New Mexico Playas Series II-Cascading Events Full-Scale Exercise
After Action Report and Improvement Plan
Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
New Mexico Playas Series II
Cascading Events Full-Scale Exercise
After Action Report and
Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)
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ADMINISTRATIVE Handling Instructions
1.The title of this document is the New Mexico Playas Series II-Cascading Events Full-Scale Exercise After Action Report and Improvement Plan.
2.The information gathered in this report 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. Reproduction of this document, in whole or in part, without prior approval is prohibited.
3.Points of Contact:
Kelly Hamilton
Director, Office of Biosecurity
Co-Director, Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense Center
New Mexico Department of Agriculture
575 – 646 – 7243
Jeffrey Phillips
Exercise Director
New Mexico Department of Agriculture (Contract)
505 - 385 - 9992
4. This report was prepared by drawing upon participant feedback, Controller/Evaluator input and comments from the venue specific hotwashes and the C/E debriefings along with input from the exercise planning team during the AAR and IP conferences.
CONTENTS
Administrative Handling Instructions...... 2
Section 1: Exercise Overview......
Section 2: Analysis of Functions......
Section 3: Improvement Plan………………………………………………………………….
SECTION 1: EXERCISE OVERVIEW
Exercise Dates / Monday, March 3, 2014 – Saturday, March 8, 2014
Scope / This exercise is a Full-scale Exercise (FSE) planned for six days at Socorro County Fairgrounds, Socorro, New Mexico and other venues throughout the State.
Mission Area(s) / Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery
Core Capabilities / Planning, Public Information and Warning, Operation Coordination, Intelligence and Information Sharing, Physical Protective Measures, Community Resilience, Operational Communications, Economic Recovery.
Objectives / 1. Determine the effectiveness of Operational Coordination and Operational Communications.
2. Determine the responsiveness, pursuant to Incident Command System (ICS) standards, of the agriculture and food portions of ESF #11.
3. Demonstrate Public Health and Medical Service capabilities.
4. Determine the effectiveness of joint Public Information and Warning.
5. Determine both short term and long term strategies for mitigating the impact of the event.
6. Enhance credential and resource management.
7. Skills training.
Threat or Hazard / Natural Disaster
Scenario / The scenario consists of a snap freeze/ice storm in central New Mexico, thereby requiring the closure of roads. The result of these road closures is the stranding of various livestock in the Socorro, NM area.
Sponsor / The State of New Mexico and New Mexico Department of Agriculture are co-sponsoring this exercise along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of National Protection and Programs Directorate Office of Infrastructure Protection (NPPD/IP) in coordination with the Sector Outreach and Programs Division (SOPD), the Protective Security Coordination Division (PSCD), local private sector stakeholders.
Participating Organizations / See Appendix B
BACKGROUND
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), through the Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense Center, along with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NMDHSEM) and partner agencies decided to replicate the 2009 New Mexico Department of Agriculture Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) Full‐Scale Exercise (FSE), otherwise known as “Playas I”.
The Exercise Design Team worked to develop a no-fault learning environment based on specific design objectives. The nine-month effort included the design and conduct of a tabletop exercise in November 2013 to familiarize participating agencies with agriculture centric issues and plans.
In the course of planning what became known as the “New Mexico Playas Series II Cascading Events Full-Scale Exercise” NMDHSEM designated the exercise its 2014 Capstone Exercise. This enabled substantially greater participation by state and local agencies, expanded the scope of functions to be demonstrated and evaluated, and reduced the amount of simulation required.
The exercise provided participating agencies/entities the opportunity to:
§ Clarify roles and responsibilities,
§ Train on specific functions and tasks
§ Identify gaps in policy, planning, training, exercise and resources, and
§ Improve intra- and inter-agency coordination and performance.
The following significant events occurred during the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) design and implementation process:
§ June 13, 2013 Pre-Kick Off Coordination Meeting
§ August 21, 2013 Initial Planning Conference - TTE
§ September 17, 2013 Mid-Term Planning Conference - TTE
§ November 6, 2013 Playas Series II Cascading Events Tabletop Exercise and Hotwash
§ December 11, 2013 Playas Series II Cascading Events TTE After Action Review
§ December 11, 2013 Initial Planning Conference – FSE
§ January 14, 2014 Mid-Term Planning Conference – FSE
§ January 15, 2014 Exercise Site Visit – FSE
§ February 10, 2014 Final Planning Conference – FSE
§ February 14, 2014 Development of Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense Center’s parallel Facebook Event
§ March 2, 2014 Final Preparation and Adjustments
§ March 3-8, 2014 Playas Series II Cascading Events FSE
§ April 16, 2014 After Action Review Conference
§ Tbd Improvement Planning Conference
EXERCISE CONCEPT AND SCOPE
Purpose The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate and evaluate core capabilities, objectives and critical tasks in response to a major winter storm and related cascading events with wide-ranging impacts.
