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Final Planning ConferenceMARC

Mass Fatality TTX

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Planning Team• Mike Henderson, Jackson County ME• Melanie Fields, Kansas City, MO Crime Lab• Ryan Rezzelle, Johnson County Crime Lab• Justin Sorg, MARC• Dan Manley, MARC• Steve Adukaitis, MARC• Additional Members Present• BCFS Introductions

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SCENARIO CONFIDENTIALITY

• The exercise scenario may pose politically sensitive issues and may portray detailed response plans and potential response shortcomings. Planners and participants must treat exercise-related information as sensitive. Information related to the exercise may not be reproduced or released without the express consent of Kansas City Region Mortuary Operational response group or the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).

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Today’s Agenda• Welcome and Introductions• Review of Initial Planning Conference Issues• Objectives Review• Exercise Document Review• Exercise Logistics• Exercise Evaluation• Exercise Participants• Review and Action Items• Questions

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Operational Security• This briefing contains exercise and

operational material that must be safeguarded.

• The materials in this briefing are categorized as “for official use only”

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Exercise Goal• To provide participants with an opportunity

to learn about and subsequently exercise the current concepts, plans, capabilities and considerations for responding to a Mass Fatality Incident within the Kansas City Regional Response System.

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Scope• This exercise will focus on the roles of the Kansas City

Regional Mortuary Operational Response Group (KCRMORG), Police, Fire, EMS, Emergency Management, Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch, jurisdictional Medical Examiner and Coroners, both public and private medical/health providers, and mortuary care personnel in response to the consequences of a mass fatality event. Processes and decision-making are more important than minute details. The emphasis is on coordination, integration of capabilities, problem identification, and resolution.

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Today’s Purpose• To collectively determine the parameters

(objectives, scenario, scheduling and documents) for the conduct of the MARC Table Top Exercise (TTX)

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Tabletop Exercise (TTX)Overview• Tabletop Exercise (TTX). A tabletop

exercise involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting. TTXs can be used to assess plans, policies, and procedures.

• No-inspection, no-fault, learning environment

• Based on design objectives

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• One Concepts and Objectives Meeting. Occurred 3/28• Two planning conferences (Initial, Final):

– Initial: identification of trusted agents, exercise facilities and equipment, and logistics; development of exercise parameters (scenario, location, targets, objectives, exercise concept, participants) Today 4/25

– Final: finalize Sitman, exercise documents, injects, and coordinate exercise support. 5/6 – (5/10)

• One day TTX exercise with 4 hours of controlled exercise play followed by an After Action Review. 5/21

• After Action Conference. 5/30

Tabletop Exercise (TTX)Meetings

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Functional Response Groups• Unified Command • Health and Medical • Fatality Management• Emergency Management/Logistics• Public Information/ Victim Identification

Center (VIC)

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Exercise Objectives• Unified command/Incident command

interface: Examine the interaction between various agencies involved in incident management.

• Fatality Management Surge Capacity: Identify the requirements, resources and processes to support the full spectrum of fatality management activities during a significant incident or event resulting in mass fatalities.

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Exercise Objectives• Coordination, communication and control among

private entities and local agencies: Examine interactions between public and private sectors during the threat or actual occurrence of a natural or manmade incident or event. Examine the interface and understanding among local agencies in the conduct of incident management activities. Determine strengths and weaknesses in methods of communication between agencies. Test the information sharing function between the public safety and public health/medical functions.  

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Exercise Objectives• Resource management: Determine strengths

and weaknesses in the local coordination and integration of response resources. Identify critical issues and potential solutions.

• Public Information: Discuss options to provide timely information to the population and assist in minimizing KCRMORG. i.e., “Risk Communications.” Review plans to preclude dissemination of conflicting data.  

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Review Exercise Schedule8:00 am Registration8:30 am Welcome and Introduction8:45 am Overview of Regional Mass Fatality Plan and KCRMORG Capabilities

9:15 am Module 1 – Initial IncidentSituation BriefingCaucus PeriodFacilitated Discussion

10:15 am Module 2 – Reinforced Response

Situation UpdateCaucus PeriodFacilitated Discussion

10:45 am Module 3 – Processing & Disposition of Human Remains  Situation UpdateCaucus PeriodFacilitated Discussion

11:30 am Review and Conclusion 12:30 pm Closing Comments 

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• Severe weather forecast• EF-5 Tornado strikes community

destroying buildings throughout the region• Follow on storm system approaching• Media issues• Large number of deaths

Scenario

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• Large number of deceased being left at hospital causing facility issues

• Logistical concerns• Hazardous materials concerns • Utility service disruption• Political and religious inquiries• Family reunification inquiry

Scenario

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Possible ParticipantsAdditional discussion about participants and group assignments.

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Controller/Evaluators• Introduce, maintain, and coordinate exercise events using the

Sitman• Observe and report exercise artificialities that interfere with

realism• Know the procedures for the element being evaluated• Understand the exercise concept and scenario• Cover each assigned organization/exercise area• Inform lead controller/evaluator of problems related to

exercise design• Observe, record, and report player actions• Ensure collection of all evaluation data, evaluation forms, and

materials after the exercise

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Exercise Facilitation• Lead Facilitator• Facilitators• Facilitator/Controller/Evaluator Interaction

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Exercise Documents• Situation Manual (Sitman)

– Provides operational details and scenario information

– All participants will receive exercise information in the following three distinct modules:Module 1 – Initial IncidentModule 2 – Reinforced Response Module 3 – Processing & Disposition of Human Remains 

• Final Draft provided at the FPC• Distributed prior to exercise

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Logistics and Administrative Support Requirements (Community Responsibilities)• Designate Suitable Exercise Locations (Final Planning Conference, TTX , AAR

Conference)

• TTX - Overland Park Fire Training Academy (Multipurpose Room) 12401 HEMLOCK STREET OVERLAND PARK, KS 66213

– Caucus Rooms– Materials (easels, markers, note pads, plans, Internet wireless)– Projection– Location ID, Parking– Break Planning

• AAR Conference – MARCMid-America Regional Council600 Broadway, Suite 200Kansas City, MO 64105

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Evaluation Tools• Participant Feedback Sheets

• Scribes

• Controller/Evaluator Observations

• EEG’s (Exercise Evaluation Guides)

• Discussion-based-Operational-based– Communication, Critical Resources, Emergency Public Info-

warming, EOC Management, Fatality Management, Intelligence and Info Sharing, On-site Incident Management, Risk Management

• Hotwash

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After Action Report

• Limited distribution• MARC

• Purpose• Provide feedback• Modify Plans• Baseline

RecommendationsObservations

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Today’s Planning Decisions• Participants/group assignments• Objectives• Scenario• Facilitator/Controller/Evaluator Meeting:

May 20• TTX: May 21• AAR Conference: May 30

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Points of Contact• Justin SorgEmergency Services Planner IIIMid-America Regional Council600 Broadway, Suite 200Kansas City, MO 64105www.marc.org(816) 701-8293

• Joe LynchProject ManagerBCFS Health & Human Services Emergency Management Division San Antonio, Texas, USAJoe.lynch@bcfs.net205-936-3958

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Questions, Comments, Issues

Thank-you!

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• United Command• Health and Medical• Fatality Management• Emergency

Management/Logistics• Public Info/Victim

Identification Center