EXERCISE EVALUATION GUIDE: Communications
The Exercise Evaluation Guide has been customized for the 2013 California Medical and Health Exercise including added and deleted Activities and Tasks. The
numbering remains consistent with the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program. The complete EEG can be found at http://hseep.dhs.gov
Capability (Goal) Description:
Communications is the fundamental capability within disciplines and jurisdictions that practitioners need to perform the most routine and basic elements of their job functions.
Facilities and agencies must be operable, meaning they possess sufficient communications capabilities to meet their daily internal and emergency communication requirements
before they focus on interoperability.
Capability (Goal) Outcome:
A continuous flow of critical information is maintained as needed among multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary emergency responders, command posts, health care facilities,
agencies, and governmental officials for the duration of the emergency response operation in compliance with National Incident Management System. To accomplish this, the
jurisdiction has a continuity of operations plan for public safety communications to include the consideration of critical components, networks, support systems, personnel, and an
appropriate level of redundant communications systems in the event of an emergency.
Jurisdiction or Organization:
Name of Exercise: 2013 California Statewide Medical and Health Exercise
Location:
Date: November 21, 2013
Evaluator:
Evaluator Contact Info:
Note to Exercise Evaluators:
Write a description of how the task was done. (Only review activities to which you are assigned)
Activity 1: Alert and Dispatch
Activity Description: In response to an incident alert, notify and provide communications management until the necessary Incident Command, Emergency Operations Center,
Hospital Command Center, Nursing Home Command Center, Department Operations Center and/or Emergency Management Agency are activated.
Tasks Observed (check those that were observed and provide comments)
Note: Asterisks (*) denote Performance Measures and Performance Indicators associated with a task. Please record the observed indicator for each measure
Task /Observation Keys
1.1
Time of Observation/ Task Completion
Implement response communications interoperability plans and protocols.
1.1.a. Staff and management are informed of interoperable communications requirements
1.1.b. Interoperable communications equipment, channels and protocols are activated
1.1.c. Personnel have been trained on various communication tools (e.g., satellite phones, two-way radios,
CAHAN, software programs, etc.)
1.1.d. Maintain 24/7 contact information for Medical Health Operational Area Coordination Program
1.1.e. Maintain contact information for public health, medical health partners, emergency management, and
other response partners
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1.2
Communicate incident response information per agency/facility protocols.
1.2.a. Timely, accurate and clear incident information passed to response personnel
1.2.b. Incident information relayed to pertinent incident management facilities (e.g., Emergency Operations
Center/Multi Agency Coordination Center, Hospital Command Center, Nursing Home Command
Center, Department Operations Center, Medical Health Coordination Center, etc.)
Incident information logged and disseminated to communications staff, as appropriate
1.2.c. Communicate estimated numbers of facility/department/agency staff, and patients affected by the
foodborne illness to the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) Program or local
government point of contact
1.2.d. Activate risk communication plans for for internal and external dissemination
1.3
Use established common response communication language (i.e., plain English) to ensure information
dissemination is timely, clear, acknowledged, and understood by all receivers.
1.4
Initiate documentation process of required forms and follow-up notations.
1.4.a. Forms, logs and reports are created in accordance with local requirements (e.g., ICS, HICS, NHICS
forms)
1.7
Establish media conference area
1.7.a. Provide scheduled media briefings in conjunction with Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator
(MHOAC) Program and Joint Information System
Exercise Design Team can edit and/or add tasks and activities during the design phase
Observation:
Activity 2: Provide Command Center Communications Support (e.g., Emergency Operations Center, Hospital Command Center,
Nursing Home Command Center, and Department Operations Center).
Activity Description: In response to notification of an incident, provide and receive interoperable voice, data, and video communications.
Tasks Observed (check those that were observed and provide comments)
Note: Asterisks (*) denote Performance Measures and Performance Indicators associated with a task. Please record the observed indicator for each measure
Task /Observation Keys
2.1
Observations
Implement incident communications interoperability plans and protocols.
2.1.a. Interoperable communications equipment, channels and protocols are activated and placed into service
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Communications plan includes provision for back up if primary mode of communications overloads or fails
2.10
Establish and ensure connectivity to local Emergency Operation Center/Multiagency Coordinating Center and
ensures coordinated communication and public education messages to stakeholders including participation in the
Joint Information System.
2.10.a. The local health department utilizes the California Public Health and Medical Emergency Operations
Manual to communicate relevant information to the region and the state
Exercise Design Team can edit and/or add tasks and activities during the design phase
Observation:
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Activity 3: Return to Normal Operations
Activity Description: Initiate incident-specific demobilization procedures for the interoperable communications system.
Tasks Observed (check those that were observed and provide comments)
Note: Asterisks (*) denote Performance Measures and Performance Indicators associated with a task. Please record the observed indicator for each measure.
Task /Observation Keys
Observations
3.1
Develop communications section of the demobilization plan.
3.2
Initiate communications demobilization procedures.
3.2.a. Staff follow demobilization plan Interoperable communications channels and equipment are
successfully demobilized
3.2.b. Interoperable equipment returned
3.3
Monitor communications demobilization.
3.3.a. Demobilization plan distributed
3.3.b. Account for communications resources and return to normal operations
3.4
Report and document the incident by completing and submitting required forms, reports, documentation, and follow-up
notations.
Exercise Design Team can edit and/or add tasks and activities during the design phase
Observation:
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