Scope of Play The scope of the exercise was primarily focused on state and local public safety agencies and cooperating and assisting agencies directly involved in response and recovery efforts. The following agencies/entities participated:
Participating OrganizationsFederal
Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Department of Homeland Security
National Weather Service
State
New Mexico Department of Agriculture
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
New Mexico Department of Health
New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
New Mexico Department of Transportation
New Mexico Human Services Department
New Mexico Environment Department
New Mexico Livestock Board
New Mexico National Guard
New Mexico State Police
New Mexico State University
Santa Fe, New Mexico Joint Information Center
Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense Center
State Veterinarian’s Office
Local
Socorro Ambulance and Fire
Socorro County Fire and Emergency Management
Socorro County Emergency Management
Socorro County Extension Services
Socorro County Sheriff’s Department
Socorro General Hospital
Nongovernmental
Baptist Convention Center of New Mexico (Baptist Disaster Relief)
PHI Air Ambulance
Venues Live exercise play was conducted at the following locations during all or part of the exercise week:
(1A) Incident/Unified Command at Socorro Fairgrounds
(1B) ESF 11 Field Activities at Socorro Fairgrounds
(1C) Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group at Socorro Fairgrounds
(2) Socorro County EOC
(3) Socorro Hospital
(4A) State of New Mexico Emergency Operations Center (NMEOC)
(4B) NMEOC Alternate Location
(5) NM Department of Agriculture Department Operations Center (NMDA DOC)
(6) NM Department of Health Department Operations Center (NMDOH DOC)
(7) Joint Information Center (JIC) at NMEOC
CORE CAPABILITIES AND DESIGN OBJECTIVES
The Exercise Planning Team established a total of seven (7) overarching exercise objectives, each of which had a series of associated expected actions with varying degrees of complexity and detail.
Objective #1 Determine the effectiveness of Operational Coordination and Operational Communications
Objective #2 Determine the responsiveness, pursuant to Incident Command System (ICS) standards, of the agriculture and food portions of ESF #11
Objective #3 Demonstrate Public Health and Medical Service capabilities
Objective #4 Determine the effectiveness of joint Public Information and Warning.
Objective #5 Determine both short term and long term strategies for mitigating the impact of the event.
Objective #6 Enhance credential and resource management
Objective #7 Skills training
Table 1 links the exercise objectives to the associated core capability to provide expected outcomes for the exercise. The objectives are linked to core capabilities, which are distinct critical elements necessary to achieve the specific mission area(s). The objectives and aligned core capabilities were guided by elected and appointed officials and selected by the Exercise Planning Team.
Exercise Objective / Core Capability /Determine the effectiveness of Operational Coordination and Operational Communications. / Operational Coordination; Operational Communications
Determine the responsiveness, pursuant to Incident Command System (ICS) standards, of the agriculture and food portions of ESF #11. / Planning; Intelligence and Information Sharing; Operational Communications
Demonstrate Public Health and Medical Service capabilities. / Operational Coordination; Public Health and Medical Services
Determine the effectiveness of Joint Public Information and Warning. / Operational Communications; Public Information and Warning
Determine both short term and long term strategies for mitigating the impact of the event. / Economic Recovery; Planning; Community Resilience
Enhance credential and resource management. / Operational Coordination; Access Control and Identity Verification; Community Resilience; Long-term Vulnerability Reduction
Skills training / Operational Coordination; Long-term Vulnerability Reduction
Table 1. Exercise Objectives and Associated Core Capabilities
SCENARIO OVERVIEW
§ A natural hazard (weather) closes northbound and southbound Interstate 25, as well as state and county highways, stranding travelers, trucks with animals, and others in Socorro, NM.
§ While being cared for, some animals become ill and others die.
§ A number of people report to the local hospital after eating at a local warming shelter
MAJOR EVENTS
Monday, March 3, 2014
§ Winter weather advisory issued.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
§ Severe weather advisory issued.
§ Feed sampled from railcar in Belen tests positive for aflatoxin.
