lepc12.org>Exercises & Plans

Exercises & Plans

Exercises

An exercise is simply a practice test of any emergency plans and procedures to familiarize responders with them, see if they work, and note how they can be improved. Dates and locations of any planned exercises in the LEPC can be found on this site under News and Events. Exercises come in several levels.

Seminars

Seminars offer a low-stress environment led by a seminar leader and are generally employed to orient participants to plans, procedures, response resources, and concepts. Seminars provide a good starting point for jurisdictions that are developing their plans and procedures.

Workshops

Workshops are similar to seminars, but participant interaction is increased, and the focus is on achieving or building a product (such as a plan or a policy). Workshops provide an ideal forum for collecting or sharing information and team building.

Tabletop Exercises (TTXs)

Tabletops involve key personnel in an informal setting, discussing hypothetical scenarios. This type of exercise is aimed at facilitating understanding of concepts and identifying strengths and shortfalls. In a TTX players apply their knowledge and skills to a list of problems presented the leader/moderator, problems are discussed as a group, and resolution is generally agreed on and summarized by the leader.

Drills

Drills are a coordinated, supervised activity usually employed to test a single specific operation or function in a single agency. Drills are commonly used to provide hands-on training on new equipment, develop or test new policies or procedures, or practice and maintain current skills.

Functional Exercises

Functional exercises are generally focused on presenting complex and realistic problems that require rapid and effective responses in a highly stressful environment. Generally, events are projected through an exercise scenario with event updates that drive activity at the command/management level. Actual movement of personnel and equipment is simulated.

Full-Scale Exercises (FSEs)

Full-scale exercises are complex, multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional exercises conducted in a real-time, stressful environment that closely mirrors a real event. First responders and resources are actually mobilized and deployed to the “scene” where they conduct their actions as if a real incident had occurred (with minor exceptions). This provides an opportunity to execute plans, procedures, and cooperative (mutual aid) agreements. The exercise site is usually extensive with complex logistics, including supplying food and water to participants and volunteers. Safety issues must be monitored, and media outreach planned to avoid any misinterpretation of the event as real.

For More Information

More information on exercises can be found at the US Department of Homeland Security's Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/hseep.htm - Open in New Window

Emergency plans come in a variety of forms and are for several levels of government. The Federal government operates under the National Response Plan and several other plans for specific types of incidents. Planning is an important step that can reduce the likelihood of disasters, increase the effective of response, and smooth the recovery after a disaster.

Some of the plans that you may find are:

Emergency Operations Plans (EOP)

An Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) covers how an entity will respond to an incident, and generally includes call lists, emergency resources, decision trees about actions, and authorizing statutes. An EOP may also cover pre and post incident phases, such as preparedness, training, evaluation, and recovery. The LEPC's EOP is available on the Downloads page. Assistance with local EOPs may also be available, please contact Kevin Geiger at the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission kgeiger@trorc.org.

Rapid Response Plans (RRP)

Rapid Response Plans (RRP) are very basic town-based plans that note the people that would be needed in an emergency and their contract information. RRPs also list any shelters and vulnerable populations in town, and may list private resources that might be needed. Copies of RRPs can be found under each town at the Member Towns page.

Pre-disaster Mitigation (PDM) Plans

Pre-disaster Mitigation (PDM) Plans identify the likely hazards to a jurisdiction and propose actions to reduce anticipated damages. These plans have been done at town, regional and the state levels. Local PDM Plans can be found under each town at the Member Towns page. The Regional PDM plan is not online, but more information can be found on the TRORC web site under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation section. The Vermont PDM plan is not available online, but interested persons should contact Ray Doherty, State Hazard Mitigation Officer at rdoherty@dps.state.vt.us.

Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) and Disaster Recovery Plans

Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) and Disaster Recovery Plans typically focus on what will an agency or business do to get back on its feet after an incident. They include pre-disaster planning to preserve records, create emergency lists, set up backup facilities, and establish emergency chains of command. General information on these are available at the Downloads page.

Individual and Family Preparedness Plans

Individual and Family Preparedness Plans – It is a good idea for everyone to have a basic emergency plan. A general plan that will help you and your family can be found in the link below.

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_601_,00.html - Open in New Window