The purpose of Poetslife is to promote the art and discipline of American Tactical Civil Defense for families and small businesses and to contribute practical American civil defense preparedness guidance for all Americans through my articles in the The American Civil Defense Association (TACDA.ORG) Journal of Civil Defense and leadership as the volunteer Vice President of TACDA.

9/28/2018

Church Tabletop Exercise Template - Category 4 Hurricane

Resilience is the ability to absorb the impact of an interruption, disruption or loss while continuing to provide an acceptable level of uninterrupted service. This exercise helps build resilience.


Name


Title


Email
Phone
Functional Area


Date


  












Rules for Players

·         Relax…this is a no-fault, low-stress exercise
·         Respond based on your current capability
·         Feel free to improvise 

Purpose

This scenario will consist of an exercise during which members of the Crisis Management Team (CMT) will be challenged to determine the actions you would take for a specific disaster scenario. Our test disaster in Scenario Two consists of a power outage due to a hurricane. You will walk through the actions you would take per our disaster recovery plan.  The objective of this exercise is to assess the viability of the plan, find flaws and missions and improve the plan. It also educates staff and recovery team members about the plan strategies, limitations and assumptions. 

Scenario

In this scenario, on a Sunday morning, a hurricane that was predicted to travel east and north suddenly shifts west for a direct hit to the area. With little official warning, it goes from a Category 2 to Category 4 in the hours while people are arriving and leaving for church. Given the ferocity of the storm, you must decide if you will shelter in place or let parishioners go home. Conduct the exercise based on which you choose.

Crisis Management Testing

This crisis management testing exercise process works to establish a clear procedure is available if we have to escalate from an incident response to full crisis management. This exercise helps to train crisis team members are trained in their role so they know what to do if the CMT is activated. The CMT must manage the details of the crisis situation so that it has minimum impact of business operations. At the end of the exercise, we will have a better idea of what measures need to be in place for all critical objects and assets. This will guarantee continuity of processes in an acceptable time after a crisis.

Scenario Test Record


Test
What
Who
Date
Y/N
Comments
Crisis Management Team
Advise Coordinator of major event








Serve as adviser for coordination of tasks








Evaluates event








Declares event a disaster








Activates Disaster Recovery Plan








Maintains event log








Monitors and provides status of all events








Identified problems and issues








Escalates problems and issues








CMT Coordinator
Notify Crisis Management Team Coordinator








Draft and submit Working Objectives Report








Activate CMT
Chair meetings and ensure appropriate attendance.








Contract the CMT








Determine response strategy, priorities and action plans








Ensure effective internal and external communications to key stakeholders








Oversee prioritizing of resources across the business to support response








Minimizing disruption and return to routine operations as quickly as possible








All Employee Email distribution?








Activate Social Media Control Plan
Establish who's in charge of social media?








What is the plan to manage social media before, during and after the disaster?








Activate Human Resources Assistance
Employees concerns/impacts








What do you tell staff/parish/Archdiocese








Supplies needed








Evacuate or shelter in place








Confirm evacuation routes








Water may be contaminated…do we have enough bottled water for everyone








Activate Call Tree
A test designed to teach who to call first and to validate the currency of contact lists and the processes by which they are maintained








Activate Facilities Support
Evaluate facilities Impacts
Monitor news via TV and radio








Server room impacts








Activate Finance Department Process
Ensure funds are available for recovery








Ensure that all recovery expenditures are properly documented








Authorize placement of orders and invocation of emergency procurement agreements for equipment








CMT Coordinator
Performs post event review, writes lessons learned and assigns issue resolution









What have you learned from this exercise?

Name three strengths to handle a disaster recovery.

Name three organizational gaps we have for handling an event?

What should be the next steps in planning and preparing for an event?

List three short- and long-term actions to this exercise for follow up (in order or importance).