Regional US&R Task Force Mobilization

1. Regional US&R Task Force Mobilization Tabletop Exercise June 14, 2006

2. Today’s Table Top Exercise? • Overview • Exercise goals • Exercise objectives • Rules • Breakout sessions (3) • Three modules • Summary • Next step – Training

3. Overview • Participants are grouped based: • Operational Area RTF’s (including future RTF’s) • Strategic (Battalion Level) • Tactical (Company Officer Level) • Observers • All groups receive the same scenario information • RTF Groups will move into breakout rooms to address exercise questions. • RTF Groups present their responses in the general forum.

4. Overview (Cont’d) • The exercise will progress through three decision points/breakout sessions. • Breakout sessions and the presentation forum will be facilitated, observers input is welcomed • The exercise summary information will be collected and an after action report generated.

5. Exercise Goals • To provide a training environment utilizing the group problem solving method. • To allow participants to address issues at the tactical and strategic levels of incident management. • To cause participants to understand issues and priorities of other agencies • Develop solutions!

6. Exercise Objectives Using a consensus approach participants will: • Review procedures for deploying and managing a Regional US&R Task Force • Develop procedures for mobilizing and organizing a response • Develop procedures to manage an evolving hazard/threat at an “all risk” incident, integrating three levels of a US&R response

7. Rules • No idea is a bad idea • Be creative • Take risks • No criticism allowed • Select a scribe and a spokesperson

8. Guidelines • Assumption, confirmation and position/location of your command • Initial and ongoing situational analysis • Operational communications

9. Guidelines (Cont’d) • Prioritize resource accountability • Develop Incident strategy(ies) • Tactics in support of the strategy(ies) • Identify shortages in logistical plan • Assume distance is a factor

10. Guidelines (Cont’d) • Initial and subsequent incident organizations • Review, evaluate, and revise your actions as necessary • Don’t get “bogged down” you will only have 30 minutes per break out

11. Module 1

12. Scenario • Wednesday, June 14, 2006, 0900 Hours • Normal traffic and weather conditions • You are at your regular duty assignment • You begin hearing news flashes alerting you that a large explosion has taken place in downtown Los Angeles

13. Scenario (Cont’d) • The media is reporting a large explosion at the U.S. Bank building in downtown Los Angeles of unknown origin • Initial reports indicate that it was a possible truck bomb • The media is reporting significant structural damage and partial or complete collapse of the bottom 10 floors • Fires have broken out and several thousands are reported injured

14. Scenario (Cont’d) • Your agency dispatches resources as part of Mutual Aid request strike teams to Los Angeles • LA City Fire has committed its compliment of US&R resources to the U.S. Bank Incident and is requesting 3 additional CATF’s

15. Scenario (Cont’d) • Region I, thru OES is sending CATF-2 (LA County), CATF-4 (Riverside) and CATF-8 (San Diego).

16. Scenario (Cont’d) • Within the last two hours, as the events in Los Angeles continue to unfold. There are reports of another substantial explosion located in the City of Santa Ana. • Reports continue with the media in a frenzy, that the second explosion was located at the Federal Building on Civic Center Dr.

17. Scenario (Cont’d) • The Santa Ana explosion has caused significant structural collapse to three office buildings with reports of several people trapped. • There are also reports that John Wayne Airport has closed its main terminal due to a suspicious package being found.

18. Scenario (Cont’d) • Your agency receives a call for an immediate need response of your Regional US&R Task Force or Heavy Rescue (Type 1) or Medium Rescue (Type 2) to the City of Santa Ana

19. Breakout Session 1 • Question 1.1: • How will your RTF or Heavy or Medium Rescue respond? • Lead group?, One mass caravan? • Question 1.2: • What information would you want prior to dispatching or responding? • Question 1.3: • How does your department dispatch personnel to form up your regional task force, heavy or medium rescue. How long would the process take and what is the request process?

20. Breakout Session 1 • Question 1.4: • How many and what units will your agency respond with and are there any additional units that may respond with your RTF? • Question 1.5: • What tactical and logistical considerations are you beginning to address while enroute to this incident?

