1. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) Tornado Scenario V0005
February 23, 24 and 25, 2016 1 1

2. Welcome and Introductions
Opening Remarks:
Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
Introductions:
EMI
Video Teleconference (VTC) Locations 2 2 2

3. Scope
Focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of a tornado, as well as the interdisciplinary and interagency coordination at the tribal regional, State, and local level. 3 3 3

4. Exercise Goals
Demonstrate an ability to implement components of National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Framework (NRF), and other current doctrines by:
Activating emergency plans and procedures
Appropriately interfacing with the command structure
Developing public information and media plans to handle concerns
Determining resource needs of the community and potential sources of support and requesting resources as appropriate
Identifying coordination and policy issues regarding multi-agency coordination systems
Other current doctrines include the Presidential Preparedness Directive – 8 (PPD-8), The National Preparedness Goal and National Preparedness System. 4 4 4

5. Exercise Objectives
Assist participants knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively conduct all-hazards emergency response and recovery.
Enable participants to better coordinate response operations with counterparts from Federal agencies, State governments, local governments, private sector organizations, and nongovernmental agencies.
Allow participating locations to share real-time tornado related preparation, response and recovery solutions with all participants.
Use of the VTC approach to delivering this exercise also:
Leverages VTC technology that exercises your organization’s capability to use VTC for other collaboration efforts, for training as well as during real-life emergencies or pre-planned events.
Offers a low-cost, low band width collaboration platform to engage and exercise the whole community
Offers real-time collaboration with the EM Community of practice and interest in order to monitor and provide feedback on training and exercise needs to the EMI. 5 5 5

6. Core Capabilities PPD-8/National Preparedness Goal
PPD-8 calls for development and maintenance of a National Preparedness Goal defining the core capabilities necessary to prepare for the specific types of incidents posing the greatest risk to the security of the Nation.
States and urban areas use capabilities-based planning to identify a baseline assessment of their homeland security efforts by comparing their current capabilities against the Core Capabilities.
Core capabilities are essential for the execution of each of the five mission areas:
Prevention
Protection
Mitigation
Response
Recovery 6 6 6

7. Core Capabilities All Mission Areas:
Planning - Conduct a systematic process engaging the whole community as appropriate in the development of executable strategic, operational, and/or tactical-level approaches to meet defined objectives.
Public Information and Warning - Deliver coordinated, prompt, reliable, and actionable information to the whole community through the use of clear, consistent, accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate methods to effectively relay information regarding any threat or hazard, as well as the actions being taken and the assistance being made available, as appropriate.
Operational Coordination - Establish and maintain a unified and coordinated operational structure and process that appropriately integrates all critical stakeholders and supports the execution of core capabilities. 7 7 7

8. Core Capabilities Response:
Infrastructure Systems - Stabilize critical infrastructure functions, minimize health and safety threats, and efficiently restore and revitalize systems and services to support a viable, resilient community.
Mass Care Services - Provide life-sustaining services to the affected population with a focus on hydration, feeding, and sheltering to those who have the most need, as well as support for reunifying families.
Situational Assessment - Provide all decision makers with decision-relevant information regarding the nature and extent of the hazard, any cascading effects, and the status of the response. 8 8 8

9. Core Capabilities Mitigation Mission Area:
Community Resilience - Enable the recognition, understanding, communication of, and planning for risk and empower individuals and communities to make informed risk management decisions necessary to adapt to, withstand, and quickly recover from future incidents.
Threat and Hazards Identification - Identify the threats and hazards that occur in the geographic area; determine the frequency and magnitude; and incorporate this into analysis and planning processes so as to clearly understand the needs of a community or entity. 9 9 9

10. Core Capabilities Recovery:
Economic Recovery - Return economic and business activities (including food and agriculture) to a healthy state and develop new business and employment opportunities that result in a sustainable and economically viable community.
Health and Social Services - Restore and improve health and social services networks to promote the resilience, independence, health (including behavioral health), and well-being of the whole community. 10 10 10

