Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
State of Ohio
Public Information Officer / Joint Information Center Functional Pandemic Influenza Exercise
Sept. 28, 2006
Do Not Distribute Prior to Exercise
Objectives
1. Communication leadership from affected agencies should activate a joint 4. JIC leadership should maintain effective staff and information management
information center within one half-hour of notification of emergency. according to the Ohio EMA communication plan throughout the operation.
2. JIC staff should notify agency leadership and media of JIC status within one 5. JIC staff should prepare written products for release that are accurate, well-
half-hour of JIC activation; at that time, staff should be prepared to operate a written and approved using standing protocol in a timely and consistent
media telephone line to provide information to reporters. manner during JIC operation.
3. Within two hours of notification of emergency, JIC staff should conduct a 6. JIC staff should effectively orient and brief incoming players to the exercise.
news conference about the event and subsequent briefings in a timely way.
Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
Event Scenario Description of Message or Event How From To Expected Action Obj. Notes and
(Major Time # Expected
events (Clock (SimCell (Blocks in color End Times
yellow Time) person) may occur out of time line sequence)
filled) Location
1. THURS Exercise begins
2. 9:00 In a conference call between the agency V SimCell State PIOs determine JIC leadership based on Ohio 1
directors and Jon Allison, chief of staff for the Allison PAO, EMA, ODH and ODA plans.
EMA governor, the decision is made to hold a (Kline) SME PIO
Lunchroom news conference at 11 a.m. The agency Health, Ag,
directors notify their respective public affairs others
offices of the decision.
2A State PAO or JIC Ops Coord should orient and 1, 4 9:10
104 assign JIC duties as per Ohio EMA
communications plan. JIC leadership should
brief staff on what is to be accomplished.
2B 9:05 Set up equipment in JIC room (Room 104). 1 9:30
104
2C 9:05 Set up Room 204 for news conference. 1 10:00
204
2D 9:10 Notify front desk about JIC activation and 11 1, 4
a.m. briefing.
2E Determine agenda for news conference. 4
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Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
3. 9:10 Potential outbreak of E. coli in several V SimCell SME PIO SME PIO should inform other JIC leadership 4 May need to
104 at main children. LHD received test results from ODH Health and discuss how this information should be be a note if
phone or hospital and several parents have called BIDC communicated in addition to H5N1 information. phones aren’t
leadership asking for more information. (DiOrio) set up or cell.
area
4. 9:10 Governor’s communication office calls to V SimCell PAO or By 9:30 JIC staff should notify the governor’s 1, 4 9:30
104 main remind JIC staff to let them know when JIC Comm. JIC Ops communication office of JIC activation.
phone or has been activated. Office
note (Kline)
5. 9:15 Holmes Co. LHD PIO calls OPA (who refers V SimCell SME PIO SME PIO should provide recommendations to 4 9:25
104 main them to JIC) to inform they have received a Holmes Health LHD PIO and strategies to coordinate the
phone or reporter call asking about E. coli outbreak. PIO gathering and release of information.
SME PIO Asking for recommendations and what (Kline)
cell phone strategy for communicating this event is.
6. 9:20 Call from Agriculture with details about V SimCell SME PIO Pass along information to JIC staff; determine 4 9:25
waterfowl and testing. ODA ODNR whether to include in news conference.
In 104 (Forshey)
7. 9:25 Director Dragani phones: Is advisory being V SimCell PAO or Provide writer with template for advisory. 5 9:30 (this
created? (Dragani is en route to Ohio EMA (Dragani) JIC Ops action should
104 main but won’t be there for a while; will keep JIC already be
phone posted, but arrival time will be in Shift 2). underway)
8. 9:40 PAO or Writer Prepare list of questions/answers expected 3, 10:30
104 JIC Ops during news conference. All documents should 4, 5
Writer’s include the phrase “This is an exercise.”
station
8A JIC Ops Leadership Have advisory reviewed and approved. 4, 5 9:55
9. 9:55 Director Dragani calls: Is advisory ready to E or SimCell PAO or Fax advisory (give it to SimCell). 2, Did fax get
104 main send? V (Dragani) JIC Ops 4, 5 sent by 10
phone a.m.?
10. 10:00 Media begins to call after advisory is sent. V SimCell JIC Set up phones for media call line; Assign 4 Near-constant
104 main Reporter someone to respond to media calls. media calls
phone and (Stu)
hotline
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Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
11. 10:03 Director Dragani inquires: Is Room 204 V SimCell JIC Ops Room set-up should already be in progress. 3 10:30
104 main prepared for news conference yet? Is news (Dragani)
phone release being written?
11A 104 writer Write a news release per AP and JIC style 5 10:30
station guides.
