Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
September 8, 2011
AFTER ACTION REPORT
Disaster Resistant Communities Group LLC
After Action Report / Improvement Plan
Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS
1. The title of this document is The "Hurricane Dough - A Storm Response Tabletop
Exercise" After Action Report.
2. The information gathered in this AAR/IP is classified as For Official Use Only
(FOUO) and should be handled as sensitive information not to be disclosed. This
document should be safeguarded, handled, transmitted, and stored in accordance
with appropriate security directives.
3. At a minimum, the attached materials will be disseminated only on a need-to-know
basis and when unattended, will be stored in a locked container or area offering
sufficient protection against theft, compromise, inadvertent access, and
unauthorized disclosure.
4. Points of Contact:
Business Continuity Planner:
Penny Brown
Florida Community Bank
(Office) 561-681-5561
(E-Mail) pbrown@fcb1923.com
Exercise Director:
Chris Floyd
Disaster Resistant Communities Group LLC
(Office) 850-241-3565
(E-Mail) chrisfloyd@drc-group.com
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After Action Report / Improvement Plan
Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
CONTENTS
ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................... 2
CONTENTS ................................................................................................................. 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 4
SECTION 1: EXERCISE OVERVIEW ......................................................................... 5
Exercise Details ....................................................................................................... 5
Participant Information ............................................................................................. 5
SECTION 2: EXERCISE DESIGN SUMMARY ............................................................ 8
Exercise Purpose and Design .................................................................................. 8
Too assess basic capabilities of preparing for and responding to a hurricane. ........ 8
Exercise Objectives, Capabilities and Activities ....................................................... 8
Scenario Summary................................................................................................... 8
SECTION 3: ANALYSIS OF CAPABILITIES ............................................................... 9
SECTION 4: CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... 10
APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN ...................................................................... 11
APPENDIX B: PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK (3 THUMBS UP – 3 THUMBS DOWN).. 12
APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS ...................................................................................... 18
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After Action Report / Improvement Plan
Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Hurricane Dough - A Storm Response Tabletop Exercise was designed and facilitated
to assess basic capabilities of preparing for and responding to a hurricane.
The purpose of this report is to analyze exercise results, identify strengths to be
maintained and built upon, identify potential areas for further improvement, and support
development of corrective actions.
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After Action Report / Improvement Plan
Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
SECTION 1: EXERCISE OVERVIEW
Exercise Details
Exercise Name:
Hurricane Dough - A Storm Response Tabletop Exercise
Type of Exercise:
Tabletop
Exercise Start Date: September 8, 2011
Duration:
30 Minutes
Location:
Bank branch locations throughout Florida
Sponsor:
Florida Community Bank
Scenario Type: Hurricane
Participant Information
Participant
Location
FCB - Palm City
FCB - Lehigh Acres
FCB - Hialeah Gardens
FCB - Apopka
FCB - Cocoa Beach
FCB - Ft Pierce
FCB - Brooksville
FCB - Cape Coral (South)
FCB - Naples (Golden Gate)
FCB - Bonita Springs
FCB - Gatlin
FCB - North Port
FCB - Punta Gorda
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FCB - Operations
FCB - Port Orange (East)
FCB - Boca Raton (West)
FCB - Surfside
FCB - Delray Beach
FCB - Orlando (Windermere)
FCB - Corporate Office (Blue Lagoon)
FCB - Heathrow
FCB - Ormond Beach
FCB - Margate
FCB - Boynton Beach (West)
FCB - Port St Lucie
FCB - Apopka
FCB - Naples (Vanderbilt)
FCB - Vero Beach
FCB - Sarasota (South)
FCB - Longwood
FCB - Port Charlotte
FCB - Merritt Island
FCB - Naples (Golden Gate)
FCB - Miami (North)
FCB - Vero Beach
FCB - West Palm Beach
FCB - West Palm Beach
FCB - Englewood
FCB - Bonita Springs
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Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
FCB - Port Orange (South)
FCB - Stuart
FCB - Holly Hill
FCB - Sarasota (Main)
FCB - Labelle
FCB - Ft Myers
FCB - Miami (Bird Road)
Number of Participants 45
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After Action Report / Improvement Plan
Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
SECTION 2: EXERCISE DESIGN SUMMARY
Exercise Purpose and Design
Too assess basic capabilities of preparing for and responding to a hurricane.
Exercise Objectives, Capabilities and Activities
Capabilities-based planning allows for the exercise planning team to develop exercise
objectives and observe exercise outcomes through a framework of specific action items
that were derived from the Target Capabilities List (TCL). The capabilities listed below
form the foundation for the organization of all objectives and observations in this
exercise. Additionally, each capability is linked to several corresponding activities and
tasks to provide additional detail.
