Blue Mountain Fever

A Training Exercise to Eradicate the Introduction of Rift Valley Fever virus into Florida

State Emergency Operations CenterTallahassee, FloridaTable Top Exercise November 18-20 2008Hosted by the Division of Animal Health, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs

Welcome and “Modus Operandi” of Exercise

Thanks for coming! Exciting 3 daysGreat support and enthusiasm for the projectCongratulations to Tom Holt and DOACS for the initiative

Rebecca Shultz, Stasia Bembenek, Greg ChristyCheryl DeGroff, Tineke Kramer and Paul Gibbs(Jocelyn Mullins not in photographs)

GoalTo give exercise participants an opportunity to plan, initiate, and evaluate current response concepts and capabilities in a simulated introduction and outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Florida.

Your tasks are.. To detect, control and eradicate an introduction of RVF virus into FloridaTo speculate how the virus might have entered into the USA

You will ….Learn about the biological complexity of Rift Valley FeverEvaluate the coordination and critical decisions of key state regulatory/emergency response agencies as they integrate the response resources of the local, state and federal governments to a Rift Valley Fever disease incidentExplore issues and evaluate current diagnostic and response capabilities to a Rift Valley Fever disease incident occurring in the United States.Explore issues and evaluate multi-agency crisis communication efforts involving a vector-borne zoonotic disease incident.Acquire an increased awareness of disease response issues associated with a vector-borne disease versus a disease spread by direct contact.Learn about the disease response when bioterrorism is suspected.Contribute to the development of an “After Action Report” which will foster a higher level of emergency preparedness for a vector-borne zoonotic disease incident occurring in Florida.

Please consult the website accompanying the exercise

www.flsart.org/rvf

Justification for the Exercise: One of Many

Outline of ScenarioFrom now until noon tomorrow (Wednesday Nov 19)

Exercise is in real timeWeather data etc for October/November 2008 applies

From lunch on Wednesday, we will enter accelerated timeSeveral geographical areas become involved across Florida (you will be given map coordinates when appropriate)Animal and human cases reportedWhile primarily a table top exercise, contact telephone numbers will be given for key characters in the scenario

These are real ranchers, physicians, etc.They will provide you with trace out information critical for control of the outbreaks

Activities will be coordinated through Focus GroupsBy the end of the exercise you should have,

discovered how the virus entered into the USAdiscovered how it spreaddesigned a surveillance program

Structure of next 3 daysToday (Tuesday November 18) is Day 2 of the Outbreak and the Task Force has assembled at the EOC in TallahasseeToday (Tuesday) will be spent in real timeTomorrow (Wednesday) will be in real time to noon and will then accelerate to 5 and 21 daysThursday will be spent reviewing Days 1 and 2 and discussing select response issuesMore details may be found in the program in the front of this Workbook

Groups and FunctionsIncident CommandFocus Group A Animal HealthFocus Group B Human HealthFocus Group C Quarantines, Law Enforcement, LegalFocus Group D

Entomology, mosquito control,meteorology, modelingFocus Group E Crisis Communication and Public RelationsExpert PanelModerator Group

_________________________External Support

Reporting by Focus Groups

All Focus Groups (includes Incident Command) should appoint a rapporteur who records using a common template (4 reporting panels) on the computer provided to each groupGroups A-E report to Incident Command (IC)

Computers are linked to a common server to provide record for later reviewThe file can be seen by IC only when the document has been saved and placed in the shared folder

4 Reporting PanelsCritical IssuesInformation GatheredAction OptionsRecommendations of Focus Group to Incident Command

Notification will be given by the public address system at 10 and 5 minutes before your work must be saved Incident Command determines style of briefing prior to next Situation Report by Moderator

More on the reporting system later!

Problem Based Learning and Concept Mapping

Consider the task(s) set by the Incident Command for the scenario as currently presented Analyze the information available for the scenario as currently presentedList possible actionsIdentify what additional information is required before making a recommendation List the constraintsIdentify others who might assist you Present recommendations to the Incident Command. Note: The steps in this model may have to be visited several times as new information becomes available. Some steps may be conducted concurrently as new information becomes available.