§ Sewage backup discovered late Tuesday evening at SEOC in Santa Fe, forcing relocation.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
§ HazMat truck overturns on I-25 in Socorro County.
§ Multiple counties report stranded passengers and livestock due to road closures. Shelters are being established.
§ Due to severe weather conditions, I-25 between Belen and Truth or Consequences is shut down.
§ Stranded animals on I-25 become sick.
§ Due to I-25 road closure, Socorro County opens the emergency shelters for stranded passengers.
§ Various counties in New Mexico submit E-Team requests for State resources.
§ Multiple social media and telephone inquiries come into the SEOC PIO.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
§ Cabinet Secretary Meyers requests Executive Summary.
§ Governor’s Office receives calls from tribal nations concerning damage to infrastructure.
§ Simulated patient surge at Socorro Hospital.
§ A Colorado State University vehicle carrying Chrysolina decadrigemina that was being shipped from NM State University to Colorado State University is found crashed north of Socorro on I-25.
§ Various counties in New Mexico submit E-Team requests for State resources.
§ Multiple social media and telephone inquiries come into the SEOC JIC.
Friday, March 7, 2014
§ Approximately 20 people at shelters become sick and report to Socorro County Hospital.
§ Sick Livestock diagnoses (Necropsy, Captive Bolt, Personal Protective Equipment, Portable Pen, Consultation, Feed Sampling and GPS Training).
§ Colorado Department of Agriculture reports aflatoxin has been found in Colorado’s milk supply. Follow on press conferences to address aflatoxin are scheduled.
§ False rumors regarding a deadly virus affecting people and animals begin circulating in the media and via social media.
§ Real-world media on-site at Socorro Fairgrounds for press conference.
§ Various counties in New Mexico submit E-Team requests for State resources.
§ Multiple social media and telephone inquiries come into the SEOC JIC.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
§ Strike team consultation back brief
§ Abortion screen results
§ Enhanced Passive Surveillance
§ Wrap Up/ENDEX at 12:00 noon
MAJOR STRENGTHS
· JIC researched and prepared immediate and proactive talking points, given the relatively new additions to the integrated JIC Public Information Officers staff and the absence of several experienced PIO’s the JIC performed very well. [State EOC]
· Identified potential organizational and policy issues. [State EOC]
· E-Team functioned, with several players giving the system high marks for ease of use. [State EOC]
PRIMARY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
· Lack of familiarity with E-Team and responsibilities of EOC positions. [State EOC]
· Lack of Knowledge by experienced personnel on basic EOC functions. [State EOC]
· Lack of situational awareness and common operatinG picture throughout exercise. [State EOC]
There is a great deal of improvement potential as a result of this exercise. During, immediately after and in extended conversation between those playing, controlling and evaluating the exercise, eagerness to improve was a hallmark of the resolve to reconcile the deficiencies and operational needs of the EOC. This After Action Report and Corrective Actions will be the catalyst for staff revitalization and promises significant improvements.
SOUTHWEST BORDER FOOD SAFETY AND DEFENSE CENTER’S FACEBOOK EVENT
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https://www.facebook.com/swbfsdc
Facebook Page Insights/Analytics
The Center’s Facebook Page was created on January 30, 2014. Through mainly insider promotion the Center reached the first goal of 30 likes so it could see page insights on February 21st. By the end of the event period this number had more than doubled. Visual depictions of the insights for the 39 posts made during the event period are below.
For more information about the Center’s Facebook Event contact Sonja Koukel, PhD, Co-Director SW Border Food Safety & Defense Center, New Mexico State University at 575-646-3006 or
EXERCISE CONTROL AND EVALUATION
Controller/Evaluator Preparation To ensure positive exercise control and comprehensive evaluation, Controller/Evaluators (C/E) were positioned at all exercise venues. Each was provided with a Controller/Evaluator Handbook and briefed prior to the exercise.
Documenting the ExerciseController/Evaluators kept records and notes that formed the basis for evaluation of performance, to understand player action and to facilitate a full record of all the events in the exercise.
C/E’s reviewed their forms and notes immediately following exercise termination to ensure an accurate reconstruction of events and activities for discussion at the CE Debriefing. All evaluation materials, including notes and forms, became part of the exercise documentation.
Evaluation The goal of the exercise evaluation was to validate strengths and identify improvement opportunities for the participating organization(s). This was accomplished by:
§ Observing the exercise and collecting supporting data