Why do we have to do this? 

The 2nd PHEP Objective for this grant year describes your exercise responsibilities.  A tabletop exercise is one way to satisfy this requirement.  Another big push in the next 5 year PHEP Cooperative Agreement is the idea of 'Community Resiliency'.  With the creation and roll-out of the new WWPHRC Community Shelter Plan, it seemed appropriate to conduct an exercise on this new plan, thereby educating LPHA and their partners as well as satisfying exercise requirements.

How important are emergency response exercises? 
Very important!   Exercises are safe and effective ways to test a health departments and its partners capability and capacity to carry-out its emergency response plan.  Exercises also are great ways to include staff who may otherwise never get involved in emergency preparedness.  The results of an exercise are often used to improve emergency response plans, train and educate staff and partners, and revise current processes and systems.   

Target Capabilities Addressed in this Year's Exercise:

This year's tabletop exercise will address the following Target Capabilities and the After Action Report and Improvement Plan will be built around these:

1. Planning

2. Communications

3. Mass Care (Sheltering, Feeding, and Related Services)

4. Onsite Incident Management

5. Economic and Community Recovery

Important Documents/Tools for this Year's Exercise:

ExPlan (COMPLETE)

PPT Presentation (COMPLETE)

AAR/IP (In development)

Important Dates to Remember:

This year's tabletop exercises are scheduled to run from late February thru May.  Contact Brian Kaczmarski at brian.kaczmarski@co.polk.wi.us or 715-485-8801 to confirm your date/time of exercise.  Plan for a 1/2 day event.

Confirmed Exercise Dates:

February 7:  Douglas County

February 29:  Barron County

March 6:  Chippewa County

March 7:  Trempealeau County

March 8:  Washburn County

March 13:  Rusk County

March 21:  Pierce County

March 26:  Burnett County/SC Tribe

March 28: Polk County

April 23:  Buffalo County

April 25:  Clark County

April 26:  Eau Claire County

Agenda for this Year's Exercise:

1. Welcome/Introductions

2. Expectations/Ground Rules/Housekeeping

3. Current Status of Shelter Plans

4. Old Model (General Shelter and Special Needs Shelter)

5. What has happened that warrants a change?

6. The New Plan

7. Break

8. Tabletop Exercise on New Plan (Chemical Release Scenario)

9. Hotwash

10. Next Steps

11. Adjourn

Document to Consider Giving to Partners PRIOR to Tabletop Exercise:

List of Questions for Partners to think About In Advance of Exercise

Functions Needed in a Community Shelter Diagram (Partners should think of where they may fit into the various functions needed; where can they satisfy a need?)