Consider using concept mapping (or linkage maps) to organize your thoughts and discoveriesNote: maps can become very complex and require a great deal of your time and attention, but they are useful in organizing, learning, and demonstrating what we know about a particular topic.

The WorkbookThe Workbook has 6 “Situation Reports” which are currently sealed!The PowerPoint slides are available as a print out in the Workbook for each “Situation Report”Each focus team has a series of separate questions for each “break out” session. These are attached to the situation reports. (The questions are simply included to stimulate discussion and to supplement directions from the Incident Command group).There is no need to specifically address the questions when you report to the Incident Command group

The Workbook

The PowerPoint slides and the list of questions are also available on the 2 computers available to each group. The folders are password protected. The appropriate password will be provided at the end of each Situation ReportIf you wish, you may cut and paste images from the PowerPoint presentations to illustrate your report to the Incident Command

Warning!PLEASE DO NOT BREAK THE SEALS UNTIL THE SITUATION REPORT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.There are penalties for breaking the seal!

Groups andFunctions

Incident Command Policy/Management, state/federal leadership, national/international liaison, stakeholder relations, logisticsShared Incident Commanders

Tom Holt, DAI, DOACS Terry Taylor, IMT, VS, APHIS, USDATom Belcuore, DOH

Focus Groups

Focus Group A Animal Health – Investigation, diagnosis, epidemiology, tracing, disease reporting, surveillance, control measures, wildlifeFacilitators

Dix Harrel, VS, APHIS, USDADiane Kitchen, DOACS

Focus Groups

Focus Group B Human Health - Investigation, diagnostics, epidemiology, prevention and protective measuresFacilitator

Carina Blackmore, DOH

Focus Groups

Focus Group C. Quarantines, Law Enforcement, LegalFacilitators

Bill Jeter and Lou Leinhauser DOACS

Focus Groups

Focus Group D. Entomology, mosquito control, meteorology, modelingFacilitators

Steve Dwinell and Joe Kight, DOACS

Focus Groups

Focus Group E. Crisis Communication and Public Relations

FacilitatorsLiz Compton DOACSand Susan Smith DOH

Groups andFunctionsExpert Panel

Chair: Tom Ksiazek, formerly of CDCRole of Expert Panel is to

Provide assistance when requested to each of the Focus GroupsFree to associate as individuals with any Focus Group on days 1 and 2.Provide review on Day 3 (Thursday, November 20)

Groups andFunctions

Moderator Group Paul Gibbs, Stasia Bembenek, Tineke Kramer & Jocelyn MullinsWill provide the “Situation Reports”Will be the time keepers and can call “Time Out” when clarification necessaryWrote the “small print” for the scenario rules, so are always right!

Groups andFunctions

External SupportDOACS - Fred Jones, Kent Cain, Anne Vuxton and Candy SheridanDEM/Training/POCs –Necole Holton and Yvonne BirrielDEM/IT- Kevin SmithDEM/AV- Steve Levine and John FlemingDEM/GIS – Erika PittmanDEM/Meteorology – Amy Godsey

Reporting to the Incident CommandNote: Following each situation report the “breakout” time before reporting to the Incident Command is different. Please consult the programEach focus group has a designated computer with a standard format for logging activity and reporting by the rapporteurThere is a second computer for web accessComputers are networked to a central siteFocus Groups will be given 10 minute and 5 minute warnings to prepare and submit report to central site. Note: The file must be saved before it can be seen by othersAdditional instructions on saving and printing your work are posted at the work stations

Format for Reporting

Issues of ConcernAB etc

Information GatheredAB etc

Action OptionsAB etc

RecommendationsAB etc

Coffee and Lunch Breaks

There are none today!Coffee available ad libitumToday box lunch “at your desk”Rest Rooms

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