11. Core Capabilities Response Mission Area:
Infrastructure Systems - Stabilize critical infrastructure functions, minimize health and safety threats, and efficiently restore and revitalize systems and services to support a viable, resilient community.
Mass Care Services - Provide life-sustaining and human services to the affected population, to include hydration, feeding, sheltering, temporary housing, evacuee support, reunification, and distribution of emergency supplies.
Mass Search and Rescue Operations - Deliver traditional and atypical search and rescue capabilities, including personnel, services, animals, and assets to survivors in need, with the goal of saving the greatest number of endangered lives in the shortest time possible. 11 11 11

12. Core Capabilities Response Mission Area:
On-Scene Security, Protection and Law Enforcement - Ensure a safe and secure environment through law enforcement and related security and protection operations for people and communities located within affected areas and also for response personnel engaged in lifesaving and life-sustaining operations.
Public Health, Healthcare and Emergency Management Services - Provide lifesaving medical treatment via Emergency Medical Services and related operations and avoid additional disease and injury by providing targeted public health, medical, and behavioral health support, and products to all affected populations.
Situational Assessment - Provide all decision makers with decision-relevant information regarding the nature and extent of the hazard, any cascading effects, and the status of the response. 12 12 12

13. Core Capabilities Recovery:
Economic Recovery - Return economic and business activities (including food and agriculture) to a healthy state and develop new business and employment opportunities that result in an economically viable community.
Health and Social Services - Restore and improve health and social services capabilities and networks to promote the resilience, independence, health (including behavioral health), and well-being of the whole community. 13 13 13

14. Exercise Overview
Four hour, continuous, interactive exercise that will require schedule discipline.
The VTTX consists of:
Introductions
Hazard Briefing
Three Modules
Participant engagement encouraged both locally and cross-community.
Time awareness during questions, brief outs, etc.
Time awareness – please contribute both locally and virtually during the global brief out.
Try to keep pauses to a minimum and brief outs clear and concise.
Be respectful of others time and the exercise schedule.

15. Exercise Schedule Activity Time Introduction (Field sites and EMI)
10 minutes
Hazard-Specific Briefing (EMI)
Module 1: Preparedness/Initial Response
60 minutes
Module 2: Extended Response
Module 3: Recovery 15 15 15

16. Assumption and Artificialities
The scenario is plausible and events occur as they are presented.
There is no hidden agenda and there are no trick questions.
All players receive information at the same time. 16 16 16

17. Ground Rules Do NOT critique the scenario
Trying to find holes or inconsistencies in the scenario is counter-productive and disruptive; the scenario should stimulate discussion.
Draw from your previous experience
As you participate, please utilize your knowledge of how the Whole Community works together in response and recovery situations.
Do NOT assume information
If questions arise that are not answered by the provided material, please ask the facilitator to address the issue with the virtual group. 17 17 17

18. Ground Rules Participation is encouraged
Speak freely, respect others when they are speaking
Participate in your disaster role as if the event were occurring
Processes and decision making are more important than the details
The facilitator's job is to help you come up with solutions 18 18 18

19. Administration/Logistics
Restrooms
Fire Exits 19 19 19

20. Tornado Scenario
Background 20 20

21. Background and History on the Threat
There are more than 1,000 tornadoes each year in the United States – just over 25% of which are considered strong tornadoes (F2-F3).
There are approximately 70 deaths and 1,500 injuries from tornadoes each year in the United States – two-thirds of deaths occur during F4 and F5 storms.
The Joplin Tornado on May 22, 2011 was an EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri and killed 158 people, injured around 1,000 and had an insurance payout of $2.2 billion. 21 21 21

22. Background and History on the Threat
Tornadoes cause an average of 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year.
Tornadoes are feet wide. Tornadoes have winds around 100 miles per hour.
The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more than 250 mph.
Some monster tornadoes are a mile wide, have winds up to 300 mph, last an hour or more, and travel 200 miles.
Tornadoes occur most often in the spring (April- June).
Most tornadoes in the U.S. occur along “Tornado Alley,” an area that runs from Texas to Illinois.
Waterspouts are tornadoes which form over warm water. They can move onshore and cause damage to coastal areas. 22

