Amy Sebring: Good morning/afternoon everyone. On behalf of Avagene and myself, welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Our topic today is "EMTASC: Emergency Management Training, Analysis & Simulation Center." Amy Sebring: Before we get into our discussion, for the benefit of any first- timers, we will go over the order of business. We will begin with a presentation and then we will proceed to your questions and comments. Amy Sebring: We will be using a few slides today. When a blue URL appears in the text and you click on it, the slide will open in another browser window. You may need to disable any pop-up blocker in order to view it. Amy Sebring: We will pause the presentation to give you time to load and view the slide. The browser window with the slide may not come to the top automatically, so you may need to manually bring it forward. Amy Sebring: We will provide further instructions just before we begin the Q&A section, but you may wish to jot down your questions or comments as we go along. Amy Sebring: Please do not send private messages to our speaker or the moderator, as we will be busy with the presentation. If you need assistance, you may send a private message to Avagene. Amy Sebring: A formatted transcript of today's session will be available by later this afternoon -- just check back on our home page or the background page (refresh the pages as needed). Amy Sebring: Now it is my pleasure to introduce today's speakers. Both of our guests have served as Chair of the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center's (VMASC) Advisory Board, where the EMTASC facility is currently housed. Amy Sebring: Robert J. Harper, Jr. is employed by Northrop Grumman and serves as the Program Manager for the contractor team supporting the Joint Warfighting Center, developing Joint military exercises using computer simulations to train very senior military and government leaders. Amy Sebring: Charles J. Venable is a Senior Program Manager for SAIC, and brings extensive experience in the areas of exercise services, modeling and simulation operations, and experimentation. Amy Sebring: For more detailed biographical information, please see the Background Page for today's session. Amy Sebring: Welcome to you both, and thank you for joining us today. I turn the floor over to Bob to start us off please. Bob Harper: The Emergency Management Training, Analysis & Simulation Center (EMTASC) was created to provide training support and operational assistance for the command and management level decision makers in the area of emergency management. Bob Harper: To enhance these efforts, the use of modeling and simulations with emergency management application are used whenever possible. Thus, the mission of the EMTASC is to mitigate loss of life and property due to manmade and natural disasters by preparing emergency command and management personnel and organizations. Bob Harper: The Center employs world-class expertise and state-of-the-art modeling and simulations tools to conduct training, exercises, analysis, and operational support for disaster management and homeland security situations. Bob Harper: EMTASC is a consortium of public and private entities that have come together to create this unique organization. Its founding members and Board of Directors is composed of industry and academic leaders in the emergency management modeling and simulation community. Amy, slide 1 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/vforum/EMTASC/slide01.htm Bob Harper: The Board of Advisors represents a diverse cross-section of public and private entities. Amy, slide 2 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/vforum/EMTASC/slide02.htm Bob Harper: The EMTASC is conveniently located in the city of Suffolk, VA. This part of the Virginia is known as Hampton Roads, which is fast becoming the nexus of modeling and simulation in the United States. Bob Harper: What makes the EMTASC unique in the area of emergency management training is not only its focus on command and management personnel as opposed to first responders, but its use of models and simulations as part of the training process. Bob Harper: In the area of training and exercises, models and simulations are a valuable enabler to offer command and management personnel realistic training and exercises at minimal costs. Bob Harper: In lieu of numerous participants at all levels of the process, the models and simulations replicate those entities as needed. Training is tailored to specific audience objectives and environment. Bob Harper: The models and simulations offer extensive details, thus minimizing the "hand wave" solutions, and offer on-demand capability, providing for flexible and responsive injects to stimulate the participants. Bob Harper: In the area of analysis, models and simulations help operational command decision-makers explore strategies and interventions. They also capture information for after action reviews that can be translated into lessons learned for real-world decisions. Bob Harper: Finally, models and simulations are a valuable enabler for decision support. They offer a real-time operational tool to test outcomes prior to actual decision. They enable analysis of existing or proposed operational plans, and they provide insight into the range of possible outcomes. Bob Harper: So, where are we now in the process to develop the EMTASC? Just this past month we were registered and licensed as a "Not for Profit" 501(3)(c) corporation. This will enable the EMTASC to do work that derives from grants. Bob Harper: Our next step is to also form a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) that will enable us to work in the "For Profit" sector, and compete for business on our own, or team with other