EP 1110-2-13
28 Jun 96
resources to demonstrate coordination and response
(d) Shelters. This function reveals those
capability. Full-scale exercises draw media and
shelters that should not be used because they are in the
community attention to emergency preparedness; teach
flood plain.
by doing; test total coordination, not only among policy
and coordination officials, but also field forces; and
(e) Public information. This function tests the
point out physical resource capabilities and/or
capability to issue accurate information during a dam
limitations. For agencies or local communities,
failure event. Activation of the emergency operations
full-scale exercises require considerable preparation
center at the state or local level, as appropriate, should
and provide practical tests of "first-in" responders,
be encouraged. Apart from the actual participants in
including police, fire, and medical personnel. They test
the functional exercise there are the exercise controller,
triage (allocation of treatment to disaster victims to
exercise simulators, and exercise evaluators. The
maximize the number of survivors) procedures, on-
controller monitors the sequence of events as they
scene management of resources, and coordination and
unfold, the flow of messages, and the overall conduct
communication through field command posts. As with
of the exercise. The simulators send prescribed
the functional exercise, the controller is responsible for
messages at the scheduled time, respond to
ensuring that the exercise starts on schedule. Simulators
unanticipated actions by participants with spontaneous
and evaluators keep a log of all significant events.
messages, and maintain contact with the controller
During a full-scale exercise at Garrison Dam, North
during the exercise. The evaluators observe the actions
Dakota, conducted in August 1987, personnel were
and decisions of the participants during the exercise
stationed at several locations in the District Office
and contribute, along with the exercise participants, to
and at Garrison Dam to monitor and document phone
writing the evaluation report. As with the tabletop
and radio communications, decision making, and repair
exercise, the critique, the evaluation report, and the
efforts (U.S. Army Engineer District, Omaha 1987).
follow-up to the recommendations in the report are
Each participant should log his actions as much as
important aspects of the functional exercise.
possible. Videotaping the exercise and critique is
beneficial. The media should be included in any
(5) Full-scale exercise. The full-scale exercise
exercise plan to increase realism. At the conclusion of
is the most comprehensive test and is intended to
the full-scale exercise, the critique and evaluation report
evaluate the operational capability of the emergency
are important so that necessary follow-up action can be
management system in a stress environment with
taken.
mobilization of emergency workers, equipment, and
6-6
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