23. Hazard-Specific Concerns
High, devastating winds
Large Hail
Little Warning
Fires
Widespread Devastation
Gas Leaks 23

24. Hazard-Specific Concerns
Power and utility outages
Hazardous material containment
Extended recovery
Infrastructure damage
Communications systems damage 24

25. Inconceivable tornado
F-Scale Number
Intensity Phrase
Wind Speed
Type of Damage Done F0
Gale tornado
40-72 mph
Some damage to chimneys; breaks branches off trees; pushes over shallow-rooted trees; damages sign boards. F1
Moderate tornado
mph
The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads; attached garages may be destroyed. F2
Significant tornado
mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light object missiles generated. F3
Severe tornado
mph
Roof and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forests uprooted F4
Devastating tornado
mph
Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated. F5
Incredible tornado
mph
Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters; trees debarked; steel re-enforced concrete structures badly damaged. F6
Inconceivable tornado
mph
These winds are very unlikely. The small area of damage they might produce would probably not be recognizable along with the mess produced by F4 and F5 wind that would surround the F6 winds. Missiles, such as cars and refrigerators would do serious secondary damage that could not be directly identified as F6 damage. If this level is ever achieved, evidence for it might only be found in some manner of ground swirl pattern, for it may never be identifiable through engineering studies 25

26. Module 1: Preparedness & Initial Response26 26

27. Please take a few minutes to read through the Module 1 Scenario.
We will re-cap the key events after you have completed the reading. 27 27 27

28. Module 1 Situation Timeline
Wednesday, June 25, 1400 hrs
The National Weather Service (NWS) issues a tornado watch for the county. Local media outlets broadcast the tornado watch.
Wednesday, June 25, 1500 hrs
Heavy rain and lighting hits, with one inch of rain falling within the past hour.
Tornado sirens are heard in neighboring communities and some in your community as residents go below ground. 28 28 28

29. Module 1 – Situation Timeline
Wednesday, June 25, 1515 hrs
A tornado touches down in the southern part of your community.
Tornado is moving northeast at mph, with a width of about 100 meters and wind speeds higher than 150 mph.
Emergency calls are received by the dispatch center from residents in the tornado’s path.
Causes various electrical fires, gas leaks, and limited power outages. Public utilities estimate 10% of the residents could be without power.

30. Key Issues
Previous tornados reduce response capabilities for potential tornados
NWS monitors weather conditions for a potential tornado
NWS issues tornado warning for parts of your State
Heavy rain and lightning in and around your community
Tornado sirens sound in neighboring community, sending residents running for shelter
Tornado touches down, causing severe damage to areas in its path
Emergency services requests rise dramatically in the wake of the tornado
Various injuries reported, including head trauma, puncture wounds, and stroke
Search and rescue operations are underway for trapped victims
Electrical fires, gas leaks, and communication failures crop up across the community 30

31. Discussion Questions Preparedness & Initial Response
What are your community’s potential preparedness efforts at this point? Which actions get priority?
What warning and emergency information systems are available in your community and who is responsible to activate them?
Does your agency use Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and have prescript messages?
How will the community activate resources in the current situation?
What is the level of interoperability among existing media, weather, and information systems? 31 31 31

32. Discussion Questions Preparedness & Initial Response
What public education resources are available to the community to plan for tornados?
What are some potential sources of assistance and how will these requests be made?
Can response activities take place at this point?
Are there sufficient back-up radio communication systems to support a coordinated response? Do you use amateur radio for communications? 32 32 32

33. EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site.
Module 1 Outbrief
EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site.
Please keep each outbrief concise, and to the point. 33
Unit 1 - Welcome and Orientation 33 33

34. Module 2: Response 34 34

35. Please take a few minutes to read through the Module 2 Scenario.
We will re-cap the key events after you have completed the reading. 35 35 35

