Walkthrough Table Top Exercise

Assumptions and Requests Take a moment and willingly suspend your sense of disbelief. (In other words: Don’t question the scenario) There are no dumb questions, so ask. No fault environment Conditions and operations are as they are currently unless otherwise stated. Don’t be afraid to work as a team One person will need to be scribe

Scenario

August 18, 2018 National Hurricane Center: Local News: Watching the development of a tropical system off the coast of Africa. Local News: Casually mentions the tropical activity but most of the coverage is on the better than expected tourist volume this summer.

Discussion Question How would you receive this information? What would you do different? What would you communicate with staff and how?

Tuesday, August 21, 2018 Normal day of operations with normal call-in for staff; you receive notification that the test EMR System will be taken down over night for maintenance. 11:00 am - National Hurricane Center– Names Hurricane Christina in the Atlantic and it is headed for the east coast, somewhere between Florida and Delaware.

Discussion Question How would you receive the notification of the advisory? What would you do different? Would you communicate with staff and how?

Thursday, August 23, 2018 National Hurricane Center tightens the forecast cone and New Hanover is in the westward edge with the Outer Banks forecasted to take the brunt on Sunday night / Monday morning as a Category 2 The secretary/operator receives two phone calls from patient relatives that live inland asking if the facility is ready for this hurricane.

Discussion Question What are you planning for? What would you communicate with stakeholders and how? Who are your stakeholders?

Friday, August 24, 2018 National Hurricane Center has revised the forecast and now has Hurricane Christina making landfall at Figure Eight Island as a strong Category 3 or Category 4 on Monday morning. NC Emergency Management plans to activate the CRESOG on Saturday.

Discussion Question How are you plans changing? What are your objectives for the next 24 hours?

Saturday, August 25, 2018 National Hurricane Center: No significant forecast changes Residents are uneasy about the storm after being consumed by coverage on the activity room televisions. People are asking if they are going to be safe. Some even say ‘I have a bad feeling about this one’

Discussion Question How and what are you communicating with residents? What is the acuity/status of your residents? Would you elect to evacuate your facility? How long would it take you to evacuate your facility?

Sunday, August 26, 2018 – 11:30 am National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Christina has been officially upgraded to a Category 4 storm. Rain has been steady since midnight and growing in intensity with banding. Forecasted High of 86 degrees. Jim Cantore has been sited at the Trolley Stop in Wrightsville Beach. New Hanover County Schools have closed for Monday. I-40 is Gridlocked Staff begin calling in to work for the night shift

Discussion Question What are objectives for the next 24 hours? How are you addressing staff call-ins?

Sunday, August 26, 2018 – 8:30 pm National Hurricane Center: No significant change in forecast track. Winds are growing in strength to 75-80 mph and gusting to 90 mph with heavy rain. The facility looses normal power. Storm surge is covering barrier islands New Hanover Government has issued a curfew for 7 pm and pulling responders off the roadway.

Discussion Question What is on your generator? What are you plans for when you lose normal power?

Monday, August 27, 2018 – 7:30 pm The facility only had one major issue and it was a significant roof leak over the data closet. You do have standing water of a couple of inches. Your facility has lost all remaining communications and IT services. The generator is still running. Majority of your staff are out of power and connectivity with them is hit or miss.

Discussion Question How do you adjust not having computer access? If you do not have computers and your community is crippled, what are you thinking?

Monday, August 27, 2018 – 12:30 pm You receive word via Twitter that I-40 is closed due to a ”problem” with the bridge over the Northeast Cape Fear Region. All traffic is being routed over to 421 and 117 but restricted to first responders only. You are waiting on a shipment of general medical supplies and pharmaceuticals and are not sure when you will get them? Staffing is challenging due to call-ins and no shows.

Discussion Question What are your immediate actions for today? What are you planning for? What key questions would you want answered?

Hotwash What are you proud of? What did you learn? What do you need to different?