Client References

Reference #1

Organization Name: Oregon 102nd WMD Civil Support Team

Services provided: CIS worked closely with public safety agencies in Portland, Oregon, to plan, develop and conduct a Full Scale Exercise that involved multiple terrorist attacks where RDDs (Radioactive Dispersal Devices) were being used. Agencies that participated in this exercise included the FBI, Portland Bureau of Police, Oregon Civil Support Team, Department of Energy, and the Oregon Public Health Radiological Protection Service. The exercise utilized a Unified Command to comply with NIMS/ICS for the crisis management of simultaneous events which included a search operation for radiological sources, processing of a contaminated post blast crime scene, SWAT assault on a terrorist stronghold and a bomb squad operation involving precision render safe procedures for a large vehicle RDD. To enhance overall goals and objectives, actual radiological sources were used to provide a “real world” training environment. Training with radiological search equipment, advanced EOD RSP procedures, interoperable communications equipment and radiation portal monitors were incorporated into the exercise to better prepare public safety agencies in mitigating the possible impact that radiological materials and devices can have on a community.

Organization Name: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Services provided: CIS recently conducted a Table-Top Exercise and a Full Scale Exercise for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) which involved multiple WMD attacks on the public transportation system. Detonation of an RDD was the focus of the Table-Top Exercise. Agencies participating in these exercises included the MARTA Police Department, MARTA Rail, Bus and Station Services, Atlanta Police Department, Atlanta Fire Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Cobb County Police Department, Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. Scenario events caused a shut down of the entire public transportation system in both exercises. During the Full Scale Exercise, responders had to simultaneously deal with an explosion at one of the rail stations, a bus hostage situation and multiple WMD IEDs which had the potential of contaminating surrounding areas with chemical, biological and/or radiological materials.

During the FSE, each position in the EOC was equipped with a computer work station linked to a single computer. The individual positions were required to log into a system called Web-log to enter any requests for assistance or any change in information as soon as that issue became known to the affected position. A casual observer could notice at a glance when an action was taking place and which issues had been acted upon or resolved. Any issues left unresolved were automatically highlighted in orange.

Organization Name: Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management

Services provided: CIS was contracted by Miami-Dade County to develop Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) training curriculum, deliver multiple COOP training courses to planning coordinators within 25 different departments which did not have a current plan, and review initial draft plans to include making recommendations for COOP improvement. CIS was also contracted to evaluate the plans of 28 other departments within the county which already had plans in place through a series of 5 Table Top Exercises that addressed vital areas of contingency planning.

COOP course development was conducted by CIS staff members who are certified, experienced and well versed on contingency planning. CIS staff members utilized federal guidelines (Federal Preparedness Circular (FPC)-65), state guidelines [(COOP Elements of Viability (FDEM)], and industry best-practices to formulate the training curriculum to meet the specific needs of Miami-Dade County. After attending the training sessions, participating agency representatives drafted a COOP for their respective departments. CIS staff reviewed these draft plans and provided written recommendations for plan improvement.

CIS provided exercise training to local, state and federal agencies at Dolphins Stadium in preparation for the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. An exercise was conducted at the stadium that incorporated multiple scenarios of terrorist attacks during the high profile and widely broadcast special event. All training was designed to measure the capabilities of local, state and federal departments and agencies in responding to an incident during the 2007 Super Bowl. CIS worked closely with the Miami-Dade Police Department, FBI, DHS, U.S. Secret Service, BATF, FDLE, Fire Rescue, EMS, Emergency Management, Dolphins Stadium Security and Administration and other agencies to conduct training to prepare first responders, healthcare workers and security personnel for an incident involving chemical, biological, radiological or explosive materials and devices.

CIS also designed, conducted and evaluated a total of 5 TTXs in Miami-Dade County with 28 different departments participating. One exercise involved multiple acts of terrorism with targeting of critical infrastructure and numerous government facilities. Another exercise involved a biological agent which contaminated a critical facility within the county. The building had to be evacuated and could not be reoccupied for a significant amount of time. This forced activation of COOP plans in order to provide essential services that the entire county relied upon. Additional exercises were conducted involving natural disasters which affected all government agencies, emergency services and private industry.

