This informational deck outlines the Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST) training/exercise plan from Epicenter Media & Training.
State, county, local, and other regional government organizations can request this training/exercise offering as an entire package or its single elements. Epicenter Media & Training's team of VOST trainers and facilitators have years of virtual operations support experience and have built VOSTs across North America and beyond.
Contact us for information - we can help your agency build a VOST from scratch or support your already-existing virtual team with enhanced training and capacity-development!
2. The Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST) concept was developed in 2010-2011 by a
group of passionate emergency management communicators and technologists interested in
harnessing social media during disasters, crises, and critical events.
Through the comprehensive VOST Training & Exercise Package, Epicenter Media & Training
partners with local, county, state, or regional agencies to create a sophisticated, virtual team
and force-multiplier for a variety of agencies.
VOST is a flexible, tested solution to public information management needs. These teams
support their organization with actionable, real-time intelligence to improve outcomes,
enhance common operating picture, and engage critical stakeholders.
What is VOST?
3. VOST Capabilities
Actionable, Real-time Intelligence
Social Media Listening & Reporting
Crowdsourced Information Gathering
Crisis Mapping
Incident Analytics & Archiving
Amplification & Curation
Misinformation & Rumor Management
Virtual Operations Support
5. VOST Goals
Build a sustainable, collaborative and
integrated team of professionals to
support crisis/emergency management
Leverage volunteers and existing staff to
assist with emergency communications
and information gathering
Train VOST personnel to utilize new media
platforms to improve crisis & emergency
communications
6. Sample VOST Development
Basic SM & EM
Training
• “Ground-Social”
Training Course
• Other training from
FEMA, NDPTC, etc.
VOST “Launch”
Workshop
• For team leadership
and coordinators
• Ideally includes
community outreach
and coordination with
key partners
VOST Initial
Training
• Team-building
• VOST structure
• Tools, tips and tricks
• Social media listening
• Team coordination
Advanced
Training
• Topics vary:
• Advanced social
media listening
• Data visualization
• Crisis mapping
• Others
VOST
Tabletop Exercise
• Includes partner
agencies
• Exercise plans,
policies, and guides
• Manage expectations
Ongoing Training
& Exercises
• Developed,
conducted and
evaluated by Master
Exercise Practitioners
and/or other SMEs
• Online and/or
instructor-led options
Increased capacity building over time
7. VOST “Launch” Workshop
Length: 1-day
Goal: Drive buy-in, explore VOST mission areas, begin
planning & team development process
Team structure and responsibilities
Products and deliverables
Tools and resources
Activation protocols
Handbook development & developmental planning
Usually includes follow-up consulting to support
creation of policies, guidebooks, and other resources.
8. VOST Initial Training Session
Length: ½ or 1-day sessions available
Goal: Provide personnel with the knowledge, skills
and abilities to respond as part of a Virtual
Operations Support Team at the local, county, state
or regional level.
Team structure and responsibilities
Products and deliverables
Tools and resources
Social media listening techniques
Team collaboration/coordination
Can also be paired with ½-day advanced training.
9. VOST Tabletop Exercise
Length: ½-day
Goal: Exercise initial capabilities and ensure VOST
expectations and performance are managed
appropriately.
Discussion-based TTX
Developed and facilitated by Master Exercise
Practitioners (MEPs) and/or subject-matter experts
Includes Situation Manual (SitMan), After Action Report,
and Improvement Plan
Can also be paired with ½-day advanced training.
10. Joint Information System
integration/coordination
Social media outreach
and engagement
Advanced and geo-
targeted monitoring
GIS/Mapping & data
visualization
Platform-specific Training
Other VOST Training
11. VOST Training/Exercise Package
Initial VOST
Training
Recruitment
Support
Tabletop
Exercise
Consultative
Support
EDSU Surge
Support
Outreach &
Education
All VOST training and exercise sessions
can be requested individually or
through the VOST Training/Exercise
Package.
This one-of-a-kind package is designed
to take a group of disparate
volunteers and/or staff through a
series of learning programs and
challenging exercises to build a fully-
functioning Virtual Operations
Support Team, from the ground up.
12. Continuous Support
Capacity-building through
continuous team development:
Webinars & Online Training
Ongoing Consultation
Custom Exercises
Advanced Training
Networking (with other VOSTs)
Team Leadership &
Administration
13. Successful Deployments
“Epicenter Media & Training did a great job customizing
our program to meet our needs.
They bring expert knowledge to the table combined with a
dynamic, interactive training format. To top it off, their
personnel understand the political context of emergency
management and helped us position our new VOST for
success by designing a VIP info session for us.
You’re not just getting a trainer, you’re getting
a coach and facilitator.”
-Allyson Schulz, MPH
CTVOST Coordinator
15. Get Started With VOST
Unlock your true potential with
Epicenter Media & Training
and build your social media
capabilities with the VOST
training/exercise program.
To find out if VOST is right for
your jurisdiction, request a
consultation with the VOST
training/exercise team today!
vost@epimetra.com
+1 (585) 210-3011