hour period. Objective 2: Identify the procedures among local government and stakeholders (Central City Gas Company, Columbia Eastern Pipeline Company) to provide backup natural gas (oxygen) for a 48-hour period. |
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| Cap. 3, Fxn 2 | Notify Liberty county stakeholders and health care organizations of health care delivery status of liberty county hospitals, and EMS and assess information sharing processes that supports ongoing communication in the first 48 hours. |
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| Cap. 3 Fxn 3 | Assess available resources to identify the needs and resource gaps, and locate healthcare organizations and caches that include healthcare needs in Liberty county. | - Coordinate with the appropriate healthcare organizations and agencies for the supply and resupply of resources. - Implement the healthcare coalitions process (local, state, and other partners) to sufficiently and equitably allocate resources. | |
| Cap. 10, Fxn 2&3 | Evaluate Liberty County Emergency Department, EMS agencies, and hospital management’s coordination and communication in implementing surge policies and procedures related to resource management in a flooding event during the first 48 hours. | -Assess the need for altered standard of care -Implement mutual aid agreements |
Scenario
A severe weather watch has been posted. Your area of Liberty County can expect 3-4 inches of rain in the next 18-24 hours. Your area rarely sees rainfall of this magnitude. Authorities suggest that utility failure is likely and evacuation of some health care facilities (nursing home may be needed. The area is likely to be impacted for 3-5 days after the rain stops. Address this contingency from the EOC perspective of the only local hospital. That 200 bed facility has a 12 bed ED staffed with one physician and one PA 24/7. Hospital leadership has been advised to expect a surge of patients including ill and injured as well as many who are dependent on power to operate oxygen, ventilators etc. Your group will address planning for such an event. Take into consideration appropriate core capabilities and emergency support functions. Assume that travel will be very difficult, making it almost impossible to obtain outside resources.
Narrative
It is XXX, 2017 and steady rain has been falling in the region over the last 36 hours due to a moisture-laden low-pressure system. You are the command staff at Liberty County’s emergency operation center. The National Weather Service (NWS) has already issued a ‘Flood Watch’ for the next 12 to 24 hours and Liberty County can expect an additional 3-4 inches of rain. Liberty County rarely sees rainfall of this magnitude and authorities suggest that utility failure is likely and evacuation of some health care facilities may be required.
Four hours into receiving this information, rain begins to fall at an expedited rate and the NWS issued a Flood Warning for low-lying areas along small streams. One of the County’s nursing homes is situated in this area and some roads had to be closed in the immediate vicinity. The stream through the facility is rapidly rising, and low areas are beginning to having standing water. Facility administration has been advised to watch the water level at the facility and report back with any problems. A small number of residents in the geographic area had to be evacuated along nearby overflowing streams already.
Hospital leadership has been advised to expect a surge of patients including ill and injured as well as many who are dependent on power to operate oxygen, ventilators etc.
| Capability/Objectives | Inject | Summary |
| Power maintenance | Pre-disaster planning | |
| Operational Periods | (xxxx) at (x) the city experienced a power outage. The hospital’s main power system is offline. | |
| Medical Surge | As rain increases a multicar accident occurs. X patients have been transported to the ER. No more beds available, medical supplies dwindling | |
| Response/Coordination Activation | 1) Operational briefings 2) Small injects communicating need for staff, resources, public information (rumors, briefings, etc.) etc. | |
| Delivery Status/Info Sharing | ||
| Available resources |
