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State and Regional Exercises: Lessons Learned

State and Regional Exercises: Lessons Learned. National Governor’s Association Conference Boston Seaport Hotel January 12, 2004 Suzanne Condon, Associate Commissioner Center for Environmental Health and Center for Emergency Preparedness Massachusetts Department of Public Health

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State and Regional Exercises: Lessons Learned

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  1. State and Regional Exercises: Lessons Learned National Governor’s Association Conference Boston Seaport Hotel January 12, 2004 Suzanne Condon, Associate Commissioner Center for Environmental Health and Center for Emergency Preparedness Massachusetts Department of Public Health “Preparation for the likely prepares us for the unlikely”

  2. Introduction • Introduction/Exercises • Major Issues Involved in Exercises and Planning • Collaborative Exercise Program in Massachusetts • Summary of Important Lessons

  3. Recent Exercises • Operation Yankee, August 2003 • Measured Response to Bioterrorism TTX, October 2003 • Emergency Powers Working Group TTX, December 2003 • Various SNS Exercises

  4. Key Areas of Lessons Learned • Planning • All-Hazards Approach • Communications • Training • Policy/Decision-Making • Risk Communication • Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

  5. Planning • Need to exercise completed written plans • Take Baby Steps: There is a necessary hierarchy in types of exercises • Need to have all our ducks in a row • Cannot be afraid of the evaluation

  6. All-Hazards Approach • “Preparation for the likely prepares us for the unlikely” • Events do not occur in silos • Triggering events may vary; initial response mechanisms do not

  7. Communications • Ensure capability across jurisdiction • Interoperability • Redundant modes needed • Relationships important; should not be the first time people interact

  8. Training • Need for standardized incident command system (NIMS) • Cross-disciplinary • Including forensic epidemiology, chain of custody issues • Awareness of authorities and emergency powers • Need to train executives and elected officials on process

  9. Policy/Decision-Making • Need to keep elected officials apprised of process • SNS – when to request • What constitutes a public health emergency • The bigger the event, the more volatile it may become

  10. Risk Communication • How much information do you have? • How do you act on limited information? • What to release to the public, and when • Issues regarding stockpile requests, mass prophylaxis, evacuation, sheltering • At what point does the scale tip?

  11. Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration • Emergencies are rarely restricted to one community or to one discipline • Partners from public safety, public health and other organizations should be involved • Events do not recognize borders or organizational charts • Need for mutual aid agreements, regional plans

  12. MA Statewide Exercise Program • DPH and EOPS partnership • CDC, HRSA and ODP grant funding • Statewide Exercise Advisory Committee • RFR to design, implement, and evaluate multi-disciplinary tabletop, functional and full-scale exercises

  13. Summary • Planning is key to preparedness • Planning is crucial to effective exercises • Communication/collaboration is essential • Developing partnerships at all levels before an event occurs has multiple benefits

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