After Action Report / Improvement Plan

Transcription

1 After Action Report Improvement Plan Courthouse Coercion A Workplace Protection Tabletop Exercise November 13, 2015 Taylor County Emergency Management Department 1 Page

2 ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS 1. The title of this document is The "Courthouse Coercion - A Workplace Protection 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: County Emergency Management: Steve Spradley Taylor County Emergency Management Department (Office) ( ) stephen.spradley@taylorcountygov.com Exercise Director: Chris Floyd Disaster Resistant Communities Group LLC (Office) ( ) chrisfloyd@drc-group.com 2 Page

3 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... 6 Exercise Purpose and Design... 6 Exercise Objectives, Capabilities and Activities... 6 Scenario Summary... 6 SECTION 3: ANALYSIS OF CAPABILITIES... 7 SECTION 4: CONCLUSION APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN APPENDIX B: PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK (Strengths Areas for Improvement) APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS Page

4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Courthouse Coercion - A Workplace Protection Tabletop Exercise was designed and facilitated to assess the current capabilities of courthouse employees to respond to threatening situations within the County Courthouse. 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. Incorporated in Section 3: Analysis of Capabilities of this After Action Report is a comprehensive listing of each Core Capability with its associated Major Strengths, Primary Areas for Improvement and Improvement Recommendations 4 Page

5 Exercise Details SECTION 1: EXERCISE OVERVIEW Exercise Name: Type of Exercise: Courthouse Coercion - A Workplace Protection Tabletop Exercise Tabletop Exercise Start Date: November 13, 2015 Duration: Location: Sponsor: Three Hours Perry, Florida Taylor County Emergency Management Department Purpose: The purpose of the exercise was to assess the current capabilities of courthouse employees to respond to threatening situations within the County Courthouse. Scenario Type: # 1: Belligerent Tax Payer # 2: Civil Disobedience # 3: Suspicious Package # 4: Hostage Taking Participant Information Participant Agency / Organization / Office Florida Court System - Second Judicial Circuit Florida Court System - Third Judicial Circuit Florida Department of Health in Taylor County Taylor County Taylor County Clerk of the Courts Office Taylor County Emergency Management Department Taylor County Property Appraiser's Office Taylor County Sheriff's Office Taylor County Supervisor of Elections Office Taylor County Tax Collector's Office Number of Participants 45 5 Page

6 SECTION 2: EXERCISE DESIGN SUMMARY Exercise Purpose and Design The purpose of the exercise was to assess the current capabilities of courthouse employees to respond to threatening situations within the County Courthouse. 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 list of Core Capabilities. 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: On-Scene Security Protective Measures Activity Core Capability # 1 Coordinate and Manage On-Site Security # 2 Initiate and Manage Protective Measures Operations # 3 Identify and Coordinate Consequence Management Operations Scenario Summary The exercise consisted of the following four scenario vignettes. Vignette # 1 - Belligerent Tax Payer Vignette # 2 - Civil Disobedience Vignette # 3 - Suspicious Package Vignette # 4 - Hostage Taking 6 Page

7 SECTION 3: ANALYSIS OF CAPABILITIES On-Scene Security Protective Measures Performance Adequate Core Capability Activity # 1: Coordinate and Manage On-Site Security Associated Critical Tasks Task # 1.1: Initiate and maintain inter-office / inter-agency coordination of On-Site Security. Adequate Evaluator # 1 Observations Recommendations There was good discussion within each group. Coordination was adequate given the fast breaking events. Communications between individuals and agencies within the facility proved to be a challenge. The facility does not have an effective method of notifying occupants of emergency situations. Continue discussion based exercises and seek funding to provide a shelter in place or intercom system. Task # 1.2: All Employees have a thorough working knowledge of current courthouse security and workforce protection procedures and guidelines. Adequate Evaluator # 1 Observations Recommendations The facility has a plan and competent Taylor County Sheriff s Office staff managing security. They were able to adapt to stresses on the system. They did not always have the same approach between the different groups; however, they were able to think on their feet and develop workable solutions to challenges. It was apparent that some facility staff are not fully aware of the procedures or their role in maintaining security. Continue to review and test the courthouse procedures. Assure that all facility staff are aware of their role in assuring the facility remains secure. Performance Core Capability 7 Page

