Los Angeles County Operational Area Statewide Medical & Health Exercise 2011

1. Los Angeles County Operational AreaStatewide Medical & Health Exercise 2011 (Name of Agency Here) November 17, 2011

2. Exercise Agenda • 0700 – Sign-in • 0730 – Player’s Briefing • 0800 – Start Exercise • 1200 – EndEx & Hotwash

3. Housekeeping • Exercise Documents in Hand • Player Handout • Communications Directory • EOPs, Checklists, Etc. • Wear your vests – Ensure you sign in/out • Wear credentials outside and above the waist • Please place non-exercise related communications devices on vibrate • Emergency exits • Restrooms • Food/beverage

4. Exercise Purpose • Part of the annual Statewide Health and Medical Exercise coordinated by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) • An opportunity to exercise the entire medical and health mutual aid and response system across the State • An opportunity to identify systematic and individual areas for improvement and best practices to share with others • Can be used to meet other exercise requirements (e.g., HPP, Joint Commission)

5. Objectives • Operational Area /EMS Agency/Public Health • Interoperable Communications • Intelligence/Information Sharing and Dissemination • Environmental Health • Emergency/Department Operations Center Management/Resource Management • Hospitals • Communications • Intelligence/Information Sharing and Dissemination • Medical Surge • Hospital Command Center Management • Public Safety and Security Response

6. Objectives • Clinics • Communications • Intelligence/Information Sharing and Dissemination • Medical Surge • Emergency Operations Center Management • Fire/EMS/Ambulance Provider Agencies • Communications • Intelligence/Information Sharing and Dissemination • Medical Surge • Emergency Operations Center Management

7. Functional Exercise • Players perform processes in real time as they would in a real world situation with the exception of actually deploying resources to the field • If They Are Playing – Communicate With Them! • Follow procedures and protocols • Use Communications Directory • No-Fault learning environment • Evaluation of organizational capabilities, not individuals • A focus on process and outcomes • Participants • Players • Exercise Staff • Controllers/Coaches • Simulators • Evaluators

8. Functional Exercise (Cont.) • Simulation Cell (SimCell) • Provides scenario-related injects to drive play • Phone calls, email/information management system, and paper • Do not fight injects; instead focus on the action you should take in response • Each inject is designed to meet exercise objectives • Acts as all entities (organizations, individuals, etc.) that are not participating as players • The Communications Directory tells who is and isn’t playing • Provides contact information for SimCell • Identify the organization, agency, office, and/or individual with whom you want to speak when you call • SimCell will not make decisions for Players • Recognize the knowledge limitations of Simulators

9. Functional Exercise (Cont.) • LA County DHS DOC • Focus will be on process • Coaches are available to guide you through the process • No- fault learning environment • Goals for the DOC include • Situational Awareness • Establishment of SMART Objectives • Development of an IAP • Resource Management (bed, volunteers) • Communications

10. Rules of Play • Real-world emergencies take priority over exercise activities • Players are expected to act in a professional manner at all times • Exercise Staff/Player Engagement • Controllers will only provide information they are specifically directed to disseminate • Obtain other information through existing information channels • Evaluators may interview Players at appropriate times • Respect the exercise staff’s efforts to maintain the integrity of the exercise • Do not engage exercise staff in casual conversation • Ask a Controller/Coach if the exercise confuses you

11. Rules of Play (Cont.) • All verbal, written, and electronic communication will start and end with “This is an Exercise” • Use “Real-World Emergency” to classify a real situation that might affect safety or the exercise • Notify the nearest Controller • “Timeout” is used by Controllers/Coaches to temporarily stop exercise play if necessary or to facilitate a specific learning point • Under no circumstances will exercise communication interfere with real-world emergency communications • Only use contact information in the Communications Directory

12. Rules of Play (Cont.) • Respond to the exercise events and information as if the emergency were real • Demonstrate the activity • Examples: write the IAP, issue a press release, submit the resource request, communicate the decision • Verbalize processes for Evaluators • Make decisions, discuss alternatives, take calculated risks • “This is a decision for a higher pay grade” is not allowed • Lives and property depend on your action with the information available • Decisions are NOT precedent setting • Be realistic about resource availability

13. After the Exercise • Participate in the Hotwash • Give honest and constructive feedback • Identify strengths and areas for improvement • Complete and submit a Participant Feedback Form • Provide documentation to Evaluator • Make copies for yourself if you would like

14. Background Scenario • Homeland Security officials in California have issued warnings to local health departments and water systems concerning a threat to disrupt water facilities throughout the state. • The Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC) has disseminated information and intelligence that include the following threats: sabotage or disruption of the water treatment systems, contamination of the water distribution systems and/or contamination of local reservoirs.

15. Background Scenario (Cont.) • It is mid-November and the annual flu season has begun to take hold across the State. In addition to recommending flu shots, health professionals are recommending the use of over-the – counter medicines to control symptoms along with getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Healthcare facilities have seen a significant surge of patients. • The JRIC has issued a Request for Information regarding recent incidents of vandalism at storage reservoirs and suspicious activities around water treatment facilities in the Los Angeles area.

16. STARTEX

17. Hotwash • What strengths were demonstrated during the exercise? • Identify 1-3 practices to “sustain” • Identify 1-3 practices to “improve” • Plans, policies, procedures • Training • Resources (equipment, supplies, MOUs) • Communication and coordination • How might identified strengths be used to address identified gaps/weaknesses? • What additional things did you learn during this exercise? Any surprises? • Please complete and submit Feedback Forms

18. Thank You for Participating