Virtual Tabletop Exercise VTTX Active Shooter Mall This
Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) Active Shooter, Mall This is a unclassified briefing. Do not discus any tactics or threats over the VTC. While waiting for this VTTX to begin review your Situation Manual.
Welcome and Introductions • Opening Remarks: – Emergency Management Institute (EMI) • Introductions: – EMI § Douglas Kahn, douglas. kahn@fema. dhs. gov – Video Teleconference (VTC) Locations Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 2
Scope Focus on the role of your organization(s) in response to potential consequences of a active shooter scenario, as well as the interdisciplinary and interagency coordination both at the local, regional, state, tribal and Federal level. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 3
Exercise Objectives and Core Capabilities Exercise Objective Core Capability Assist participants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively conduct all-hazards emergency response. Planning, Public Information and Warning, Operational Coordination, Allow participating locations to share real-time related preparation, response and recovery solutions with all participants. Enable participants to better coordinate response operations with counterparts from Federal agencies, State governments, local governments, private sector organizations, and nongovernmental agencies. On-Scene Security, Protection and Law Enforcement Healthcare and Emergency Management Services Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 4
Exercise Overview • Four hour, continuous, interactive exercise that will require schedule discipline. • The VTTX consists of: • Introductions • Three Modules • Participant engagement encouraged both locally and crosscommunity. • Time awareness during questions, brief outs, etc. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 5
Exercise Schedule Activity Time Introduction (Field sites and EMI) 15 minutes Module 1: Incident Notification and Response 60 minutes Module 2: Response 60 minutes Module 3: Extended Response and Recovery 60 minutes Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 6
Assumption and Artificialities • The scenario is plausible and events occur as they are presented. • There is no hidden agenda and there are no trick questions. • All players receive information at the same time. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 7
Ground Rules 1. Do NOT critique the scenario – Trying to find holes or inconsistencies in the scenario is counterproductive and disruptive; the scenario should stimulate discussion. 2. Draw from your previous experience – As you participate, please utilize your knowledge of how the Whole Community works together in response and recovery situations. 3. Do NOT assume information – If questions arise that are not answered by the provided material, please ask the facilitator to address the issue with the virtual group. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 8
Ground Rules 4. Participation is encouraged – Speak freely; respect others when they are speaking – Participate in your disaster role as if the event were occurring – Processes and decision making are more important than the details 5. The facilitator's job is to help you come up with solutions Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 9
Administration/Logistics 1. Restrooms 2. Fire Exits Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 10
Module 1: Initial Response
Module 1 Scenario Please take a few minutes to read through the Module 1 Scenario. We will re-cap the key events after you have completed the reading. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 12
Module 1 Situation Timeline Your local mall is packed with shoppers trying to fulfill their last minute holiday gift lists. Throughout the holiday shopping season, there have been no threats or outbreaks of crime inside the mall complex. Saturday, December 12 - 1210 hrs. • Without warning, there is an explosion outside the Bass store, #710. Glass and scraps of metal from the bomb are hurled at tremendous velocity in all directions; becoming lethal projectiles. The explosion creates panic from shoppers inside the mall. Several small fires have also begun to burn in and around the blast area. • The 9 -1 -1 call center is inundated with phone calls as citizens call in to report the explosion. In addition, calls for assistance are made via radio to dispatch police patrols that are nearby at the time of the blast. The mall security service also calls 9 -1 -1 to confirm an explosion. • Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 13
Module 1 Situation Timeline (continued) Saturday, December 12 – 1213 hrs. • Suddenly shooting is heard throughout the mall; coming from the Nike outlet, #500. Calls to 9 -1 -1 change from a fire in the mall to shots fired with people down. Patrol units are several minutes from arriving. • A second explosion is heard in the mall, smoke is showing from the explosion. Mall security has advised 9 -1 -1 that the second blast has come from the Adidas store, #730. Saturday, December 12 – 1219 hrs. • The first on the scene police patrol units are assessing the situation. One of the officers inside the mall broadcast that they can see many people down, shots fired at officers, and smoke filling the mall. Additional officers are requested an Emergency Response Team (ERT) needs to be called out. • The Fire Department and EMS have begun to arrive. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 14
