Tabletop

The purpose of the Tabletop Exercise is to provide a forum for participants to evaluates plans, policies and procedures; examine management planning and resources allocations; and resolve situations requiring coordination and assignment of responsibilities in a non-threatening format with minimum stress. The tabletop exercise provides an environment where elected or appointed officials and key agency staff may interact with constructive discussion as they attempt to resolve problems related to emergency operations, coordination and response. Participants are encouraged to discuss issues in depth, develop decisions through slow-paced problem solving rather than rapid spontaneous decision-making such as occurs under actual or simulated emergency conditions. Tabletop Exercises are particularly valuable to achieve limited objectives involving critical policy issues or for developing or refining procedures such as those for obtaining mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions. They are equally useful for familiarizing agencies or individuals with specific role or potential role conflicts, examining specific elements of a new plan or procedure or to examine specific conditions or problems that represent a high risk condition within or between jurisdictions. These limited objectives are normally scenario oriented in the Tabletop Exercise and progress of the exercise is tightly controlled to preclude deviation to tangential subject areas so the stated objective of the exercise can more likely be achieved. Note that a Tabletop Exercise is required every two years.

On December 13, 2007, City of Salem Department of Emergency Management held their Tabletop Exercise. Illinois Emergency Management Agency Region Nine Office Conducted the exercise. The Scenario was a school shooting at Salem Community High School.

On November 12, 2009, City of Salem Department of Emergency Management Held their bi-yearly required Tabletop Exercise. Illinois Emergency Management Agency Region Nine Office was present to evaluate the exercise. The Scenario was an F2-3 Tornado and Flooding.

Multiple departments and agencies that participated the 2009 Tabletop Exercise Included:

Salem Emergency Management

Salem City Manager

Salem City Manager Assistant

Salem City Clerk

Salem City Finance Director

Salem City Public Works Director

Salem City Police Chief

Salem City Police Communications Leadsman

Salem Fire Protection District Chief

Salem City Recreation Director

Salem Township Hospital

Marion County 911 Coordinator

Marion County Public Health Department

Marion County ESDA Director/LEPC Chairman

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

South Central Illinois American Red Cross Chapter.

Both WJBD Radio and Salem Times Commoner released media reports of the exercise.

Use of the EOC Smart Board was very beneficial during exercise.

Pictures of the 2007 Exersice

IEMA - Adam Croy, of the Region 9 Office in Flora