CLARK REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY 9-1-1  -  Emergency Preparedness  -  Emergency Medical Services

      Summary of Findings

TABLE  OF CONTENTS

After-Action Report: Introduction

Exercise Objectives

Summary of Findings

Recommendations 
  
Appendix 1: Participants

Appendix 2: Evaluation
Objective1:Resource
Objective2:Purchasing
Objective3:Technical
Objective4:Communication
Objective5:PIO

Appendix 3: Detailed Findings
General Comments
Staffing
Training
ECC Systems
Operations
Resource Management
Planning
Technical Information
Communications
Public Information

Complete Report (no photos/navigation)

Bookmarks:
General Comments
Staffing
Training
ECC Systems
Operations
Resource Management
Planning
Technical Information
Communications
Public Information

Source: These comments are drawn from exercise participants’ feedback and the evaluation team’s analysis. See the Evaluation pages for information on the evaluation team and their specific comments. See the Detailed Findings pages for a more detailed analysis of the following summaries, or go to the Recommendations.

General Comments

 Staffing

Many agencies conducted a shift change and briefing in mid-exercise to rotate more personnel through the ECC exercise.  The Operations Section was understaffed due to uncontrollable external events. Several participants remarked on how exhausting it was to work in the ECC under pressure for even their short shift. 

(Read more Staffing discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)

Training

The preparatory training covered overall ECC organization, but some participants still were confused about roles of the different sections.   Several players recommended more hands-on nuts-and-bolts skills training.

(Read more Training discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)

ECC Systems

The phone-line layout on the floor was complex and time-consuming to set up.  Some equipment problems frustrated participants, but other resources were utilized and operations were not compromised. The available computer resources were not adequate to provide computer access to everyone who could have benefited from it.

(Read more ECC Systems discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top) 

Operations

Resource Management

Resource management staff utilized resource directories correctly, though they were found to be inadequate.  Purchasing staff determined that it would be important to have their own vendor lists available, but without a laptop they were unable to access them to complete the purchasing process.

(Read more Resource Management discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)  

Planning

Planning section staff were stretched very thin trying manage all the information.  Plans did an excellent job of identifying and obtaining needed information from technical resources in the ECC and incorporating it into their planning. Planning was surprised by the time it took to generate technical information and maps needed for planning.

(Read more Planning discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)

Technical Information

GIS, hydrology, ARES/RACES river monitor readings, and interaction with PacifiCorp representatives injected an additional and stimulating layer of realism into the exercise.  Some simulated data did not correlate with "real-world" findings. Hydrology models were less than optimal for this type of prediction.  Printing for GIS was slow, and maps were small and not distributed to everyone who might have benefited from them. These discoveries will enhance future modeling and treatment of real flooding situations. 

(Read more Technical Information discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)

Communications

Overall, communications were accurate and managed promptly and courteously.  The microphone briefings by the ECC Manager were extremely valuable. The message form and delivery system is cumbersome and often fails to communicate important information.  The whiteboard posting system has multiple difficulties. Situation reporting was difficult due to the orientation of the computer to the whiteboard. Call-taking and dispatch are at opposite ends of the room, inhibiting information coordination between them.

(Read more Communications discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)

Public Information

The section performed very well, and the exercise gave good ECC experience to several new PIOs. The PIO staff very smoothly managed a surprise drop-in visit by the television media.  They created and distributed frequent news releases.   The coordination between various agencies and the PIO staff was excellent.   Lack of priority flagging of information led to confusion about news release content.

PIOs from the Clark County Public Information and Outreach office explain ECC procedures to the newly recruited PIOs

(Read more Public Information discussion, jump to Recommendations, or return to Top)

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For further information/discussion on this report, please call (360) 737-1911 to speak with Deborah Needham (Ext. 3962) or John Wheeler (Ext. 3941) at Clark Regional Communications Agency. E-mail comments to deborah.needham@co.clark.wa.us. Click here to view the main web page.