Based upon the identified exercise objectives below, the exercise planning team
decided to demonstrate the following capabilities during this exercise:
Not Applicable
Activity
Target Capability
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Scenario Summary
It is late July and local citizens have been complacent in their hurricane preparedness
activities because this year’s hurricane season has not even seen its first tropical storm.
Families are making their last minute plans for their summer vacations while local
business owners and government agencies are thinking that the hurricane season could
be very inconsequential. However weather forecasters are predicting a major change in
the atmosphere that could see a sharp increase in the number and severity of
hurricanes within the next few weeks.
By early August residents, business owners and government officials begin to follow the
projected path of the season’s first tropical storm. Soon the storm strengthens into a as
it continues its forward movement.
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SECTION 3: ANALYSIS OF CAPABILITIES
Not Applicable
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SECTION 4: CONCLUSION
Exercises such as this one allow personnel to validate training and practice strategic
and tactical prevention, protection, response and recovery capabilities in a risk-reduced
environment. Exercises are the primary tool for assessing preparedness and identifying
areas for improvement, while demonstrating community resolve to prepare for major
incidents.
Exercises aim to help entities within the community gain objective assessments of their
capabilities so that gaps, deficiencies, and vulnerabilities are addressed prior to a real
incident.
Exercises are the most effective (and safer) means to:






Assess and validate policies, plans, procedures, training, equipment,
assumptions, and interagency agreements;
Clarify roles and responsibilities;
Improve interagency coordination and communications;
Identify gaps in resources;
Measure performance; and
Identify opportunities for improvement.
This exercise succeeded in addressing all of the above as it provided examples of good
to excellent participant knowledge, teamwork, communication and use of plans and
procedures while pointing out areas in need of improvement and clarification.
Listed below is a summary of the level of performance the Target Capabilities and
Tasks evaluated during the exercise. This summary outlines the areas in which Florida
Community Bank is strong as well as identifying areas that the departments should
invest future planning, training and exercise funds on.
Not Applicable
Activity
Target Capability
Performance
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
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APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN
This Improvement Plan has been developed specifically for the Florida Community Bank based on the results of
Hurricane Dough - A Storm Response Tabletop Exercise conducted on September 8, 2011. These recommendations
draw on both the After Action Report and the After Action Conference.
Capability
Observation
Recommendation
Responsible Agency
Completion Date
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
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APPENDIX B: PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK
(3 THUMBS UP – 3 THUMBS DOWN)
Thumbs Up
Inventory of hurricane kit was complete and staff knew where it was.
The continuity procedures book provided the information needed to complete the other
questions.
Prepared branch through scenario properly.
Description of exercise.
Made the team work well together.
Made team familiarize themselves with the policy.
We are aware of the location and content of the hurricane kit.
We are aware of how to secure the bank and its content.
We know who to direct all media to for comment.
We were reminded of what is in our hurricane preparedness kit.
We refreshed on the First Response Team procedures.
All employees are reminded who the media should contact for interviews.
Everyone was aware of the Hurricane Kit and where it was stored.
Everyone was aware of the Business Continuity Book and where it was stored.
All contact information was up to date.
The exercise story line made sense and was practical.
Team members were involved.
Reiterated procedures.
Everything was accessible and accounted for in the Hurricane Preparedness Box.
We followed our procedures and knew whom to contact and when.
The manual was very informative.
We worked as a team.
After Action Report / Improvement Plan
Hurricane Dough Tabletop Exercise
We looked at our notes (book).
Staff was knowledgeable.
Preparation.
Execution.
Reaction for when the storm passed.
Teamwork response to each area.
Checking everyone’s knowledge of our disaster plan.
Realizing we ready for any challenge.
Organized.
Supply kit easily accessible and complete.
We utilized the Business Continuity Procedures manual for guidance.
Pre-storm activities were easy to implement.
Ready to respond to reports request with accurate instructions.
We are all clear on procedures.
Communication is vital for a better outcome.
Informative and the scenario help give a clear understanding of what happens during
the emergency.
All employees participated and knew where supplies are located.
All employees have the business continuity emergency numbers.
Employees understand what the green, yellow and red flags stand for.
Communication, participation and organization
Good team work.
Comfort in knowing what to do.
Team Work.
Everyone knew where the continuity management procedures binder is kept.
Where the disaster recovery kit is kept.
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Communication to team.
