Exercise Overview

The Florida Department of Health undertook an effort to develop, facilitate and evaluate a disaster exercise entitled "Hurricane Doc - A Health Center Tabletop Exercise".

This exercise served as an opportunity for each of the state's community health centers and other independent outpatient health care providers to assess their ability to remain operational in the aftermath of a hurricane. The primary purpose of the exercise was to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each provider's Continuity of Operations Plan.

The Hurricane Doc Tabletop Exercise was facilitated via an internet based application entitled ON-Line eXercise (ONX) System which allowed each facility to participate in the exercise from their office.

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

Exercise Scenario

It is mid 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 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 late July local residents, business owners and community leaders begin to follow the projected path of the season's first Tropical Strom. Soon the storm strengthens into Hurricane Doc as it continues its forward movement. The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor the storm via satellite and Hurricane Hunter planes as it continues to intensify.

Hurricane Doc has stayed true to the course that has been predicted by the National Hurricane Center and has grown into a mid-sized category two storm.

During the previous 24 hours the forward movement of Hurricane Doc has increased and the National Hurricane Center has now posted a Hurricane Watch along the coastline indicating that the storm should be making landfall within the next 24 to 36 hours.

Exercise Participation

For organizations, agencies, departments and / or businesses planning to participate in the exercise it is recommended that a minimum of three individuals from a location participate in the exercise working together as part of a disaster planning / response team. By working together as team you will be able to strengthen the disaster readiness and enhance the knowledge of additional staff members on the roles they are responsible for during a disaster.

All individuals that will be participating in the exercise will need to register as important situational awareness materials will be e-mailed to them prior to the beginning of the exercise.

Exercise Conclusion

The series of Hurrican Doc Exercises was  facilitated throughout the State of Florida during the month of June 2010.