Table Top Exercise (TTX/TTE)

  • February 9, 2023

It is a discussion-based exercise to evaluate an organization’s preparedness for a particular disaster by using simulation scenarios in a stress-free environment to inform the required participants about their roles at the time of response.

Key components and their roles in TTX

  1. Participants
    • Response members of specific disasters
    • Willing to engage themselves
    • Worked within scenarios of presented parameters
    • Challenge oneself and others in a cordial manner
  2. Facilitators
    • Prepare and control the pace of the exercise
    • Ensure each member is participating
    • Stimulate discussion among the participants in order to draw out answers and solutions from groups
  3. Evaluators
    • Identify strengths and weaknesses of the exercise and means and ways of improvements
    • Prepare After-Action Reports
  1. Observers
    • Ready to participate in discussion when asked

Reasons for conducting TTX

  1. Preparation
    • Institutions should have a concrete plan and disseminate it to each and every member of the institution
    • The scenario going to be discussed in TTX should be informed to authorities and external experts in advance in order to find out flaws or gaps in the institution
  2. Testing
    • Testing the preparedness plan in a safe environment will identify the effectiveness of the response plan and can be effectively compared between different responses according to the scenario
  3. Identify flaws in the plan
    • Conducting TTX will help to improve the plan by identifying missing links in the chain of command and finding gaps in our recovery processes
  4. Returns of Investments
    • Knowing their responsibilities at the time of disaster can maximize the effectiveness of response and saves needed limited resources
  5. Coordination and communication
    • Internal and external coordination and communication during a disaster are key to a successful response which will be clearly outlined during TTX
  6. Determine roles
    • Identifying key members for responding to disasters will minimize chaos and clarify roles and avoid confusion
  7. Peace of mind
    • The information gathered from your tabletop exercise discussions can help provide a personalized roadmap to strengthen our plan and make responders confident during the response

 

Dr. Bikal Shrestha
NSEDRM