11B 104 Have news release approved as per Ohio EMA 5 10:40
leadership plan.
12. 10:05 Holmes Co. LHD PIO informs JIC about V SimCell SME PIO Discussion among JIC leadership of how much 4 Inject comes
104 main Amish farmer’s exposure to waterfowl. Holmes Health of this information to include in news after advisory
phone PIO conference. is faxed
(Kline) 10:10
13. 10:10 Holmes Co. PIO got a call from a reporter V SimCell JIC Fax advisory to LHDs if not already done. 4, 5 Eliminate this
asking about an 11 a.m. news conference; Holmes inject if LHDs
104 main they didn’t know about it. PIO were faxed or
phone (Kline) use a different
county 10:15
14. 10:10 Notification of USDA news conference. V SimCell JIC Iowa on Central Time; news conference will be 4 10:15
104 main (Stu) 11 a.m. Eastern.
phone
15. 10:15 Radio station in Holmes Co. calls and wants V SimCell JIC A PIO will be assigned to do interview; he/she 4 Reporter asks
104 main to do interview on sick children (E. coli Reporter should research information with SME DiOrio if the advisory
phone and outbreak). (Stu) but DiOrio should not do the interview. is about the
hotline sick children
10:45
15A 10:25 P JIC JIC JIC leadership outlines who will be 4 Brief DiOrio
leadership spokespeople and what topics will be for Baird, and
104 discussed. (C.J. for Dragani). Dr. DiOrio Forshey for
leadership suggests the news conference be no more than Dailey
15 minutes in length and a 5-minute debrief 10:45
after.
15B 10:25 JIC Ops Media Media monitoring is assigned for first radio 4 Prompt this if
104 media Monitor report; provide media monitor with a worksheet. needed
monitor 10:30
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Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
16. 10:30 Radio report on E. coli is reviewed. A SimCell Media Assigned staff member “listens” to radio report, 4 10:40
104 media (may (Stu) Monitor confirms report with PIO who did interview and
monitor, be a if there are errors in report, notifies JIC and
leadership note) contacts radio station for correction.
17. 10:30 Spanish-speaker calls JIC. V SimCell JIC Asks if someone speaks Spanish in the JIC. If 4 10:35
104 main (Socrates) Spanish-speaker found, caller confirms news
phone briefing time and asks about the topic briefly.
18. 10:35 Dr. Baird calls en route “Have you notified V SimCell SME PIO Notify CDC (if JIC staff has or can find the 4 10:40
104 main CDC Public Affairs of the 11 a.m. news Baird Health phone number).
phone conference?” (Kline)
19. 10:40 VIP arrives at JIC for review and update. P VIP JIC One JIC staff person updates the VIP. 4 10:55
104 (Dragani)
leadership
20. 10:40 Media monitor reads Web site of Ames, (IA) W SimCell Media Notifies JIC staff. 4 10:45
104 media Tribune that breaks story about lab results. (note) (Kline) Monitor
monitor
21. 10:40 Reporters call to ask about Ames story. V SimCell JIC Calls are triaged or responded to. 4 10:45
104 hotline Reporter
(Stu)
22. 10:45 CDC Public Affairs calls for information. V SimCell SME PIO Brief CDC Public Affairs. 4 Use this inject
CDC Health if JIC didn’t
104 main (Kline) call CDC in
phone past 10
minutes
10:55
23. 10:50 EMA front desk calls – reporters have V SimCell JIC PIO assigned to escort reporters to Room 204. 4 10:55
Leave 104 arrived. EMA
to 204 Desk
24. 10:55 JIC JIC Depart JIC and go to Room 204 to conduct 3, 4 11:15
Leave 104 news conference; fax news release to LHDs,
to 204 CDC Public Affairs.
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Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
25. 11:00 PIO remarks, ground rules, introductions P JIC staff Media Conduct news conference per Ohio EMA 3, 4 11:15
204 communications plan.
26. 11:15 Atkins Shift 2 SECOND SHIFT ARRIVES TO OHIO EMA AT 11:20
11:15 A.M. AND SENT TO ROOM 104;
104 ATKINS GIVES SHIFT 2 A BRIEF EXERCISE
ORIENTATION.
27. 11:15 News conference ends ------ ------ JIC staff conducts a short (five-minute) debrief 4, 5 11:20
204 (media after news conference and after media leave
go to 104) the room.
