INITIAL PLANNING CONFERENCE

Today’s Goals Understand exercise concept and process Discuss exercise structure and participation Initiate planning now Propose and discuss design objectives Identify appropriate agencies and personnel for participation Create a scenario Highlight requirements and roles of all parties Finalize receipt of relevant local SOPs and EOPs Discuss site and participant requirements

Spanish Flu Influenza as a bioweapon does not sound like a particularly grave threat. Annual outbreaks kill many people, particularly the elderly; but a case of the flu is generally percieved as an uncomfortable nuisance rather than a grave threat. But flu viruses can be devastating. In 1918 and 1919, the so-called "Spanish flu" killed an estimated million people worldwide and, since then, the highly changeable flu virus has resurfaced in a variety of particularly virulent forms. A recent commentary in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (Madjid et al. 2003) noted that influenza is readily transmissible by aerosol and that a small number of viruses can cause a full-blown infection. The authors continued: "the possibility for genetic engineering and aerosol transmission [of influenza] suggests an enormous potential for bioterrorism" The possible hostile abuse of influenza virus is seen as a very real threat by public health officials in the USA. Just two weeks ago, $15 million was granted by the US National Institutes of Health to Stanford University to study how to guard against the flu virus "if it were to be unleashed as an agent of bioterrorism".[1]

Scope [Duration] Local, State, and Federal response groups Across the functional spectrum: [Insert functional areas that would be involved in the response to the specific exercise scenario. For example, an agricultural terrorism scenario would involve participants from public health, medical/veterinary communities] [If applicable, insert the type of modules or sections that the exercise will be organized by. For example, a radiological terrorism exercise may include warning, notification, response, and recovery and restoration phases. Whereas a biological terrorism scenario may include an incubation phase.]

FUNCTIONAL AREA PARTICIPANTS [Insert local functional areas that may participate based on the scope of exercise and scenario (e.g., fire/HazMat, hospitals, EMS, law enforcement, etc.)] [Insert state organizations that may participate based on the scope of exercise and scenario (e.g., homeland security, public health, emergency management, etc.)] [Insert federal organizations that may participate based on the scope of exercise and scenario (e.g., DHS, FEMA, FBI, EPA, etc.)]

SCENARIO ISSUES Response EOC Activation Agent Identification Unified Command Public Information Response EOC Activation Agent Identification Unified Command Public Information Notification and Response Initial Response Resource Allocation Incident Command Notification and Response Initial Response Resource Allocation Incident Command Warning Background Information Credible Threat Federal Warnings Plan Review Warning Background Information Credible Threat Federal Warnings Plan Review Recovery and Restoration Incident Priorities Federal Assistance Long-Term Cleanup Issues Recovery and Restoration Incident Priorities Federal Assistance Long-Term Cleanup Issues [Insert those issues that will be driven by the exercise scenario. The examples below are typical issues related to a chemical, radiological or explosive scenario]

EXERCISE CONDUCT Spokesperson designated to present findings Caucus/Discussion Facilitated Discussion Situation Update Situation Manual

Design Objectives The community will select 4-5 objectives that will incorporate desired concepts into the exercise Sample Objectives: Assess the capability to detect, identify, monitor, and respond to a terrorist incident Examine the local interface with State and Federal agencies in the conduct of incident management activities Discuss the ability of local medical facilities to establish and operate decontamination stations at their location Assess the adequacy of local plans for the flow of public information and interface and use of media resources

Agent Selection [Insert a list of potential threats, hazards or agents that the exercise scenario may be based upon. Planning team members will need to select from this list. For example, the list below is sample chemical agents.] Nerve Agents (High Lethality) Sarin, VX Blistering Agents (Lower Lethality) Lewisite, Mustard Blood Agents (Moderate Lethality) Hydrogen Cyanide, Cyanogen Chloride Choking Agents (Moderate Lethality) Chlorine

Characteristics Persistent Chemical Agents Lingers in area for days Blister Agents Nerve Agents Industrial Chemicals Non-Persistent Chemical Agents Dissipates within hours Blood agents Nerve agents Industrial gases [Insert the characteristics that will help the planning team select the threat, hazard or agent for the exercise scenario. This determination should be based on the exercise objectives and the venue (e.g., stadium, arena, park) that will be included in the scenario. For example, below is a list of characteristics for chemical agents. If the venue is open-air (e.g., a stadium), the planning team may want to select a persistent agent that does not dissipate as quickly as a non-persistent agent]

Other Scenario Information Single or multiple devices Will disperse agent into the venue based on delivery method selected Secondary Devices May be conventional or chemical filled Target first responders or Incident Command [Insert other scenario information that would relate to the triggering of the terrorism event (e.g., device(s) that initiate the incident) and will add realism. For example, planning team members may choose from the following list for a terrorism event involving a chemical, radiological or explosive scenario.]

Venue Open / Outdoor Weather Dissemination method Enclosed / Indoor HVAC considerations Dissemination method [Insert information related to the potential venue that will be the site of the initiating event during the exercise scenario. Planning team members should select the venue based on the hazard, threat or agent identified. Other considerations include weather, dissemination methods (e.g., HVAC system), and the venue’s characteristics (i.e., open air or enclosed).]

Sample Scenario [This is a example of the variables that will contribute to building an exercise scenario.] AgentVenue # Devices Warning Casualti es Non- Persistent Persistent Open Air EnclosedSingleMultipleSecondary No Notice Credible Threat 500+<1000>1000>5000

Support Requirements Facility Location – Site Visit Times Lunch Equipment Large Projection Screen Public Address System (Wireless?) Support Requirements Room Setup Sign-In / Administration Support Coffee / Refreshments Facilitators / Presenters / Subject Matter Experts Security Access Media Support / Considerations Video and Multimedia Support

After-Action Report Improvement Plan Distribution Local Jurisdictions Federal Partners Purpose Provide Feedback Pass on Lessons Learned Objectives Recommendations Observations Innovations

Planning Decisions Select Design Objectives Identify Participants Determine Scenario Elements / Venue Identify Exercise Location / Room Layout Identify Relevant EOPs and SOPs Confirm Final Planning Conference (FPC): [Date] / [Time] / [Location]

Final Planning Conference Meeting Objectives Review draft documentation (e.g., Situation Manual) Finalize logistical details Delivery Items for FPC Create draft documentation and presentation Continue logistical planning and administration support for exercise Identify Facilitators / Presenters

QUESTIONS