Situation Manual
Time Allotted / 190 MinutesTroublesome Tempest – Start Exercise
Exercise Briefing
During the exercise it will be important to remember and comply with the following statements:
· You should only use Internet Explorer as your internet browser for today’s exercise.
· It is important NOT to jump ahead in the exercise scenario. In other words don’t focus on what might happen, focus on the Common Operating Picture that is presented during the exercise to make informed decisions.
· In any exercise a number of assumptions and artificialities may be necessary to complete play in the time allotted. During this exercise, the following apply:
1. The scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented.
2. There is no “hidden agenda”, nor any trick questions.
· Exercise Basics:
1. This exercise contains a total of 11 scenario and inject pages.
2. The exercise is self-paced and it should take approximately 60 minutes (One Hour) to complete. However, based on the time spent on each scenario and inject the exercise may be completed in under 60 minutes or it may take much longer than 60 minutes to complete the exercise.
3. All videos embedded within this exercise can be enlarged to FULL SCREEN by simply clicking on the full screen icon in the lower right hand corner of the video.
4. Thoroughly review all scenario information and injects as they are presented during the exercise.
· At the end of the exercise you will need to complete an evaluation (Hotwash) on how your team performed during the exercise. The Hotwash will consist of your team providing comments on three areas in which it performed well (Strengths) and three areas your team will need to improve upon (Areas for Improvement) to enhance its preparedness, response and recovery capabilities. Found below are Hotwash examples:
Strengths – During the exercise our team consulted our disaster plans and procedures and found them to be complete.
Areas for Improvement – During the exercise our team consulted our disaster plans and procedures and found portions of the plans and procedures that need to be revised.
· After the exercise each registered participant who took part in the exercise will receive an e-mail to log into the ONX System to complete their Individual Hotwash to access their Certificate of Participation.
· If you need assistance anytime during the exercise please call the Help Desk at:
Phone Number – 605-475-4700
Account Number – 1076890 #
Time Allotted / 20 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 001 / Image of Training
Normal Daily Operations
To ensure a successful response to any disaster or emergency it is critical to have personnel that fully comprehend your clinic’s disaster plans and procedures. Employees must also be personally ready by preparing themselves, their families, their pets and their homes for the next disaster.
Are all new employees trained on your clinic’s disaster preparedness, response and recovery plans during job orientation? / Yes / No / Unsure
Have all current employees received training on the various disaster plans? / Yes / No / Unsure
Are employees cross-trained in job responsibilities wherever possible? / Yes / No / Unsure
Are employees encouraged to prepare a Family Disaster Plan and Disaster Supply Kit?
(Note: For future reference you may want to access the Just In Time Disaster Training Library for additional information on developing a Family Disaster Plan and Disaster Supply Kit. These videos are too long to view during today’s exercise. Family Disaster Plan / Disaster Supply Kit) – OPTIONAL / Yes / No / Unsure
List any additional disaster preparedness, response and recovery training in which employees are strongly encouraged or required to participate.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Scenario – # 002 / Image of National Weather Service
Tuesday / 10:02AM
As the Chief Meteorologist at the local forecast office of the National Weather Service monitors the regional radar he notices that the storm system that has been approaching from the west is moving into the area more rapidly and intensely than previously forecast.
The National Weather Service now predicts that a line of severe thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail along with a potential for tornadoes is expected to move through the forecast area between 12:00PM and 6:30PM.
Based on this prediction the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Watch for the region.
Tornado Watch
Issued 10:16AM / Expires 8:30PM
Weather Radios throughout the area sound their alarm due to the Tornado Watch being issued.
CLICK ON POD CAST TO PLAY
NOAA Weather Radio Alert
Time Allotted / 10 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 003 / Image of National Weather Service
Tuesday / 10:26AM
Briefly describe how your clinic will be alerted to the fact that a Tornado Watch has been issued for the region.
Will information regarding the Tornado Watch be shared with all clinic staff members? / Yes / No
If the above answer is yes. – Briefly describe how this information will be disseminated to all clinic staff members.
If the above answer is no. – Briefly describe the reason for not sharing this information.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 004 / Image of Normal Activities
Tuesday / 10:34AM
Based on a Tornado Watch being issued for the region will your clinic partially activate its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)? / Yes / No
If the above answer is yes. – Identify by title the individual who will be responsible for activating the EOP and briefly describe the process for activating the plan.
If the above answer is no. – Briefly describe the reason for not activating the EOP at this point and identify the point at which the EOP will be activated.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Scenario – # 005 / No Image
Tuesday / 12:17PM
Meteorologists at the local forecast office of the National Weather Service identify a thunderstorm on their Doppler weather radar capable of producing a tornado. They immediately issue a Tornado Warning.
The tornado is tracking from the southwest and is expected to move through the heart of your community.