28. 11:20 Debrief ends, JIC Shift 1 leaves for JIC Kline JIC JIC staff and spokespeople return to JIC. 4 11:25
204 to 104
29. 11:20 Shift 1 is informed of arrival of Shift 2 Atkins JIC Shift 1 and Shift 2 meet. 6 11:25
104
30. 11:30 Leader of Shift 2 is chosen; other leadership 6
104 team members chosen (JIC Ops and SME PIO)
30A 11:35 Shift 2 leader assigns duties to JIC staff. 6
104
30B 11:35 Shift 1 briefs Shift 2 on specifics and afterward, 6 Shift 1 is not
104 Shift 1 leaves the JIC to go to the lunchroom. told about the
time shift
11:40
THERE IS A TIME SHIFT IN THE EXERCISE AT THIS POINT
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Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
THERE IS A TIME SHIFT IN THE EXERCISE AT THIS POINT
3:40 It is Friday mid-afternoon about 3:40 p.m. P Atkins JIC Staff begins to prepare for next briefing. 3
31.
(11:40) another news briefing will be held at 5 p.m.
104 to provide an update.
32. 3:40 Hospitalized farmer Amish farmer was V SimCell JIC Shares information with JIC staff; identifies Amish as 4, 5 11:45
(11:40) moved into isolation shortly after admission BIDC “special needs population” and begins work to
104 main (yesterday) but not before having wife and (Kline or provide information for this targeted audience.
phone children with him in ER waiting area. DiOrio)
33. 3:45 Line of severe storms forms in Montgomery M SimCell Media Shares information with JIC staff. 4 11:50
(11:45) County. Tornado watch issued for western (Stu) Monitor
104 media and central counties.
monitor
34. 3:50 Various tests conducted on farmer; among E SimCell SME Shares information with JIC staff. 4 11:55
(11:50) them a “rapid test” to determine if it is flu. Holmes PIO
104 Tests were inconclusive, more samples PIO Health
leadership were sent to lab for culturing late yesterday; (Kline)
results possibly late today.
35. 4:00 Two tornadoes strike Clark County. M SimCell Media Shares information with JIC staff; discussion of how 4 12:05
(12:00) (Stu) Monitor this impacts their work process.
104 media
monitor
36. 4:05 Reports of severe damage and injuries. M SimCell JIC Reprioritization of work efforts; begin to develop 4, 5 12:10
(12:05) (Stu) material for storm.
104 main
phone
37. 4:10 Dayton reporter calls Ohio EMA regarding V SimCell JIC Answer reporter’s questions or triage call. 4 12:15
(12:10) storms. Reporter
104 (Stu)
hotline
MSEL Page 6 of 8
Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
38. 4:10 Still no lab results on Amish farmer; E SimCell SME Shares information with JIC staff. 4 12:15
(12:10) patient’s condition has worsened. BIDC PIO
104 (DiOrio) Health
leadership
39. 4:15 Unconfirmed reports of tornado fatalities; M SimCell Media Shares information with JIC staff; discussion of how 4 12:20
(12:15) several ambulances reported at middle (Stu) Monitor this impacts their work process.
104 media school.
monitor
12:15 Pust transfers controller role to Kline
40. 4:20 Dragani arrives in person; wants update on P SimCell JIC Staff briefs Dragani; staff decides to make storms the 4, 5 Dragani
(12:20) situation. (Dragani) focal point of the briefing. Staff assigned to write continues in
remarks. SimCell role as
104 much as
leadership possible.
12:30
41. 4:20 Dayton TV reporting collapsed building at M SimCell Media Information funneled to staff working on remarks. 4,5 12:30
(12:20) middle school; at least five student deaths. (Stu) Monitor
104 media
monitor
42. 4:30 Other patients also in ER waiting area E SimCell SME Shares information with JIC staff. 4 12:35
(12:30) where Amish farmer was; attempting to BIDC PIO
104 identify who they were and contact them. (DiOrio) Health
leadership
43. 4:35 One child in the E. coli outbreak has V SImCell SME Shares information with JIC staff. 4 12:40
(12:35) developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and ODH PIO
104 main is in critical condition. Other children appear BIDC Health
phone to have recovered. (DiOrio)
44. 4:40 Clark County commissioners declare state V SimCell JIC Information funneled to staff working on remarks. JIC 4, 5 12:45
(12:40) of emergency. County informs Clark Co. EMA PIO what coordination and
104 EMA PIO assistance can be expected.
leadership (Stu)
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Codes: V = Voice Phone; E = E-mail; A = Audio; P = in Person; W = Web ; M = Media
45. 4:45 Lab results for Amish farmer are back; V SimCell SME Shares information with JIC staff. 4 Media never
(12:45) samples indicate adenovirus and not H5N1 ODH PIO knows about
104 main BIDC Health Amish farmer
phone (DiOrio) 12:50
46. 4:50 Staff finalizes remarks and spokesperson briefing for 3, 4 No news
(12:50) news conference. conference
Room 104 12:55
47. 12:55 EXERCISE ENDS
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