Tabletop Exercises Tabletop Exercises The EPA Perspective and ExperienceThe EPA Perspective and Experience

Patti Kay Wisniewskiwisniewski.patti-kay@epa.gov

Drinking Water Security CoordinatorUS EPA Region 3

Tabletop ExercisesTabletop Exercises What is a tabletop exercise?What is a tabletop exercise?

Effective tool to simulate emergency event and Effective tool to simulate emergency event and practice ERP procedurespractice ERP procedures

Involve developing scenarios that describe potential Involve developing scenarios that describe potential problems and provide limited information (injects) problems and provide limited information (injects) necessary to address problemnecessary to address problem

Goals Goals Present state or utility staff and ER personnel with a Present state or utility staff and ER personnel with a

fabricated event, verbally respond, evaluate fabricated event, verbally respond, evaluate responses compared to ERPresponses compared to ERP

Identify “lessons learned” to enhance future staff Identify “lessons learned” to enhance future staff response and recoveryresponse and recovery

update ERPupdate ERP

Tabletop ExercisesTabletop Exercises

ImportanceImportance CommunicationCommunication CoordinationCoordination Build partnerships and relationshipsBuild partnerships and relationships ERP practice and refinementERP practice and refinement

Tabletop ExercisesTabletop Exercises Who can conduct Exercises?Who can conduct Exercises?

State, regional group of water systems, State, regional group of water systems, interconnected systems, individual systemsinterconnected systems, individual systems

Who needs to participate in Exercises?Who needs to participate in Exercises? State—DW program and emergency respondersState—DW program and emergency responders Local—police, fire, ER, health departmentLocal—police, fire, ER, health department Local officialsLocal officials Utility personnel (DW, WW, haz-mat)Utility personnel (DW, WW, haz-mat) Federal—EPA (DW, OSC, CID, press office), Federal—EPA (DW, OSC, CID, press office),

FEMA, FBI, CDC, National GuardFEMA, FBI, CDC, National Guard Folks to play roles of those not presentFolks to play roles of those not present

Tabletop ExercisesTabletop Exercises

DocumentationDocumentation Before: scenario details, maps, injectsBefore: scenario details, maps, injects

During: record of communicationDuring: record of communication

After: lessons learned, unanswered questions, After: lessons learned, unanswered questions, areas for refinement for future exercises or ERPareas for refinement for future exercises or ERP

EPA’s “Possible” Exercise RoleEPA’s “Possible” Exercise Role

Regional Drinking Water staff can assist by:Regional Drinking Water staff can assist by: Aiding in the development of scenariosAiding in the development of scenarios Serving as observers or facilitatorsServing as observers or facilitators Playing active role in person or by phonePlaying active role in person or by phone Contacting EPA or other Federal Agency Contacting EPA or other Federal Agency

personnel for their participationpersonnel for their participation Providing short training sessionProviding short training session Explaining EPA’s Response RoleExplaining EPA’s Response Role Other role as neededOther role as needed

Relationship to RPTBRelationship to RPTB

EPA’s Response Protocol Toolbox (RPTB) is EPA’s Response Protocol Toolbox (RPTB) is not an emergency response plan, but a not an emergency response plan, but a planning toolplanning tool

Tabletop exercises could make use of RPTB, Tabletop exercises could make use of RPTB, particularly formsparticularly forms

RPTB is not just for utilities, so exercise may RPTB is not just for utilities, so exercise may be first introduction to othersbe first introduction to others

EPA to conduct ERP and RPTB training with EPA to conduct ERP and RPTB training with tabletop exercises this summertabletop exercises this summer

Lessons Learned about ExercisesLessons Learned about Exercises

Preplanning must include role for all groupsPreplanning must include role for all groups

Allow time for scenario to develop and play outAllow time for scenario to develop and play out

Plan for someone to handle role of those not Plan for someone to handle role of those not present (e.g. Governor, Press)present (e.g. Governor, Press)

Have sufficient facilitators on hand to control and Have sufficient facilitators on hand to control and monitor progress of the exercisemonitor progress of the exercise

Be realisticBe realistic

Lessons Learned about ExercisesLessons Learned about Exercises

Stop and assess as neededStop and assess as needed

Stress groundrules at the start, make Stress groundrules at the start, make participants aware of confusion which may exist participants aware of confusion which may exist (during exercise and in real event)(during exercise and in real event)

Allow sufficient time for “Hot Wash”Allow sufficient time for “Hot Wash”

Do not worry if you do not have all the answersDo not worry if you do not have all the answers

Expand exercises to field drills; include media Expand exercises to field drills; include media role played by public information officer (PIO)role played by public information officer (PIO)

Lessons Learned about ResponsesLessons Learned about Responses

Use as opportunity to practice utility specific Use as opportunity to practice utility specific ERPERP

Be realistic (natural disaster scenario, spills, Be realistic (natural disaster scenario, spills, terrorism, blackout)terrorism, blackout)

Be realistic for those who cannot be on-siteBe realistic for those who cannot be on-site

Document all unanswered questions, don’t let Document all unanswered questions, don’t let this slow the exercise down (make some this slow the exercise down (make some assumptions and move on) assumptions and move on)

Seek and share answers laterSeek and share answers later

Lessons Learned about ResponsesLessons Learned about Responses

Keep dialog goingKeep dialog going

Practice, Practice, PracticePractice, Practice, Practice

Build on each tabletop exercise to reach field Build on each tabletop exercise to reach field exercise or full scale drillexercise or full scale drill

Don’t forget--dealing with public, media, how Don’t forget--dealing with public, media, how to provide alternate sources of drinking waterto provide alternate sources of drinking water

Resources to AssistResources to Assist

EPA to conduct ERP and RPTB training with table EPA to conduct ERP and RPTB training with table top exercises this summertop exercises this summer

EPA state security grantsEPA state security grants

State primacy agencies and emergency respondersState primacy agencies and emergency responders

Other utilitiesOther utilities

Partnering with LEPCsPartnering with LEPCs

Other industry groupsOther industry groups

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?