Question

There are many advantages to the emergency management process when utilizing tabletop exercises. Choose a disaster scenario and explain how you would use a tabletop exercise to focus on that threat. What are some of the most important elements of the tabletop exercise that contribute towards the success of your specific focus?  Please please provide your reference (s). thanks

Answer 1

Tabletop exercises are like round table conferences where the primary stakeholders of an organization or entity meet and discuss about the roles and responsibilities which each will handle in the disaster or emergency. The mitigation plan is also covered and it is ensured that the disaster causes the minimum damage to the organization. Table top sessions are informal sessions where each member shares his inhibitions and doubts and gets clarity about how to manage in such an emergency situation.

Let us understand this with an example. I am a principle of a university where more than 3000 students reside in hostel. With the current COVID-19 situation, when the whole world is lockdown, we need to keep the students within premises and facilitate the lockdown. The Board of the university, teachers, staffs and student representatives meet for the tabletop discussions about the way forward in the pandemic situation.

Some of the most important elements of tabletop exercises which must be taken care of, are as follows:

· The need of the hour must be discussed crisply

· The Purpose of the tabletop exercise must be clear with everyone

· SMART goals and objectives must be developed

· Identify the primary stakeholders who will play major roles

· Develop scenario foundation and discuss each scenario with detail

· Risk associated with each and every scenario must also be pondered upon

· Detailed contingency and mitigation plan must be the result of the exercise