The Enhanced Exercise Initiative: The Future of REP Exercises?

Transcription

1 The Enhanced Exercise Initiative: The Future of REP Exercises? NATIONAL REP CONFERENCE APRIL 12, 2017

2 The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. - John Maynard Keynes

3 Quad Cities EPZ 10-mile EPZ Off Site Response Organizations (ORO) on both sides of the river Minimal interaction between State OROs and also between FEMA Regions V & VII (exercise development, evaluation & post exercise work)

4 Origins REP Executive Leaders Program Monterey, CA - June 2015 Administered by the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security Quad Cities Focus Opportunity to enhance existing program at Quad Cities and beyond REP Exercise Evaluation Area for Improvement

5 Why Do We Exercise? Practice Change plan Protect the Public Make Mistakes Identify solution Identify cause

6 REP Exercise Evaluation Possible Negative Byproducts FEMA Exercise Findings = Impact to State and Local Officials and Programs Impact to Funding Impact to Support Impact to Job Fear of Findings ORO apprehension to FEMA adversarial Relationship Thorough self-critiques in view of FEMA are not encouraged Exercises become pass/fail test

7 Why Do We Do REP Exercises? Another REP Exercise (sigh) Change the plan, I guess Pass the PERFECTION Argue with FEMA over findings Test Await exercise report from FEMA

8 EEI Objectives Greater engagement among OROs and individual exercise participants Stronger, more collaborative partnership between FEMA and OROs Transformation of exercises to better foster continuous improvement Greater overall preparedness

9 Kickoff Iowa & Illinois Proposals FEMA Regions V and VII received letters from Illinois and Iowa Exercise enhancement initiative Alternative Approach

10 Culture Shift & Assignment of Special Observers Facilitated Self-Critique An Enhanced Exercise Corrective Action Process Joint Adjudication Process

11 Exercise Issue Adjudication ORO Identified FEMA Identified Joint Identified Level 1 Findings Not Assigned FEMA Issue Number Noted as Successful Outcome ORO determines corrective action Handled in accordance with existing practice Not Assigned FEMA Issue Number Noted as Successful Outcome ORO determines corrective action (Limitations) Assessed accordingly regardless of identifying entity Multiple ORO identified issues not used to assess Level 1 Finding

12 What is the EEI? Culture Shift Fundamental change in the nature of the FEMA/ORO relationship Scalable model for value-added exercises Customized critique of ORO capabilities, beyond RPM requirements Comprehensive analysis of exercise outcomes Optional

13 National Preparedness System (NPS)

14 An Extraordinary Partnership WHO State of Iowa State of Illinois FEMA Region V FEMA Region VII FEMA Headquarters Exelon Generation Nuclear Regulatory Commission HOW Coordinated Efforts Pre-publication Joint Review and Drafting Regional and National Outreach Steering Committee s Conference Calls

15 Collaboration - Licensee Strong Utility Support Modeled self assessment processes Mature processes

16 Road Map Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

17 Special Observer Selection Tier 1 Risk County EMA Coordinators, Utility EP Staff (Offsite Specialists), State EMA REP Staff Tier 2 Host County EMA Coordinators, Utility EP Staff (any specialty), State EMA (Non-REP Exercise Specialists) Tier 3 Other County EMA Coordinators, Utility Staff (any department), State EMA (any staff) Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

18 Special Observer Training REP Program Manual Part III Extent of Play Letter Plans/SOGs Special Observer Preparation Tool Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

19 Exercise Day Independent Observation NEW FORMS Observation Form Comment and Feedback Form (Participant Use) Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

20 Observation Forms

21 Joint Adjudication FEMA / State(s) In-Person or Virtual Results: FEMA-Identified = 2 Items Jointly-Identified = 2 Items ORO-Identified = 94 Items Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

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25 After Action Open to all Participants, Special Observers, and Evaluators Objective: Solicit input and finalize Improvement Plan Results: FEMA-Identified = 2 Items Jointly-Identified = 2 Items ORO-Identified = 50 Items Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

26 After Action created a very open, inviting improvement process Identification of Special Observers Exercise -Scott County GIS across the board participation in the evaluation process. Being able to analyze the improvement plans from other counties, the state, & FEMA is very helpful -Scott County Public Health After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

27 AAR/IP Issuance Incorporates comments from AAM Includes strengths observed by OROs Provides more comprehensive narrative of exercise events Identification of Special Observers Exercise After Action 03/14/2017 Special Observer Training Joint Adjudication AAR/IP Issuance

28 What does the EEI mean for OROs? Commitment of additional resources More issues identified = More improvements to make Less stressful exercises Stronger program Useful AAR/IPs Greater ownership of the program

29 What does the EEI mean for FEMA? Additional eyes and ears Long-term tracking of Corrective Actions Commitment of additional resources Non-standard AAR/IPs Stronger program overall

30 Where do I begin? Step 1: Talk to your RAC Chair Step 2: Determine your scale of use Step 3: Plan accordingly Step 4: Change your REP Program! Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. -Niccolo Machiavelli

31 Panel Q & A Chuck Gregg FEMA Region VII Chuck.gregg@fema.dhs.gov Dennis Branson FEMA Region VII Dennis.Branson@fema.dhs.gov Jacob Nicholson State of Iowa Jacob.nicholson@iowa.gov William Conway State of Illinois William.Conway@Illinois.gov