8 Adequate Activity # 2: Initiate and Manage Protective Measures Operations Associated Critical Tasks Task # 2.1: Implement surge capacity plans to increase on-site security and workforce protection when a threatening situation is observed. Adequate Evaluator # 1 Observations Facility staff reached out to the appropriate agencies to beef up support. Recommendations None Task # 2.2: Initiate and maintain an Incident Management System to include liaisons from each of the offices and agencies housed within the courthouse. Needs Improvement Observations Recommendations Evaluator # 1 ICS was not discussed. It was clear that all agencies were looking to Law Enforcement as the lead agency; however, discussion of command and command structures were not discussed. Continue ICS training to assure that the benefits of ICS are known and supported by all agencies. Performance Core Capability Adequate Activity # 3: Identify and Coordinate Consequence Management Operations Associated Critical Tasks Task # 3.1: Based on the threatening situation identify and prioritize the response and recovery activities that are associated with the situation. Adequate Evaluator # 1 Observations Agencies were able to recognize threats and develop an adequate response. Coordination between agencies was very good. 8 Page

9 Recommendations Continue to develop and improve plans so response activities are second nature. Task # 3.2: Develop an Incident Action Plan (IAP) that focuses on Consequence Management. Needs Improvement Observations Evaluator # 1 This was not developed; however, given the type of play and time permitted, it is may be a high expectation to see this. Participants did think through response activities and did establish expectations during discussion. Recommendations ICS training would help this process. 9 Page

10 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 Core Capabilities and Tasks evaluated during the exercise. This summary outlines the areas in which exercise participants are strong as well as identifying areas that the departments should invest future planning, training and exercise funds on. On-Scene Security Protective Measures Activity Core Capability Performance # 1 Coordinate and Manage On-Site Security Adequate # 2 Initiate and Manage Protective Measures Operations Adequate # 3 Identify and Coordinate Consequence Management Operations Adequate 10 Page

11 APPENDIX A: IMPROVEMENT PLAN This Improvement Plan has been developed specifically for Taylor County Emergency Management Department based on the results of Courthouse Coercion - A Workplace Protection Tabletop Exercise conducted on November 13, These recommendations draw on both the After Action Report and the After Action Conference. Capability Observation Recommendation Responsible Agency Completion Date Coordinate and Manage On-Site Security Initiate and Manage Protective Measures Operations Identify and Coordinate Consequence Management Operations Coordinate and Manage On-Site Security Initiate and Manage Protective Measures Operations 11 Page

12 APPENDIX B: PARTICIPANT FEED-BACK (Strengths Areas for Improvement) Strengths We recognize situations and we see the need to create a plan. Subject experts are good to ask specific questions. Input from everyone went well. Because of new security downstairs, there is a central hub that was needed. All can react to the situation better. Now all are branches and security is the hub. Learned not to leave if we were contaminated. Discussed protocol of contaminated mail / boxes. Conversation between offices. That we can communicate and make a unified plans. The sit-in scenario: There are certain assumption we should be making among employees, not to report assumptions, but assume that the protesters may be carrying a deadly weapon. We should all be aware of our surroundings. Everyone worked well together to come up with the strategy that needed to be used. Everyone responded quickly to the situation. We handled the situations calmly and thought through our actions, rather that acting compulsively. The exercise presents different scenarios and allows you to think about what you would do in those situations. The exercise allows people to see what other people are thinking that may be a better reaction than the one you came up with. Let s everyone know that someone is thinking about this and that there is a right way to handle almost every situation. Worked as a team. We know that we will have good reaction time and have the ability to make logical decisions. We tested our panic button and verified that they were operational. We had a good discussion and our thoughts got better the more we discussed it as a group. 12 Page

