Exercise Overview

Volunteer Leon and Big Bend COAD teamed up to facilitated a region wide tabletop formatted exercise entitled "Hurricane Helper".

During this exercise residents throughout the Big Bend Region had the opportunity to participate in this unique internet based exercise from the comfort of their workplace or home.

Residents from the following North Florida counties were encouraged to participate: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakula.

On the day of the exercise residents throughout the region were asked to log onto the exercise web site and complete a simple on-line spontaneous volunteer registration form.

Volunteer Leon then worked to pair individual talents to one of the regions volunteer organizations assisting individuals and families during the simulated Hurricane Helper.

The Hurricane Helper 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 early July and local citizens have been following the approach of Hurricane Helper as it moves through the eastern portion of the Gulf of Mexico. Projections from the National Hurricane Center indicate that the storm will make a left turn and head towards Texas.

The turn to the west never comes and in the early morning hours the storm slams into the region's coastline with strong category two winds and a storm surge on top of a high tide.

Exercise Conclusion

The Hurricane Helper Tabletop Exercise was facilitated on the morning of May 6 2010.