This document describes a tabletop exercise (TTX) used to practice interagency cooperation during emergency response. The TTX involves responding to scenarios in small groups representing different agencies. Participants receive initial dispatch information and use maps and stickers to build a shared understanding of the situation. They then collaborate to obtain additional resources and develop response plans. A facilitator guides discussion between groups to refine their joint operational picture and response. The goal is for responders to better understand other agencies' roles and how to share information to coordinate an effective response. Materials developed for the TTX include scenario descriptions, maps, stickers and evaluation forms.

1. Bringing theory into practice
Tabletop exercise
module 7 Topic 7.2

2. Aimof the Q and Asession
• Instruct trainers on the use of the Tabletop exercise (topic 7.2)
• Short presentation
• Questions to and answers from the developers
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

3. Aimof the tabletopexercise(topic7.2)
• Bringing the theory into practice
• Focus on the interagency cooperation
• Response organizations on the incident
location
• Focus on interaction with the dispatch officer
• But also other topics of the MELODY curriculum
• The TTX is an hybrid between scenario
discussions and a full scale exercise
• Requires some preparation to run
3
7.1 To reflect on the tasks,
responsibilities and capabilities of
other agencies and initiate
interagency collaboration
MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

4. Concept
• Two incident scenarios have been developed for
use in the TTX
• Basic idea is:
• that through interaction clear understanding of
the situation is established
• Interaction with dispatch officer
• Interaction with other responders
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

5. Flow
The trainer introduces the TTX and the scenario using the provided PowerPoint
presentation.
The trainees are divided in groups consisting of members of their own organisation.
The groups are given a (simple) dispatch and an overview map of the incident location.
The groups interact with the dispatch officer (trainer) and based on this info they prepare
their response and start filling the overview map by adding provided stickers.
The groups are brought together and the made overview maps are discussed between
the response organisations and facilitated by the trainer. Based on the comparison of the
made overview maps a discussion should be held on:
• Who has what information and what information should be shared between the
various responders? (Obtain a shared operational picture.)
• What information should be shared with operational command? (Via the dispatch
officer.)
• What additional (regular or specialized) units are needed to properly respond to the
situation?
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

6. Flow (continued)
An action plan is decided for each response organisation e.g given the
situation what tasks and activities are you going to perform.
New information is available made by the trainer based on the
(virtually) performed actions and activities.
A second joint session is organized between the participants where
again information is shared, an updated joint operational picture of the
situation is established and needs for additional support from (regular
or specialized) units is discussed.
After the second joint session the initial response phase has ended and
thus the exercise. The trainer performs an after-action review wraps up
the discussion and summarizes the exercise.
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

7. Assembly
area police
/ambulanc
e
garages
garages
garages
Assembly
area fire
department
garages
garages
garages
Incident
location
Assembly
area police
/ambulanc
e
garages
garages
garages
7
MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise
Empty map
Localized
map
preparation
Interaction
Dispatch
Police
Fire
Ambulance
Interaction
responders on
scene
Through interaction and
cooperation obtain:
Joint operational picture
and situational
understanding

8. Materials
 MELODY guide for trainers
 PowerPoint presentation to provide guidance to the participants
 A complete description of the incident and filled in overview map for use by the trainer and support trainers
 A detailed guideline for the trainers describing the various steps and trainer activities in a single table.
 A script describing the various steps of the TTX to the trainer
 Overview map of the incident
 Stickers that can be added to the overview maps in three sizes (A1, A2, A3)
 The dispatch information provided to the trainees by the support trainers
 Additional information in the form of pictures of the incident that can be provided to the trainees once they arrived on scene or
performed certain actions
 Additional resources containing memory aids (METHANE, en route risk assessment questions) that can be provided to the trainers,
if needed.
 Evaluation forms that can be used to track activities and can be used during the evaluation
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

9. Materialsexamples
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise
Simple dispatch
Complete dispatch
Interaction
dispatch
Complete scenario
for trainer
Additional info for
trainees

10. Materials(Scriptfortrainer)
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise
What Purpose / actions Resources
Step1 Introduction Melody
TTX
Present the introduction slides of the TTX Slide 18 and 19 of MELODY_TabeltopExercise_ParticipantGuidance
_v2_06102021
Step 2 Divide into groups Each discipline (fire, ambulance, police) is placed
in a separate group, include a dispatch per group.
Tell the group to choose one representative/
spokesperson
Slide 20 of MELODY_TabeltopExercise_ParticipantGuidance
_v2_06102021
Step 3 preparation Provide empty overview maps, stickers and
assistance documents
Map: GarageResidentialArea_TTX_OverviewMaps_v1
Stickers MunicipalityBuilding_LabelsStickers_A2Format_english_v2
AdditionalresourcesParticipantsTTX_v2
Step 4 Provide simple
dispatch
Print of the dispatch or provide orally Dispatches
Slide 2 for fire department
Slide 4 for ambulance
Slide 6 for police
MELODY DispatchesScenario2_Garage_v1
Step 5 Interaction with
Dispatch officer
(facilitator)
Each group asks additional information from the
dispatch officer
By asking the right questions the overview map
can be filled with the available information
The facilitator can if necessary, support the
participants with obtaining the right information
by asking questions
At the end of step 5 the facilitator asks one
participant to function as spokesperson of the
group
Each facilitator has the filled in overview map at their disposal
Municipality building TTX overview maps v1
Facilitator fire department has information from slide 3
Facilitator ambulance has information from slide 5
Facilitator police has information from slide 7 from
MELODY DispatchesScenario2_Garage_v1
Step 6 Arrival on scene The participants of the three groups take their
overview map and go to the central room
Step 7 The participants are asked to analyse based on
the available information if they are dealing with
a CBRN incident.
Based on the available information the
conclusion should be that the situation is NOT a
Slide 21 of MELODY_TabeltopExercise_ParticipantGuidance
_v2_06102021

11. Conclusion
• TTX exercise is the means to an end to initiate discussion and interaction
between first responders organizations to better understand the situation
and have clear expectations during a CBRN incident
• Material developed for two scenario’s, feel free to improve the scenario’s
and the materials and/or adapt to local circumstance or make new ones
based on the available scenario’s
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

12. Questions
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MELODY Module 7.1 interagency cooperation Topic 7.2 Tabletop exercise

13. Bringing theory into practice
THE END
Tabletopexercises