Exercise Overview

The Florida Division of Emergency Management undertook an effort to develop, facilitate and evaluate a disaster exercise entitled "Hurricane Access - A Community Collaboration Tabletop Exercise".

This exercise served as an opportunity for stakeholder agencies and organizations charged with providing assistance to disabled, transportation disadvantaged, senior citizens and limited or non-English speaking residents to work with local county emergency management officials to gain a thorough working knowledge of actions that will need to be taken prior to, during and following a category two hurricane striking the region.

The Hurricane Access Tabletop Exercise was facilitated via an internet based application entitled ON-Line eXercise (ONX) System.

Information on the ONX System can be found at ONXSystem.com.

Exercise Scenario

It is late July and local citizens have been complacent in their hurricane preparedness activities because this year’s hurricane season has not even seen its first tropical storm. Families are making their last minute plans for their summer vacations while local business owners and government agencies are thinking that the hurricane season could be very inconsequential. However weather forecasters are predicting a major change in the atmosphere that could see a sharp increase in the number and severity of hurricanes within the next few weeks.

By early August local residents, business owners and government officials begin to follow the projected path of the season’s first tropical storm.

Exercise Materials

Exercise Conclusion

The Hurricane Access Tabletop Exercise was held on the morning of September 27 2011 with organizations participating from throughout 10 North Florida counties.

Exercise Photos