This document will guide you through facilitating a response drill for winter storms. It presents a disaster scenario, discussion topics, and steps for completing the documentation and conducting a debrief. 

For a quick walkthrough or rapid scenario planning discussion (15-minute discussions over coffee or during a regularly scheduled meeting), focus on steps 1 through 3. To conduct a tabletop or functional exercise, complete all the tasks below. The preliminary setup for a drill is outlined in the “How to Conduct a Drill” document in the Ready Rating Resource Centre.   

Winter storm  A winter weather event includes heavy sleet, snow or blowing snow, and ice that impacts public safety, transportation, and/or business. Impacts can be regional and severe.  

 
Additional sources of information for the scenario  U.S.: Winter Storm Preparedness & Blizzard Safety | Red Cross 

Canada: Winter Storms: Information & Facts – Canadian Red Cross 
Resources you may wish to consider or use during the drill  Environment Canada/National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration winter storm alerts, local radio stations, fire department, emergency response team, safety and fire wardens, emergency notification system, storm equipment, and emergency action plan. 

 

#  Tasks 
1  The facilitator provides introductions, presents drill objectives, and sets the ground rules. For more details, see ‘How to Conduct a Drill’.  
2  The facilitator introduces the scenario. Provide the time and location. Describe immediate impacts on people, operations, or services, as well as the availability and engagement of resources. 

SAMPLE SCENARIO 

It has been a mild winter, however, Environment Canada/the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a winter storm warning for the entire region. The snow starts at 9:00 a.m. and ice accumulation of more than ½-inch (1.3 cm) is expected within the next 24 hours. Local news sources are reporting that power outages and dangerous roadways are likely. After just 6 hours, conditions have become deadly. Heavy, wet snow continues to fall. Local schools begin announcing closures for tomorrow and are anticipating closures for up to three days. 
3  Discuss available resources and immediate actions. 

Consider the following: 

  • What type of notification or alarms would be activated in this situation? 
  • What actions need to be taken to ensure personnel safety? 
  • What are the current and potential impacts on personnel, assets, services, and critical business processes? 
  • What will you need to communicate with personnel, customers, or business partners? Who is responsible for drafting the communication? What method of communication will you use? 
  • How will you address the needs of your customers? 
  • What considerations do you need to make regarding the impact on individual personnel and their families? 
  • What immediate financial costs might be incurred and how do you plan to manage them? 
  • How will you manage staffing?  
  • How are you going to monitor the situation? 
  • What actions do you need to take to continue business operations? 
  • What actions do you need to take to recover processes that have been interrupted? 

If you are conducting a functional exercise, then some or all the response actions should be simulated. 
4  Document key discussions, actions, and decision points. 

  • Document the actions that should be taken, the required resources, and the individual(s) or group(s) responsible. 
  • Responses should be as complete as possible. 
  • Revisit and review the discussion points if the scenario involves additional ‘injects’. 

These should be compared to what is in existing plans. Where necessary, after-action items should be assigned to revise plans. 
5  Conduct a debrief. Discuss the following: 

  • Did you meet the drill/exercise objectives? 
  • What went well? 
  • What challenges did you face? 
  • How can you improve? 
  • Are there any gaps, changes, and/or additions that need to be made to your plan(s)? For any action items, ensure that you document responsibility and deadlines.  
6  Document the drill/exercise and lessons learned. The following forms can be used for this documentation: 

  • Drill/Exercise History Form  
  • After-Action Report  

For any action items, ensure that you document responsibility and deadlines.