A War Gaming Approach to Getting “Data-Ready” for Local Implementations of the National Response Plan and the National

1. A War Gaming Approach to Getting “Data-Ready” for Local Implementations of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System Eva Lerner-Lam (F) and Mimi Hwang Palisades Consulting Group, Inc. Timothy P. Harpst, P.E., PTOE (F) International President, ITE An Interactive Session at the 2005 ITE District 5 Annual Meeting Savannah, GA April 10, 2005

2. Agenda • Background • Objectives of this session • Approach to achieving objectives • Conduct a war game exercise • Summarize: • results of exercise • results of this session

3. Background • 9/11 events led to efforts to better protect against and respond to acts of terrorism • Many actions taken, including: • Creation of Department of Homeland Security • Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) • Passage of “Patriot Act” • Three TOPOFF Exercises

4. Background • Collectively, we’re better prepared • Need to continue to enhance our preparedness

5. Background • In 2004, DHS issued the National Response Plan and National Incident Management System (per HSPD-5) • All hazards, including terrorism • Both emphasize interoperable communications • As of 2005, state and local response plans must soon be consistent with the NRP and NIMS, or risk losing federal assistance for emergency response

6. Background • Three TOPOFF Exercises: • May 2000: Denver and New Hampshire • May 2003: Chicago, Seattle, Canada • April 2005:  Interagency, Connecticut, New Jersey, United Kingdom, Canada • Major Finding: “Communications Problems” • Equipment • Data and Information

7. Background • “In the immediate aftermath of the attack, communications problems delayed the transport of many “victims” to local hospitals.” US Senator Susan M. Collins, On TOPOFF 2

8. Background • “It’s not just an issue of equipment. Every agency has its own terminology and protocols for communication. If you put 121 of them together, communicating the same information about a scenario, you’ll find that each uses their own communications protocols, their own acronyms, etc. Making sure that everyone has a common operational picture is very complex and a real challenge.” --Corey Gruber TOPOFF 2 Associate Director

9. Background Joint Regional Information Exchange System State and Local Agencies Homeland Security Operations Center WEAK LINKS: Data and information must be clear, accurate and transmittable FBI

10. Objectives of this Session • Gain understanding about the importance of: • Knowing what kind of information is needed during a major attack • Identifying critical data requirements for that information and negotiating the “data definitions” between and among agencies

11. Approach • Highlight just one communications interface: A County Police Department dispatcher and a Regional Transit Agency dispatcher

12. Approach • Simulate a terrorist attack • Role play: • Police Dispatcher • Transit Dispatcher • Focus: • What information does each one need? • What data is needed to provide that information?

13. Game Rules • You will assume role as Special Advisors to the both Dispatchers • When asked, you will contribute (“Silence” implies agreement) • You will suspend any disbelief over factual errors or discrepancies in Game scenario itself; keep your focus on the Objective of the Game • Facilitator may occasionally “park” relevant issues for resolution at a later time

14. Overview of Game • Facilitator will describe: • Local setting • Emergency Support Agencies • Facilitator will introduce Role Players • Chatham County Police Dispatcher • Chatham Area Transit Dispatcher

15. Overview of Game • Facilitator will describe Major Attack • You will listen in on communications between Chatham County Police Dispatcher and Chatham Area Transit Dispatcher • When asked, you will advise the dispatchers on what else they need to know and how they need to know it • After-Action reportLists of data and information needs for Police and Transit

16. Parking Lot Issue #1: Different Color Coded Threat Levels Transit: 7 Threat Levels DHS: 5 Threat Levels

17. The Setting

18. Savannah, GA • Metro Savannah, GA • Population 210,000 • Square Miles 102 • CAT Service Area • Population 232,000 • Square Miles 438

19. Emergency Support Agencies Primary Agency: Chatham County Police Department • Support Agencies: • Chatham Emergency Management Agency • Chatham County Health Department • Chatham County Sheriff’s Office • Georgia Bureau of Investigation • Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies • Municipal Fire Departments • US Coast Guard • Chatham Area Transit

20. Parking Lot Issue #2: • Transit Should Be Part of Response Planning Team

21. Introduction of Role Players

22. Chatham Police Dispatcher • Role Player: Tim Harpst • Duties include: • Receiving emergency calls • Determining nature, location and priority of emergency • Dispatch police units as necessary • Maintaining and coordinating contact with all field units on assignment • Enter, update and retrieve crime-related information from computer and communications networks

23. Chatham Area Transit Dispatcher • Role Player: Mimi Hwang • Duties include: • Directing on-road operations • Working with the Driver Supervisors to identify and relay issues and information related to operational safety

24. Let’s Begin…

25. Pre-Attack • Typical, sunny day in Savannah, GA • Typical workday at Chatham Area Transit Authority and Chatham County Police Department

26. First Reports of Attack

27. Reports of Attack: • “Some type of “dirty bomb” on container ship has been detonated under the Talmadge Memorial Bridge” • Initial reports indicate: • Blast-related casualties • Radioactive and/or chemical cloud is spreading southeasterly

28. Incident Commander Orders Evacuation of Downtown Savannah • Set up detours and emergency routings • Mobilize the transit fleet

29. UNDER ATTACK (FTA Code: BLACK)What Information Does Transit Dispatcher Need from Police?

30. UNDER ATTACK (FTA Code: BLACK)What Information Does Police Dispatcher Need from Transit?

31. IN RECOVERY (FTA Code: PURPLE)What Information Does Transit Dispatcher Need from Police?

32. IN RECOVERY (FTA Code: PURPLE)What Information Does Police Dispatcher Need from Transit?

33. Game Summary • What did we learn from this game? • We’re not as ready as we’d like to be • Have to have plan in place before a major incident • There are questions we should be asking that we don’t know to ask? (HK know that we’re sending people there?) • Fleet vehicles may be impacted. • Definitional information gathering should occur during PLANNING stage, not EMERGENCY state • What to do about pets? • What do we need to do to make sure we’re “data-ready”? • Who’s going to do what by when? • Radio-compatibility

34. Session Summary • Communications at the local agency level are potential “weak links” in national preparedness and response • Communications include not only transmission equipment, but data and information as well

35. Session Summary • War gaming can be an effective tool to help develop and enhance state and local response plans • War gaming scenarios should involve all key agency partners, including Transit • War gaming outputs should ensure that all communications requirements are clearly identified and defined

36. References • Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5: http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/hspd-5.html • National Response Plan: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0566.xml • National Incident Management System: http://www.fema.gov/nims/ • Ready America: http://www.ready.gov