Table Top Exercise-Hurricane

 

 

Table  Top  Exercise  Tips  

Remember  a  Table  Top  Exercise  is  a  staged  event  done  hypothetically  around  a  table,  hence  the   name.  

 

Major  Steps  in  Creating  and  Running  a  Table  Top  Exercise  

 

1.  Select  the  key  players.  

The  Exercise  Facilitator  -­‐  presents  the  scenario  and  guides  the  group  in  problem  solving.  

The  Exercise  Players  -­‐  the  staff  and/or  community  members  who  participate  in  the  scenario   discussion.    

The  Exercise  Evaluator  -­‐  looks  for  problem  areas  and  gaps  that  need  to  be  addressed  as  the  exercise   progresses.      

 

2.  Determine  exercise  objectives.  

What  are  the  major  and  minor  goal(s)?    What  area  are  you  trying  to  improve  upon  or  address   through  this  training?  

 

3.  Determine  the  scope  of  the  exercise.  

Will  it  focus  on  one  specific  potential  problem  or  several  simultaneous  problems?    Will  it  focus  on   logistics,  coordination,  communication  issues,  etc.?    Table  top  exercises  can  be  broad  or  limited,  but   are  usually  1-­‐3  hours  in  length  to  prevent  participant  fatigue,  so  keep  that  in  mind  when   determining  the  scope  specifics.  

 

4.  Create  an  emergency  scenario.  

This  is  the  focus  on  the  exercise  and  the  discussion  will  revolve  around  this  emergency  scenario.     But  as  the  exercise  progresses,  the  facilitator  will  interject  problem  statements,  so  the  scenario   evolves.  

 

5.  Prepare  exercise  materials.    

 

 

Participants  usually  receive  a  manual  at  the  start  of  the  exercise  that  provides  background   information  –  describing  the  scope,  objectives,  scenario,  schedule,  etc.  as  a  basis  for  the  discussion   which  the  Facilitator  can  refer  to.    The  Evaluator  also  uses  this  manual  to  note  problem  areas  as  the   exercise  progresses.      

 

6.  Conduct  the  exercise.    

The  exercise  begins  with  the  Facilitator  describing  the  objective  and  the  main  scenario,  which  then   evolves  with  problem  statements  and  discussion.  

 

7.  Evaluate  the  exercise.    

Though  the  Evaluator  may  write  a  formal  After-­‐Action  Report  on  the  exercise  itself,  sometimes  the   players  conduct  a  ‘hot  wash’  at  the  end  of  the  exercise  to  discuss  how  well  the  goals  were  achieved.     Specifically  they  talk  about  what  went  smoothly,  what  problems  arose,  what  gaps  were  identified,   and  specific  areas  for  planned  improvement.    

Note  that  these  are  the  general  steps  used  in  creating  and  running  a  table  top  exercise.    The  order   and  depth  of  these  steps  will  vary  with  each  exercise,  hazard,  and  organization.    So  view  these  and   those  provided  within  the  Toolkit  as  General  Guidelines.    Also  see  the  Table  Top  Exercise  Example   as  a  guide  in  helping  you  develop  your  own  exercise.