13 It made us more aware of what could happen and made us think deeper and quicker. We have now discussed a strategic plan of action for these threatening situations. Each of us feel better that everyone is on the same page and we can work together. The Sheriff's Office responded in a timely manner to escort the irate customer out of our office due to the alarm installed in our office. Everyone evacuated extremely fast unable to perform the other tasks. Everything went well. Great cooperation between agencies. A number of items were identified for improvement. Department of Health expert able to provide information pertinent to Anthrax procedures. The exercise was very organized and seemed to work seamlessly. Questions and injects were very real and appropriate to possible issues that could arise within the courthouse. Group was very interactive and gave intelligent discussion and this was a learning opportunity for themselves and those at their table. The exercise injects fostered great communication and interest amongst the participants. Good critical thinking was achieved. The structure of the event. The talking amongst our group. Different thought patterns. Learned some valuable information in terms of what we need to do in certain situations. The interaction with other agencies that helped in tailoring event responses and protocols. The moderators were not invasive or domineering but true facilitators. Focus on biological / chemical and letter / package threats (mail, packages) was needed. Communication and discussion between the group members went very well. Discussion of plan of action to be taken if a suspicious package or package containing deadly or hazardous materials enters into the courthouse. 13 Page

14 Discussion that there is current communication tactics in force between the Sherriff s Office and the Clerk of the Courts Office for high security cases or particular persons that have a history of violence or rage that may be in the courthouse on a particular day for a court case. Areas for Improvement Ability to communicate and not having enough manpower to deal with the situations. All departments need to have a security plan and be the worker bees. Security will handle the threat and constitutional offices should handle their staff. Hope that we will be able to coordinate. Need additional security personnel. We cannot all control that. Too many access points in the courthouse. Anyone can be let in. Locating and notifying the Sheriff s Office of lockdown areas. Procedure for allowing protests, providing security, designated areas, permits, make a policy and have the employees know the policy. System of notifying employees and visitors in the courthouse of potential threat / fire / lockdown / evacuation. We realized there should be more emergency alert buttons placed strategically throughout our office so that each employee can easily access help in the event of an emergency. We, as a courthouse, should have a lockdown / emergency plans and every employee should be made aware of it. For, example CODE RED, BLUE, GREEN, etc. We forgot to silence our phones. Interdepartmental communication would have to be very effective for a lot of it to work. So that can always be refined. We have learned that we need to establish a plan for handling emergency situations. The security personnel's response time to the panic button. The building needs a public announcement speaker that accesses the entire building to alert all offices of a threat. We need to become more familiar with the overall safety plan for the courthouse. We need to have quarterly training to keep in practice and stay aware of situations that can happen and how to react. We need to come up with a quick way to notify all employees of danger. 14 Page

15 Needed more employee help. Communication in the courthouse needs improvement. Entering courthouse procedures. Permits / site needed for demonstration. Public and internal notification techniques and procedures need to be improved. Need a policy and procedure of peaceful demonstrations. Need to move beyond and think about how to handle the media in these events. Making sure all staff is on the same page. Knowing what to do in all situations. Handling mail and packages. Making sure panic button is functional. Focus on after event circumstances. Need improvement on an overall courthouse security breach announcement system for all offices and what the responsibility and plan of action is for each office depending upon the situation. All offices need to locate their lockdown area and make sure it is a secure area and then notify the Sherriff s Office of where that is area is located so they will know in case of a lockdown of the courthouse. Sherriff s office needs to have keys to all courthouse offices. 15 Page

16 APPENDIX C: ACRONYMS Acronym Meaning COMM CONOPS EOC ESF IAP IC ICS IMT JIC LOFR MOA MOU NIMS OPS PIO SitRep SOG SOP UC Communications Concept of Operations Emergency Operations Center Emergency Support Function Incident Action Plan Incident Command Incident Command System Incident Management Team Joint Information Center Liaison Officer Memorandum of Agreement Memorandum of Understanding National Incident Management System Operations Public Information Officer Situation Report Standard Operating Guideline Standard Operating Procedure Unified Command 16 Page