Organization Name: Alachua County Emergency Management

Services provided: Critical Incident Solutions designed, scripted, and conducted a large Table-Top Exercise for 8 major agencies/organizations in Alachua County including the University of Florida, which involved multiple acts of terrorism across the nation affecting multiple universities. Our company also conducted a functional exercise for all major emergency response agencies/organizations including the University of Florida. The scenario involved terrorists detonating a large vehicle bomb (LVB) at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida during a Gators Football Game. The blast took out the Stadium Command Post and Command Staff including University of Florida Police Officials as well as several thousand spectators. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Mobile Command Vehicle was also destroyed. Additionally, terrorists detonated explosive devices at the Alachua County Combined Communications Center which houses 911 Dispatch and Emergency Management Agency’s EOC (Emergency Operations Center). Explosive devices were also detonated at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Fire Rescue and Gainesville Fire Rescue. Terrorists also targeted critical infrastructure by taking out key electrical sub-stations, cell towers and other communications facilities causing widespread power and communication outages. These events required that the Incident Command Post be relocated from the stadium to the University of Florida Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in order to manage the crisis response in the field. Alachua County emergency services departments had to activate their Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) in order to continue their essential functions and provide emergency services for victims of the attacks. Key personnel from each department, not killed by the bombings, during the exercise actually relocated to alternate facilities and established incident command and department administrative and operational activities using the only means of communication available at the time, namely department radios and web-based communications. The web-based system allowed agencies to share information and make resource requests as needed. Only those facilities capable of providing back up power were available to coordinate emergency response to each bombing location.

Organization Name: Ohio Department of Health

Services provided: CIS conducted an SNS Table-Top Exercise for multiple state agencies within the State of Ohio. In addition, a second Governor’s Top Officials (TOPOFF) SNS Exercise was conducted to build upon lessons learned from the first exercise. The purpose of both of these exercises was to demonstrate the elements and protocols that must be in place at the state level in order to activate the SNS in Ohio, the flow of communication that is necessary for an event of this nature, and each state agency’s roles and responsibilities in the command and control structure (e.g. how decisions are made and who is responsible for each decision). These exercises provided a means to assess policies, resources, communication and coordination, as well as command and control for state agencies at the operational level and executive level as it relates to SNS activation. The Top Officials Exercise, developed specifically for the Governor’s Office and Top Officials within the State, provided a forum for discussion of key policy issues identified during the initial SNS Table-Top Exercise.

Organization Name: Seminole County Department of Public Safety

Services provided: CIS conducted a Pandemic Outbreak Table-Top Exercise for all operational agencies and departments within Seminole County, Florida. A second Top Officials (TOPOFF) Exercise was conducted to build upon lessons learned from the first exercise. The first exercise was for all county/city departments including public health, hospitals, EMS, emergency management, fire-rescue, police and other ESF components. The second exercise, which focused on key policy issues, was a Top Officials (TOPOFF) exercise for elected officials and other executive decision-makers. The purpose of these exercises was to focus on planning elements that must be in place at the county/city level in order to mitigate the impact of a pandemic to the region, the flow of communication that is necessary for an event of this nature, and each county/city agency’s roles and responsibilities in responding to such an event. These exercises provided a means to assess policies, resources, communication and coordination, as well as command and control for county/city agencies at the operational level and Top Officials at the executive level.

Organization Name: Palm Beach County Emergency Management

Services provided: Top Officials (TOPOFF) TTX was conducted for the Sheriff, Police Chief (City of West Palm Beach), Public Safety Director, Public Health Director, Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief, County Administrator, State Attorney and FBI Resident Agent in Charge. The exercise was developed and designed to present unique challenges for Executive Management within Palm Beach County in dealing with a series of terrorist scenarios which included radiological and chemical attacks on the water supply, radioactive IED’s (dirty bombs), biological attacks using a highly contagious pathogenic agent, and a large vehicle bomb (LVB) assembled by a radical extremist group operating within the county. These scenarios were well received by participants and allowed them to focus on key issues such as alert notification, threat assessment procedures, fusion center concepts, inter-agency communications, technical capabilities, resource requirements, media and public relations, emergency management of mass casualty events and planning, prevention and mitigation strategies. Significant after action items were identified through this exercise.

Organization Name: U.S. Department of State

Services provided: Our firm has conducted hundreds of Table-Top, Functional and Full Scale Exercises on every continent in the world for the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service, Weapons of Mass Destruction Division. These multi-jurisdictional, multi-discipline exercises are designed to ensure that the host nation can work with U.S. personnel during mass casualty incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. This includes the necessary pre-planning events (scheduling and liaison), conducting and evaluating each exercise (exercise controller and evaluators), and developing standardized after action reports for documenting improvement opportunities at each U.S. Embassy and Consulate. We have conducted these exercises at over 260 U.S. Embassies and Consulates during the last few years, many of which were conducted in high-threat environments.