As the tornado rips through the area its destructive powers are caught on several security cameras
CLICK ON VIDEOS TO PLAY
(Note: Because these videos are comprised of footage from various security cameras they contain no audio.)
Video Library – General # 1 – Video # 5 – House Destroyed By Tornado
Video Library – General # 2 – Video # 17 – Bank Security Camera
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 006 / Image of Tornado Warning Logo
Upon learning that your clinic is in the projected path of a tornado will management and staff take protective actions to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors? / Yes / No
If the above answer is yes. – Describe in detail the protective actions that will be taken.
If the above answer is no. – Briefly explain why management and staff will not take any protective actions.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Scenario – # 007 / Image of Tornado Damage
As clinic management and staff complete the implementation of the protective actions the winds associated with the approaching tornado begin to howl.
With the destructive power of an EF-1 tornado the storm brushes by your clinic.
Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale / Wind Speed / Destruction Power
EF-1 / 73-112 MPH / · Can peel the roof off
· Can push mobile homes off of foundation or overturn them
· Moving cars can be pushed off the road
· Trees are up-rooted.
(Note: Access the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale for additional information regarding the various EF levels of tornado damage.)
As the tornado tracked past your clinic it caused the following damage:
· A small portion of your clinic’s roof sustained minor damage.
· 20% of the windows along the side of your clinic facing the tornado have been shattered by wind and flying debris.
· Up-Rooted trees litter the grounds around your clinic.
· Utility poles and power lines are down and your clinic does not have electrical power.
· A downed tree has up-rooted the water main leaving your clinic without potable water.
· Downed trees are blocking the roadway leading to your clinic.
Fortunately none of your clinic’s staff, patients or visitors were injured by the tornado.
Time Allotted / 10 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 008 / Image of ICS
Tuesday / 12:58PM
Appropriate components of your clinic’s EOP have been activated and the process for mobilizing assigned personnel to manage the clinic’s response is well underway.
Will your clinic utilize the Incident Command System (ICS) to effectively and efficiently manage its response to the tornado? / Yes / No
If the above answer is yes. – Identify the individuals by name and title that will be responsible for fulfilling the various ICS roles that will be staffed for this incident.
(Example: Role: Incident Commander – John Harper – Clinic Administrator)
If the above answer is no. – Briefly explain why ICS will not be used and describe in detail how your clinic will manage this incident.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Scenario – # 009 / Image of Concerns
Members of your clinic’s Incident Management Team (IMT) have come together and are ready to manage your clinic’s response to the tornado.
As your clinic’s Incident Commander conducts an initial briefing the following types of concerns are brought to everyone’s attention.
· Who within the Essentia Health organization should be contacted?
· Will the clinic be able to cope with the damage caused by the tornado and keep its doors open?
· Will the clinic be able to maintain all of its normal services or will it have to scale back?
· If the clinic has to scale back what services will be temporarily suspended due to the tornado?
Conduct a short discussion to identify additional concerns that your clinic’s IMT will need to address as it responds to the tornado.
Time Allotted / 10 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 010 / Image of IAP
Tuesday / 1:09PM
Based on current conditions / concerns and your clinic’s EOP develop a prioritized check list, known as an Incident Action Plan (IAP), which focuses your clinic’s INITIAL RESPONSE ACTIVITIES.
Ensure that all objectives are completed using SMART methodology.
In preparing the IAP list the objectives; identify all resources that will be needed to accomplish each listed objective; and list the expected timeline to complete each identified objective.
(Example: Objective: Account for the status of all staff, patients and visitors who were at the clinic at the time of the tornado. / Required Resources: Staff Roster / Patient Sign-In Sheet. / Timeline: 30 Minutes.)
Time Allotted / 20 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 011 / Image of Media
Tuesday / 2:49PM
Nikole Killion, a reporter with the local television station, has contacted your clinic.
Nikole wants to know the level of damage to your clinic and if any clinic staff, patients or visitors were injured when the tornado struck.
Identify the individual by name and title that is authorized to speak to the media on behalf of your clinic.
Briefly explain how additional support to handle media inquiries will be handled by your clinic.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Troublesome Tempest – Inject – # 012 / Image of Support Agencies
Will local and / or state agencies be notified of the current conditions at your clinic? / Yes / No
If the above answer is yes. – Identify the agencies that will need to be notified and provide Point of Contact information for each.
If the above answer is no. – Briefly explain why contact with outside agencies will not be made.
Tuesday / 7:32PM
Over the past seven hours the management and staff of your clinic have worked as an effective unified team to respond to the damage caused by the tornado.
As evening approaches everyone feels grateful that the damage caused to your clinic by the tornado was somewhat minimal and that none of your clinic’s patients, visitors or staff were injured by the storm.
Time Allotted / 15 Minutes
Situation Manual – Tabletop Exercise 11 Disaster Resistant Communities Group – www.drc-group.com