21. Breakout Session 1 Elect a spokesperson and a scribe. You have 30 minutes to answer and develop and discussion points of these issues.

22. Module 2

23. Scenario Update • As you respond you receive reports that this is obviously terrorist attacks over multiple jurisdictions • You hear reports of several wildland fires starting in the interface areas of Orange County. This is significantly drawing down local resources • Witnesses are saying they were intentionally set

24. Scenario Update • Your agency’s resources arrive in Santa Ana approximately 1 1/2 hours after being dispatched. • Orange County Fire and Santa Ana Fire have set up a Unified/Area Command for resource allocation • You check into the staging location and are immediately assigned to the Main St. Incident.

25. Scenario Update • You will be assigned to one of three collapsed buildings. • Your building is a four story office building that almost totally collapsed when a massive truck bomb exploded in the area. • Santa Ana Police, the FBI and the National Guard have secured the scene and there is no threat of a secondary device

26. Scenario Update • Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear considerations have all been addressed. This incident has been identified as involving highly explosive material only

27. Scenario Update • There are sounds of survivors. • The building was reportedly occupied by approximately 123 people of which 47 are unaccounted for. • The Area commanders have requested additional Type 1 (Heavy) and Type II (Medium) Rescues from Region 1

28. Scenario Update • There is also one Type 1 engine strike team from Riverside County that has been onscene for approximately one half hour. • They have extinguished several small fires and have performed surface victim removal.

29. Scenario Update • The FEMA Task Force from Sacramento (CATF-7) is being mobilized and should arrive in approximately 12 hours • FEMA Task Forces from LA County (CATF-2) & LA City (CATF-1) have been or are being deployed and are committed to the incident in Los Angeles • Orange County (CATF-5) is already assigned to the courthouse building

33. Breakout Session 2 • Question 2.1: • What is your agencies 5 most critical initial actions? • Question 2.2: • How would you interface with the Strike Team, US&R Medium Team, Heavy Team and/or RTF? • Question 2.3 • What would be your US&R incident objectives? • Question 2.4: • What information would you communicate once onscene?

34. Breakout Session 2 • Question 2.5: • Develop and display a SEMS compliant organization chart that supports your US&R incident objectives. Fill out ICS Forms 201, 202 and a 205 and a site safety plan for this incident. • Question 2.6: • When does the planning cycle start? Who takes part in it? What time frame would you set for your first operational period?

35. Breakout Session 2 Elect a different spokesperson and scribe. You have 30 minutes to answer and develop any discussion points.

36. Module 3

37. Scenario Update • Your are informed by the IC that after you finish this operational period your task force will “bed down” for one operational period and will report again for US&R duties the following shift • The wildland fires in Orange County have almost all been contained • The package at John Wayne Airport was a false alarm • The Los Angeles incident is still very active and additional FEMA teams are being requested

38. Scenario Update • The Courthouse incident has begun to stabilize into a somewhat organized mode of operation. • Approximately five hours have transpired and you have successfully removed several trapped victims with at least 27 still trapped with an unknown life status. • The advanced team from CATF-7 arrives on scene (5 personnel)

39. Breakout Session 3 • Question 3.1: • What options are there for your agency to integrate with or work in conjunction with a FEMA Task Force? What info should be passed on (ICS 201 or IAP, etc)? • Question 3.2: • Diagram what you think a new organization chart might look like when CATF-7 arrives. • Question 3.3: • What are your current priorities for your members?

40. Breakout Session 3 • Question 3.4: • What logistical challenges do you foresee in your next operational period? • Question 3.5: • Would your priorities change in the next operational period? Why/ Why Not?

41. Breakout Session 3 Finally: Question 3.6: Based on what we discussed today, what will your agency do to prepare for a mobilization?

42. Breakout Session 3 Elect a different spokesperson. You have 30 minutes to answer and develop and discussion points.

43. Closing Comments • Exchange information • After Action Report • Pre-drills for July MobEx • Regional RTF Meeting June 28th in Pasadena • Long Beach and Area E MOBEX!

44. Next Steps • Take what you’ve learned back to your people • Prepare for a full-scale deployment

45. Thank You!! • Please complete an evaluation of this tabletop exercise!