36. Module 2 Situation Updates
Wednesday, June 25, 1530 hrs
The tornado vanished at around 1528 hrs, and pockets of heavy rain continue.
Wednesday, June 25, 1630 hrs
Large hazardous material storage container is severely damaged and is leaking.
Wednesday, June 25, 2000 hrs
Tornado is classified as type F3.
8% of residents are without power. Search and rescue identify 10 individuals trapped under debris.
Radio communication is restored. 36 36 36

37. Module 2 Situation Updates
Wednesday, June 25, 2100 hrs
Residents request shelter assistance from the local Red Cross
Media outlets spread misinformation
Thursday, June 26, 1000 hrs
124 patients were evaluated and treated at area hospitals
Thursday, June 26, 1200 hrs
36 homes completely destroyed and 51 homes suffering moderate damage.
Approximately 1,000 customers are still without power. 37 37 37

38. Key Issues
Hazardous material container is damaged and leaking; hazmat response teams present
Search and rescue operations look for missing individuals
Incident command requests additional search and rescue teams
Train tracks, trees, and homes uprooted in tornado; damage being assessed
Requests come in for sheltering services from those whose homes were destroyed 38 38 38

39. Discussion Questions - Response
Should the community declare a local state of emergency? Who should be consulted when considering a declaration?
How will a common operating picture be maintained within the incident command structure?
Based on the medical needs of the community, what systems are in place to support patient tracking, identification, and triage? How is this information coordinated between incident command, the hospital system, EMS, and multi-agency coordination system?
What resources would a state and/or presidential disaster declaration bring?
What mutual aid agreements could be drawn upon? Have private organizations been approached about providing assistance to the community? Have these agreements been made in advance? 39 39 39

40. EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site.
Module 2 Outbrief
EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site.
Please keep each outbrief concise, and to the point. 40 40
Unit 1 - Welcome and Orientation 40 40 40

41. Module 3: Recovery
Unit 1 - Welcome and Orientation 41 41

42. Please take a few minutes to read through the Module 3 Scenario.
We will re-cap the key events after you have completed the reading. 42 42 42

43. Module 3 Situation Update
Monday, June 29, 1200 hrs
Debris management projects are complete.
All roads are open.
Displaced families need temporary housing and financial assistance.
Total damage is estimated at $7 million for property and $8 million in lost revenue.
The local public health department requests assistance for environmental conditions and counseling trauma victims. 43 43 43

44. Key Issues
Almost all debris removal efforts are complete; roadways are opened up
Citizens request individual and community financial assistance
Red Cross and others provide long-term sheltering to displaced persons
Flood of calls from the public inquire into mental health services offered
Property damage and lost revenue estimates are in the millions of dollars 44 44 44

45. Discussion Questions - Recovery
What affects will the transition from response to recovery have on emergency services?
What decisions should be made by policy and decision makers concerning resource management during the recovery phase?
How are resources demobilized; how are other resources activated?
How will information and resource management coordination occur between local, state, and Federal agencies during the recovery period? 45 45 45

46. Discussion Questions - Recovery
What role does mental health services play in the response and how are they incorporated into the incident command system (ICS)? Are these services available to first responders?
How will the weaknesses of the response and recovery be improved for the future?
What are the economic impacts of such an event on the community? How will local businesses and residents be affected? 46 46 46

47. EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site.
Module 3 Outbrief
EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site.
Please keep each outbrief concise, and to the point. 47 47
Unit 1 - Welcome and Orientation 47 47 47

48. 48 48

49. Participant Questions49 49 49

50. Closing Comments Thank you for participating
Please do not forget to complete the Participant Survey Form in the back of your SitMan and return it to the Exercise Facilitator, who will submit your forms to EMI
Conduct your individual location Hot Wash now…the following slides may be useful 50 50 50

51. Close out
Send FEMA Form , General Admission Application, and class rosters to and V-0005
Return Participant Feedback Forms
regular mail: Doug Kahn, S. Seton Ave, Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Additional questions/concerns, my number is (301)
or call 51 51