EP 1110-2-13
28 Jun 96
tabletop lacks realism and does not provide a true test of
drill the responses to the emergency scenario at all
participants' capabilities.
levels will be reviewed and a critique prepared. The
purpose of the critique is to identify lessons learned and
(4) Functional exercise. The functional exercise
deficiencies in the EAP including notification,
is the highest level test that does not involve full
priorities, and responsibilities assigned.
activation of field personnel and facilities. The
functional exercise is conducted once every 4 years.
(3) Tabletop exercise. The tabletop exercise
The functional exercise tests capabilities of the
involves low stress, little attention to real-time, lower
participants under a stress-induced environment with
level of preparatory effort, and only rough attempts to
time constraints. Whereas a tabletop exercise provides
simulate actual conditions. The tabletop exercise is
opportunities throughout the exercise to stop and discuss
conducted once a year. The focus is on training and
actions and responses, the functional exercise is a time
familiarization with roles, procedures, responsibilities,
constrained test with limited opportunity for discussion.
and personalities of the persons involved. The tabletop
The functional exercise simulates actual emergency
exercise consists of discussion in a meeting format
situations and responses of the participants without
through one or more facilitators. The facilitator leads
actual field deployment. The exercise is conducted with
the conduct of the tabletop exercise and makes sure
the participants co-located or located at their own
every participant responds to at least one message
facilities, with communications through expected
(described below) during the exercise. Effectiveness is
emergency communication links. The functional
determined by the impact of feedback from the
exercise is based on a simulation of an emergency
participants on evaluating and revising policies, plans,
including a description of the situation, a master
and procedures. There is no deployment of resources
sequence of events list, a timed sequence of messages,
or utilization of equipment. A narrative (or scenario)
and communication between participants and simulators.
sets the scene for the simulated event by briefly
There are five functions or capabilities which should be
describing what has happened and what is known up to
included in a functional exercise:
the time of the exercise. The participants are provided
with messages as the exercise progresses. The purpose
(a) Alert, notification, and warning. This
of the messages is to provide updated information to
function tests the communication system and the
the participants so that they will respond with an action
messages to determine if they are appropriate and
or a decision. Once the exercise is completed, the
clearly understood. It verifies names and phone
results will be evaluated. An immediate post-exercise
numbers on the notification list. Remote sensing
critique should be held followed by an evaluation
equipment should be tested at the start of the exercise.
report. The critique will be both oral and written and
will provide the participants with a forum to gather and
(b) Direction and control function. This function
share information about what happened during the
tests and evaluates the emergency operations capability
exercise, to describe what went right, and to identify
and timely response. It includes the response to health
what went wrong. The formal evaluation of the
problems, fire, downed power lines, and loss of life, in-
exercise consists of a written report based on
cluding drownings.
observations and recommendations that come out of
the critique, as well as the report(s) of the facilitator(s).
(c) Evacuation. This capability is a key issue in
Follow-up (the process of implementing the
the exercise as it tests the participants' understanding of
recommendations) is the final and critical stage of the
the inundation maps.
Experience indicates the
exercise process. The advantage of a tabletop exercise
inundation boundaries and the road names may not
is the modest commitment of time, cost, and resources.
always be clear and fully understood (for example, road
It provides an effective method of reviewing plans and
names used by local officials are often different from
implementing procedures and policies, and provides an
those on Geological Survey maps or state route maps).
opportunity for key personnel to become acquainted
Maps are often revised as a result of this information.
and review emergency responsibilities and procedures.
The disadvantages of a tabletop exercise are that the
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