Module 1 Situation Timeline (continued) Saturday, December 12 – 1225 hrs. • The senior EMS officer on the scene provides an initial casualty estimate of 100 -plus victims inside the mall, with an unknown number of injured victims. Police officers have exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who has now relocated to the Calvin Kline store, #480. The description of the suspect is “Person in black jeans, combat boots, black beanie hat and wearing body armor, with automatic weapons, 5’ 6, and 150 lbs. ” The officers are also reporting many victims need immediate medical aid. • Television and radio stations interrupt their regular afternoon programming with news of the explosion and shootings. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 15
Key Issues • Two explosions and shootings reported at the mall injuring at least 100 people. • A mass casualty incident (MCI) has been declared. • News outlets are covering the incident and have crews on the scene. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 16
Discussion Questions 1. What preparations have been made to prepare for an active shooter? Have any involved private sector and businesses? Is there a police substation or dedicated patrol officer in the mall? 2. What actions have already taken place in your community to identify potential locations of active shooter events? 3. What are some suggested incident objectives for this operational period? 4. What potential coordination and policy issues could arise? 5. Do standard first responder protocols need to be reexamined at this time? Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 17
Discussion Questions 6. What information is vital to the safety of the public? How will the Joint Information System (JIS) assist in gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating this public information? 7. How will a common operating picture be maintained within and across all jurisdictions of an incident? What is the role of policy and decision makers in this effort? 8. What enhanced security improvements could be put in place today at little or no cost? Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 18
Module 1 Outbrief • EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site. • Please keep each outbrief concise, and to the point. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 19
Module 2: Operations
Module 2 Scenario Please take a few minutes to read through the Module 2 Scenario. We will re-cap the key events after you have completed the reading. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 21
Module 2 Situation Timeline (continued) The Emergency Response Team (ERT) has arrived and made entry into the mall. One entry point was the entrance near the Customer Service counter in store #99, a second team has made entry from the entrance near the Eddie Bauer store, #570. The ERT will be used to locate and engage the suspect; who is believed to be located within the Calvin Klein store, #480. Only one suspect has been located and identified. The ERT will direct people inside the mall to the designated exit. Once the people have self-evacuated, they will be searched outside the mall by sheriff deputies and police officers from surrounding areas that were called in from mutual aid. Medics (EMT’s and Paramedics) will be identifying critical patients and escorting those patients to the triage area once the areas are rendered safe by entry teams. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 22
Module 2 Situation Timeline (continued) Saturday, December 12 – 1245 hrs. • As the ERT gets closer to the suspect, the shooting has become erratic, suggesting the shooter may be preparing for a “last stand”. The ERT makes entry and engages the suspect, who has begun to shoot at close range. Before the ERT can make an arrest, the suspect commits suicide. Saturday, December 12 – 1300 hrs. • News outlets, locally and nationally, continue to broadcast live footage from mall. News media and the public are clamoring for information on the incident some have broadcast unfiltered You. Tube uploads. Reporters and news analysts openly speculate whether this is an isolated attack, or merely the first in a coordinated series of attacks. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 23
Module 2 Situation Timeline (continued) • FBI Special Agents from the closest field office, along with a few Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Special Agents have arrived at the scene and are coordinating with the (local) Police Department to conduct a preliminary investigation into this crime. Saturday, December 12 – 1530 hrs. • The Mayor has declared a local state of emergency and requested a gubernatorial declaration • From the joint preliminary investigation, it is clear that the explosions and shootings were an intentional act of terrorism • The (Local) Emergency Management office has set up a reunification (Family Assistance Center) location, which is being staffed by mental health professionals, chaplains, Red Cross members and police investigators. A local elementary school was chosen for its close location and secured facilities. • Estimated total casualties…. 230 and estimated fatalities…. 75 Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 24
Key Issues • Shooter has been neutralized. • Local hospitals are being overwhelmed by the number of victims requiring treatment. • A local state of emergency and a governor’s emergency declaration has been requested. • The public and the media must be supplied with accurate and helpful information in order to reduce confusion and panic and promote safety and confidence. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 25
