PALISADES A War Gaming Approach to Getting “Data-Ready” for Local Implementations of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System Eva Lerner-Lam (F) and Mimi Hwang Palisades Consulting Group, Inc. Timothy P. Harpst, P.E., PTOE (F) International President, ITE An Interactive Session at the 2005 ITE District 5 Annual Meeting Savannah, GA April 10, 2005

PALISADES Agenda Background Objectives of this session Approach to achieving objectives Conduct a war game exercise Summarize: –results of exercise –results of this session

PALISADES Background 9/11 events led to efforts to better protect against and respond to acts of terrorism Many actions taken, including: –Creation of Department of Homeland Security –Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) –Passage of “Patriot Act” –Three TOPOFF Exercises

PALISADES Background Collectively, we’re better prepared Need to continue to enhance our preparedness

PALISADES Background In 2004, DHS issued the National Response Plan and National Incident Management System (per HSPD-5) –All hazards, including terrorism –Both emphasize interoperable communications As of 2005, state and local response plans must soon be consistent with the NRP and NIMS, or risk losing federal assistance for emergency response

PALISADES Background Three TOPOFF Exercises: –May 2000: Denver and New Hampshire –May 2003: Chicago, Seattle, Canada –April 2005: Interagency, Connecticut, New Jersey, United Kingdom, Canada Major Finding: “Communications Problems” –Equipment –Data and Information

PALISADES Background “In the immediate aftermath of the attack, communications problems delayed the transport of many “victims” to local hospitals.” US Senator Susan M. Collins, On TOPOFF 2

PALISADES Background “It’s not just an issue of equipment. Every agency has its own terminology and protocols for communication. If you put 121 of them together, communicating the same information about a scenario, you’ll find that each uses their own communications protocols, their own acronyms, etc. Making sure that everyone has a common operational picture is very complex and a real challenge.” --Corey Gruber TOPOFF 2 Associate Director

PALISADES Background Homeland Security Operations Center Joint Regional Information Exchange System FBI State and Local Agencies WEAK LINKS: Data and information must be clear, accurate and transmittable

PALISADES Objectives of this Session Gain understanding about the importance of: –Knowing what kind of information is needed during a major attack –Identifying critical data requirements for that information and negotiating the “data definitions” between and among agencies

PALISADES Approach Highlight just one communications interface: A County Police Department dispatcher and a Regional Transit Agency dispatcher

PALISADES Approach Simulate a terrorist attack Role play: –Police Dispatcher –Transit Dispatcher Focus: –What information does each one need? –What data is needed to provide that information?

PALISADES Game Rules You will assume role as Special Advisors to the both Dispatchers When asked, you will contribute (“Silence” implies agreement) You will suspend any disbelief over factual errors or discrepancies in Game scenario itself; keep your focus on the Objective of the Game Facilitator may occasionally “park” relevant issues for resolution at a later time

PALISADES Overview of Game 1.Facilitator will describe: –Local setting –Emergency Support Agencies 2.Facilitator will introduce Role Players –Chatham County Police Dispatcher –Chatham Area Transit Dispatcher

PALISADES Overview of Game 3.Facilitator will describe Major Attack 4.You will listen in on communications between Chatham County Police Dispatcher and Chatham Area Transit Dispatcher 5.When asked, you will advise the dispatchers on what else they need to know and how they need to know it 6.After-Action report Lists of data and information needs for Police and Transit

PALISADES Parking Lot Issue #1: Different Color Coded Threat Levels DHS: 5 Threat Levels Transit: 7 Threat Levels

PALISADES The Setting

PALISADES Savannah, GA Metro Savannah, GA –Population210,000 –Square Miles102 CAT Service Area –Population232,000 –Square Miles438

PALISADES Emergency Support Agencies Primary Agency: Chatham County Police Department Support Agencies: –Chatham Emergency Management Agency –Chatham County Health Department –Chatham County Sheriff’s Office –Georgia Bureau of Investigation –Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies –Municipal Fire Departments –US Coast Guard Chatham Area Transit

PALISADES Parking Lot Issue #2: Transit Should Be Part of Response Planning Team

PALISADES Introduction of Role Players

PALISADES Chatham Police Dispatcher Role Player: Tim Harpst Duties include: –Receiving emergency calls –Determining nature, location and priority of emergency –Dispatch police units as necessary –Maintaining and coordinating contact with all field units on assignment –Enter, update and retrieve crime-related information from computer and communications networks

PALISADES Chatham Area Transit Dispatcher Role Player: Mimi Hwang –Duties include: Directing on-road operations Working with the Driver Supervisors to identify and relay issues and information related to operational safety

PALISADES Let’s Begin…

PALISADES Pre-Attack Typical, sunny day in Savannah, GA Typical workday at Chatham Area Transit Authority and Chatham County Police Department

PALISADES First Reports of Attack

PALISADES Reports of Attack: “Some type of “dirty bomb” on container ship has been detonated under the Talmadge Memorial Bridge” Initial reports indicate: –Blast-related casualties –Radioactive and/or chemical cloud is spreading southeasterly

PALISADES Incident Commander Orders Evacuation of Downtown Savannah Set up detours and emergency routings Mobilize the transit fleet

PALISADES UNDER ATTACK (FTA Code: BLACK) What Information Does Transit Dispatcher Need from Police? Information NeededAs Defined By: Type of Attack (Chemical, Biological, Missile, Explosive, etc.) Ready.Gov definitions Direction of EvacuationNorth-East-South-West? By highway names? Toward cities? OTHER??

PALISADES UNDER ATTACK (FTA Code: BLACK) What Information Does Police Dispatcher Need from Transit? Information NeededAs Defined By: How many buses are available? How many passengers can each carry? Transit agency Other??

PALISADES IN RECOVERY (FTA Code: PURPLE) What Information Does Transit Dispatcher Need from Police? Information NeededData As Defined By: Detour RoutesHighways? Temporary Transit Pickup/Dropoff AreasAddress? Landmark? Other??

PALISADES IN RECOVERY (FTA Code: PURPLE) What Information Does Police Dispatcher Need from Transit? Information NeededData As Defined By: Number of Buses AvailableTransit definitions: 55-, 35-, 15-passengers, etc.? Temporary Transit Pickup/Dropoff Areas Other??

PALISADES Game Summary What did we learn from this game? –We’re not as ready as we’d like to be –Have to have plan in place before a major incident –There are questions we should be asking that we don’t know to ask? (HK know that we’re sending people there?) –Fleet vehicles may be impacted. –Definitional information gathering should occur during PLANNING stage, not EMERGENCY state –What to do about pets? What do we need to do to make sure we’re “data- ready”? –Who’s going to do what by when? –Radio-compatibility

PALISADES Session Summary Communications at the local agency level are potential “weak links” in national preparedness and response Communications include not only transmission equipment, but data and information as well

PALISADES Session Summary War gaming can be an effective tool to help develop and enhance state and local response plans War gaming scenarios should involve all key agency partners, including Transit War gaming outputs should ensure that all communications requirements are clearly identified and defined

PALISADES References Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5: National Response Plan: xml xml National Incident Management System: Ready America: