Just wondering if anyone has been involved with planning and execution of a full scale drill, not just a little one, but let’s say one with over 100 people. I just finished one a month ago and am just finishing up on the paperwork.
I have been to a couple but have never been involved with the planning or execution of one. I can imagine that it takes a lot of work and a lot of planning.
No don’t need help now, AAR, CAP and pay books go in tomorrow. We had 40+ depts., EMS, police, Red Cross, public health, public works and IEMA, over 200, Ran both hazmat and TRT scenarios. I know it’s a little late for me but what kind of advice would you offer? I jumped into this blind, well as blind as a 20 year training officer. I’m pretty sure my concept would make a good collage paper and stupid me I took planning and payroll. My advice, and this will probably change in a couple of weeks, if you are interested in doing this, go hit yourself with a hammer.
Ensure, to the best of your ability, that if you recieved federal funds (DHS, AFG, ODP, etc) for any of the equipment being exercised, that the exercise meets HSEEP standards and is evaluated properly.
Yes we did that, I believe DHS funding, but came down through a whole host of acronyms. IEMA has a manual on its web site, over 300 pages, this was our bible. Not sure if it’s on the FEMA web. We had 9 evaluators, they have a manual with forms to fill out, and I think we did a good job here. For the most part 2 of use set the whole thing up, that was our first mistake. Another one that comes to mind is our attempt to have everyone busy, left no one in staging to draw from. It’s amazing how many scribes you need for…..here it comes…..that ugly word…..PAPERWORK. Check out a few pics on my page, I may put up a few more, got 609.
I'm not involved in the planning but we try to have a county wide drill every year that involves all the vol. departments, ambulance service, hospital and other orginazations in the area.
I am currently in the processes of setting up a full scale drill. I may reach 100-125 participants. It is not something that is done often in our area but it is one of my goals to create a better trained area no matter what the cost.
OOOHHHH YEEAAA! I have been part of planning and executing a couple of county wide drills now. It can be a beauricratic nightmare! Each has gone off relativly well and were quite successful in pointing out both our strengths and weaknesses. I am about to start another drill for our county hazmat team and all fire/rescue services. Oh joy, that is the excitement in my voice.... I hope that your drill(s) are successful and may many more come your way. Be safe and learn something new today!
Tuesday night I will be having a table top drill on the acquired structure and allow other members to role play . Allowing them to play the role of an officer is beneficial. It will allow them to expand their ability to make decisions that will help an officer at future calls, such as truck placement,water sources and who's coming and from what direction. I am hoping this will help with the full scale drill of this structure.