Exercise evaluators are provided a MSEL and will use it to assist in identifying events they must monitor closely. Evaluators should advise exercise controllers if they have not observed some expected action by the players. This activity will assist controllers in their exercise control function. Exercise evaluators analyze data collected from the Hot Wash, Participant…
A key tool in the creation of full-scale simulation exercises is the Exercise Plan. Simulation exercises, especially those that are full scale, typically take months to plan and need to be well designed. Having an Exercise Plan will help you stay organized and on track as you make your way through this process. In this…
In this 14th episode of the Whiteboard Wednesday video series, Rob discusses the 5-steps of the Exercise Process.
Being able to create calm during a major emergency is not easy, Michael Brown will attest to that. It’s what you do to ensure you learn those lessons and there are always lessons-to-be-learned from major crises. Recent hurricanes, cyber-attacks, wildfires, and the mass shooting in Las Vegas are challenging situations that needed to be managed….
Crises can strike without warning. Some incidents are slower and we can often start our response early. No matter what the situation is, we need to do more to prepare our businesses, communities, and families to survive and thrive after a crisis has passed. In this excellent episode, Mark Hoffman discusses how organizations can better…
Forty percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster and another 25 percent fail within one year according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Having a more resilient community requires preparedness and that means work! In this interview with Michael Morlan of Two Rivers Emergency Management, we discussed some of the major concerns…
Communities are not just made up of homes and apartments. Many communities have businesses that provide jobs and other services to those communities. Major cities have businesses that are heavily integrated into their communities and so do some smaller cities and even towns. It’s imperative that businesses understand their communities and it is equally important…
One of the most undervalued training and evaluation tools is the Tabletop Exercise. A Tabletop Exercise can be delivered in almost any setting and can help teams create trust amongst themselves as well as their critical vendors and other key stakeholders. There are many more benefits to conducting Tabletop Exercises. In this article, I’m going…
Being able to communicate during a crisis is essential for any organization. Understanding what to say and how to say it should be part of the crisis preparedness planning process. All stakeholders need to be addressed and your spokespersons should know what to say when the media request an interview. Have you ever considered being…
Does your organization have a workplace violence policy? Are there procedures to follow? Has your organization conducted an active shooter or other violent intruder drills or exercises? Are your staff and other key stakeholders prepared for such an attack? How would your staff respond and how would you manage the event? Answers to the above…