Organization of presentation.
Subject matter relevance.
All employees knew where the disaster kit was located and it was complete.
Understood the ease of binder and where to find crucial information.
All employees were aware of the evacuation locations and emergency locations in
building.
The scenario given was very true to life.
We all worked as a team to provide a solid plan.
Very Informative.
We were notified properly.
We reviewed the Continuity Management Procedures.
All employees were safe.
We were quickly able to locate the hurricane supply kit and identify the contents.
We all remained calm and were able to follow instructions.
We were able to locate the Disaster Response - First Visit Checklist quickly to assess
damage after the storm.
It was good to run through the steps to be familiar.
The information was clear.
We are better prepared.
Identified responsibilities.
We all knew where the hurricane kit was.
We became familiar with preparations in case of a hurricane.
We became familiar with the first visit checklist and what the colored flags mean.
The exercise system was easy to understand.
The exercise helped us to refresh all the procedures needed to be done.
When we needed help it was available immediately.
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Knowing the preparation procedures for the branch equipment and contents of kit.
We were able to locate information in our Continuity Management Procedures manual,
based on the questions presented in the exercise, as well as provide a review other
aspects of the manual.
Knew about speaking with media – who to refer to.
The employee hotline.
Branch Hurricane Preparedness was an easy process to follow in our procedures.
Hurricane kit is organized and in location for everyone to access.
Getting out the book and using it as a resource.
Inspecting the old hurricane supplies.
Knowing where the disaster kit is located.
Knowing our preparedness plan.
Knowing contact numbers.
It was an easy to follow group exercise.
Were able to view contents of our hurricane kit so everyone knows its contents.
Worked together to come up with answers.
Progression of pre-storm and post-storm was clarified.
The exercise was user friendly.
Knowing the location of the hurricane recovery kits and supplies.
Knowing where the continuity manual is located.
Knowing how to be prepared.
Having the Continuity Management Procedures on hand.
Teamwork.
Improved our knowledge on Hurricane Preparedness.
Providing Continuity Management Procedures.
Had prior meeting.
Preparation.
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Thumbs Down
Could use shutters for window protection to make more secure.
Training to new employees.
Refresher training for existing employees.
Pre-establish local contractor to secure windows and doors of the facility.
The branch could assign preparedness duties to each employee for a smoother
preparation.
Addendums should be located under individual sections.
More detail process.
Less words more action.
Prior to the storm should we contact the local police department to see how they want
us to proceed?
How are we specifically supposed to cover the equipment and close the vault?
How many hours or do we not set the timers?
Understand at what point to put up shutters.
Hurricane supplies don't match list in book. Need better clarification of items.
Cross training.
Train all branch employees on disaster procedures.
More step by step instructions.
Identify when or where to report to work, if at all.
We identified that the kit was missing, bleach, gloves, sponges and batteries.
Identified moving supply kit from kitchen to storage room
More activities like this.
First aid recovery training.
Taylor training to the specific office. Example – Upstairs departments and downstairs
departments need to do this after hours so that all can be included
Clean up confidential information.
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Confirm call tree.
Prepare contingency plans in case of power failure.
Disaster Supplies Kit was located high on a shelf and wasn't easy to get down.
Relocated to lower shelf.
One employee had to step away to service a client. Reviewed again with her.
Include videos.
Have multiple scenarios.
The exercise did not cover the time factor to leave the building and how much time we
had.
The exercise did not cover how we prepare our employees for the storm and what to
expect afterwards.
What is our policy for employee contact when people are told to evacuate the area?
We would give all employees copies of all addendums.
I believe that we need to visit these procedures regularly.
Learned that there should be a Table of Contents in our manual for easier location of
vital information versus paging through the document.
Could use practice on where to meet and display of flags red / yellow / green.
Review First Visit Checklist
After the storm checklist.
Pre-work was lacking.
Assign tasks to individuals.
Emergency drill for team.
Quarterly meeting to review Continuity Procedures.
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APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS
Acronym
COMM
CONOPS
Meaning
Communications
Concept of Operations
EOC
Emergency Operations Center
ESF
Emergency Support Function
IAP
Incident Action Plan
IC
Incident Command
ICS
Incident Command System
IMT
Incident Management Team
JIC
Joint Information Center
LOFR
Liaison Officer
MOA
Memorandum of Agreement
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
NIMS
National Incident Management System
OPS
Operations
PIO
Public Information Officer
SERT
State Emergency Response Team
SitRep
Situation Report
SOG
Standard Operating Guideline
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
UC
Unified Command
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