9:00 Scenario Workshop: URBAN SETTING - Unknown explosion and the NIMS in action
A 911 call comes in informing police that there has been an explosion in a crowded commuter area. The area is adjacent to a train and bus depot that borders a major interstate highway. Commerce centers surround the incident area, and the extent of the damage is unknown. With only these facts at hand, response efforts in your area must be mobilized to respond to this potential catastrophe. With your local resources en route, decisions must be made regarding civilian traffic, media coverage, federal assistance, hazardous materials concerns, and responder safety. Given the location and the special concerns, the need for swift and decisive response is obvious. Within minutes, decisions that could affect the safety of tens of thousands of people must be made. This scenario will walk you through the situation and identify ever-evolving facts and reports. Response members in the workshop will have time to discuss and debate possible courses of action, and the session facilitators will walk attendees through the course of action taken in past training sessions.

Some topics and questions to be covered include:

• Taking control of a potential radiological or chemical incident: coordinating the local, state, and federal response: Who is involved?
• Establishing a command post and sanitizing the area
• Logistical concerns when much of the command staff on scene is compromised or in a high-traffic area
• Coordinate the local health care system to deal with unknown classes of patients
• Potential isolation and decontamination issues
• Restoration of operations

After-action evaluations will be made. Alternative courses of action, alternative resource allocations, and other questions and concerns will be discussed and evaluated by the attendees. Session Facilitators will provide guidance and insight as to why the situation was run the way that it was. Additionally, time will be allotted for feedback on coordination problems that are a part of your agency and its preparation and training program.

12:00 Adjourn