Discussion Questions 1. What procedures are in place for joint operations of LE/Fire/EMS? Has there been training or exercises for joint operations? 2. Have all the responders been accounted for in the ICS structure? 3. What steps will be taken to develop and disseminate public communications and utilize the multi-agency coordination system and the Joint Information Center (JIC)? 4. When is the first public release of information going to be released and who is going to release it, e. g. Mayor, EMA, Fire Chief, or Police Chief? 5. Are there any unmet needs at this time that would be requested either through mutual aid, state resources or Federal resources? 6. How do FBI and ATF fit into the ICS command structure? Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 26
Discussion Questions 7. Would your agency’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team be alerted and brought to the scene? 8. In addition to FBI and ATF, have any outside agencies been brought in for guidance or assistance? 9. Who is responsible for set up and staffing of a Family Assistance Center in your community? 10. Where would a casualty collection point be placed? Who would staff? 11. At what point will photos and videos of the explosions be released to the public and media? 12. Who would be required to build the Incident Action Plan? Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 27
Module 2 Outbrief • EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site. • Please keep each outbrief concise, and to the point. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 28
Module 3: Extended Operations and Recovery
Module 3 Scenario Please take a few minutes to read through the Module 3 Scenario. We will re-cap the key events after you have completed the reading. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 30
Module 3 Situation Timeline • • A makeshift morgue has been set up at the incident site to handle all the remains. Identifications have been difficult to obtain in some cases where the bodies were fragmented; advanced testing will be required to make any positive identification. The Mayor requests that a Disaster Mortuary Response Team (DMORT) be deployed to the area to assist the medical examiner. Saturday, December 12 – 1830 hrs. • The mall is an active crime scene and the all of the entrances have been secured. Family members have been at the mall parking lot for the past 2 -3 hours hoping to get word about their missing relatives. • All the injured patients have been evacuated from the mall, triaged and transported to a medical facility. • None of the responding agencies (Fire/EMS/Police) have been released from service at the mall. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 31
Module 3 Situation Timeline (continued) Saturday, December 12 – 2030 hrs. • The President makes a live statement from Washington, DC. The President announces that numerous Federal resources are being made available to the community and State to investigate the crime. Saturday, December 12 – 2200 hrs. • The long term health, both physically and mentally, of the citizens and first responders are of serious concern. • Local internet postings have indicated the potential for rallies in support of gun control on Sunday afternoon at 1500 hrs in the vicinity of the mall. • The mall owners have announced that the mall will not reopen until all investigations are complete, no matter the length of the investigation. • Total Casualties…. 300 and Fatalities…. 98 Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 32
Key Issues • Operations are ongoing and expected to continue for some time. All of the responders will need relief and support during extended operations. • The DMORT team has been dispatched and will arrive in the next 2 -3 hours. • The President, Governor, and other officials are expected to arrive in the next few days. • Economic impact to community • School closings • Mutual Aid use while community responders recover Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 33
Discussion Questions 1. What follow on response forces will be needed? 2. How long will this operational period last? 3. When should the management of communications and public information return to normal operations? 4. What are the plans for remembrance of the deceased? Any location discussed? 5. How does the arrival of the President or the Governor affect the manpower, security and logistics used at the crime scene? Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 34
Discussion Questions 6. What will the community do to bring visitors/tourists/finances back to the area after this event? Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 35
Module 3 Outbrief • EMI will facilitate the outbrief discussion from each VTC site. • Please keep each outbrief concise, and to the point. Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 36
Participant Questions Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 38
Close out • Send FEMA Form 119 -25 -2, General Admission Application, and class rosters to NETCAdmissions@fema. dhs. gov and douglas. kahn@fema. dhs. gov • Return Participant Feedback Forms - e-mail: douglas. kahn@fema. dhs. gov - regular mail: Doug Kahn, 16825 S. Seton Ave, Emmitsburg, MD 21727 § Additional questions/concerns, my number is (301) 447 -7645 § fema-emi-iemb@fema. dhs. gov or call 301 -447 -1381 Virtual Tabletop Exercise (VTTX) 39
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