corporations to bid for and receive contracts. Bob Harper: At this point I will turn the program over to Charlie to talk more specifically about our modeling and simulation capabilities. Charlie Venable: Thanks Bob. What sets the EMTASC apart and makes it unique is that in addition to the standard exercise design assistance discussed by Bob, we can provide unique expertise to identify modeling opportunities during the development of training objectives and scenario design. Charlie Venable: Almost anything that can be quantified can be modeled. Natural and manmade disasters, such as explosive damage, gas and smoke dispersion, wind and water damage, and other environmental effects are examples of things we can model. Charlie Venable: Other things include population density, crowd behavior and casualty specific health state. In the area of casualties, models offer realistic reports such as numbers and types of casualties, and, extent of injury/illness. Charlie Venable: We model traffic and provide for the dynamic responses to law enforcement intervention, the opening and closing of roadways, and the catastrophic event progression. Charlie Venable: Hospital capabilities are especially adaptable to modeling: their location, availability and suitability, the capacity, staffing, patient status, and surge capacity. In fact, we have a model now that is directly applicable to the Pandemic threat and can be used by emergency planners who wish to examine their Pandemic Influenza plans. Charlie Venable: As the training audience makes iterative decisions, our models can be updated to provide for those modification of resource allocations. Charlie Venable: Overall, the benefits to modeling are substantial. They accurately represent actions of the players not physically present (thus saves money) and they provide for detailed and complex scenarios with minimum personnel requirements. Charlie Venable: Models allow for "what if" drills, they are scalable in that they can be used for table tops events all the way up to full scale exercises, and they provide for a plan and mission rehearsal capability. Charlie Venable: We have a number of simulations available to stimulate decision making, such as the Civilian Emergency Responder Readiness Training System (CERRTS), the Emergency Preparedness Federation (EMPREDFED) and the Automated Exercise and Assessment Simulation (AEAS). Charlie Venable: Next you will see a screen shot of AEAS. AEAS exercises allow participants to react to various scenarios by sending each other messages through individual computer workstations connected to a local area network. AEAS captures and records participants' actions. Amy, Slide 3 please. Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/vforum/EMTASC/slide03.htm Charlie Venable: Simulated outcomes based on these actions provide participants with feedback on incident status, allowing them to judge the adequacy of their response. At the conclusion of the exercise, AEAS provides a detailed, printable, after-action review (AAR) report. Charlie Venable: However, we are not tied to specific models. We are focused on customer requirements and, with over 200 models with homeland security applications, we know how to obtain the appropriate model to support the training/exercise event objectives. Charlie Venable: We see a bright future for the EMTASC. Our vision is that the EMTASC will strengthen command and management skills and processes through customized training. It offers leaders the opportunity to design exercises focused on their specific needs using modeling and simulation tools. Charlie Venable: It provides flexibility for leaders in terms of numbers of participants - the ability to target key personnel involved in the operational level of emergency response. And, it challenges participants with various scenarios not available during typical training. Charlie Venable: That concludes our overview. Bob and I will be happy to answer your questions, and I will turn the floor back over to our Moderator Amy Sebring: Thank you very much Bob and Charlie (and Ava). Now, to proceed to your questions or comments. Our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment. Amy Sebring: Then go ahead and compose your question or comment to have it ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are recognized by name. Please WAIT your turn. We will take questions in the order the question marks are sent to the screen. Amy Sebring: ONE QUESTION AT A TIME please and please keep your questions or comments reasonably concise. If you have a follow up question or comment, please get back in the line with another question mark. We are ready to begin now. Barry Drogin: ? Amy Sebring: Barry, when you are ready please. Barry Drogin: I've been to Hampton Roads, an excellent facility, but I was only aware of its transportation function. I am glad to hear that training has been extended to health and, as a slide made apparent, security. Charlie Venable: We are co-located with VMASC Charlie Venable: and the modeling & simulation opportunities Charlie Venable: are enabled by their broad modeling & simulation interests. Amy Sebring: Questions/ comments? Amy Sebring: I have one ... Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: Charlie, one of the problems with table top type exercises, and even large exercises such as the TOPOFF series, has been that the player decisions have no impact on the subsequent unfolding of the scenario. How do you plan to incorporate this flexibility? Charlie Venable: With the simulations we will employ .. Bob Harper: Simulations provide alternative outcomes based on decisions. Charlie Venable: the scenario is dynamic and the decision/actions of the players affect the outcome. Amy Sebring: Ava next please. Avagene Moore: Bob, what is required to use your facility for training? What type of registration or inquiry process is involved? Barry Drogin: ? Bob Harper: There is flexibility with training audiences--training may be conducted on site in Suffolk or the training may be conducted at other locations. Mainly, the process begins with identification of desired outcomes, training objectives, etc. Amy Sebring: Bob is there contact info you can put up for inquiries? Bob Harper: Each situation is tailored to the needs of the training audience Bob Harper: Yes, contact numbers for the EMTASC are 757-638-7009, or by email to me at robert.r.harper@ngc.com Amy Sebring: Thanks. Amy Sebring: Barry, next pls Barry Drogin: I'm also aware of Hampton Roads as a research facility. Simulation can be important to such studies. Are academic results published on a web site? Amy Sebring: Charlie, do you want to address this one please? Amy Sebring: ? ray pena: ? Charlie Venable: VMASC, as part of Old Dominion University, publishes their work. Amy Sebring: I believe we have that link on our Background Page ... Amy Sebring: and there is a section there on research ... Amy Sebring: Another problem with exercises has been that elected officials seldom participate, yet their leadership (or lack thereof) has significant impacts on the response. Charlie, can you simulate actions of elected leadership? Frank Wakefield: ? Charlie Venable: Amy, We can simulate the actions of anyone. We do that by forming a response cell that is manned by personnel with relevant experience to role play the individuals or organizations. Amy Sebring: Ray next please. ray pena: Is there a cost for your service? How is it determined? Bob Harper: Let me address that. Amy Sebring: Bob do you want to take this one please. Judy Shuck: ? Bob Harper: As Charlie said, our response cells may act for the leaders who may not be able to participate, but, ideally, we would recommend that they be involved. As for cost of individual events, we determine that based upon numerous factors such as duration, location, scope, etc. Amy Sebring: Frank next please. Amy Sebring: oops I guess we have lost Frank .. Amy Sebring: Judy next please. Judy Shuck: Once the base information (training objectives, etc.) have been received - approximately how long - on average - is it before your team is ready to conduct the simulation? Amy Sebring: Charlie? Bob Harper: about 3-4 months, depending on a number of factors. Amy Sebring: Thanks Bob. More questions? Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: Ava please when you are ready. Avagene Moore: Bob, I would think, as various groups use the EMTASC for training to various simulations and scenarios, that their outcomes are confidential / for their benefit, further training, etc. However, how are these outcomes used by your facility and for what purposes? Barry Drogin: ? Bob Harper: Correct--there may indeed be sensitivity associated with some or all of the outcomes of a particular event, and we will discuss and determine how to handle during the planning process. Amy Sebring: On second part of Ava's question, Charlie do you use your experience to refine your process? Charlie Venable: We do. We are big fans of using lessons learned or after- action reporting to facilitate a continuous improvement process. Amy Sebring: Thanks. Barry next please. Barry Drogin: If outside agencies were to send personnel to train at your facility, would it be expected that they use the Virginia geography and concentrate on other aspects of the simulation? How valuable would the training be if other localities use other user interfaces? Are there still lessons to be learned that are not tied directly to the equipment and locations that another region is concerned with? Has Hampton Roads been used to train outside agency personnel yet? Bob Harper: I will address this. Amy Sebring: Please break up the responses as best you can Bob. Bob Harper: Ideally, training audiences will use information specific to their own area and needs. As part of the planning and preparation process, we will determine what information is needed...and available...to accomplish what is desired. Much depends on the training audience ability to provide access to the necessary data. Bob Harper: Not sure exactly how to respond to the rest of Barry's question. Charlie, your thoughts? Amy Sebring: I think you covered most of those questions Bob. Can you address the last part regarding training outside agencies? Charlie perhaps? Charlie Venable: One clarifier, we are able to incorporate geo-specific data in our models. Charlie Venable: We have not had the opportunity yet to train outside agencies. Amy Sebring: ok, thanks. Other questions? Joseph Sernell: ? Amy Sebring: JT please. Amy Sebring: When you are ready. Joseph Sernell: Is HAZUS used in this application at all? Or any of the ESRI software? Charlie Venable: I do not know the answer to that question. Bob Harper: I am not familiar with this application. I can check with our tech experts. Amy Sebring: Thanks. Bob, is there a marketing strategy for EMTASC? Do you have interest from the military for example? Large corporations? Other targets? Amy Sebring: DHS? Bob Harper: Yes, to all of these. The EMTASC is a public-private partnership that is available nation-wide to support the requirements of community, regional, state, and national leaders in addressing the preparation for and responses to national emergencies. Amy Sebring: Thanks. Can you tell us just a bit about how the state of Virginia has been involved in this project? Barry Drogin: ? Bob Harper: Yes, the Commonwealth is a full supporter... Avagene Moore: ? Bob Harper: The former Governor, Mark Warner, officially opened the EMTASC last August and the current Governor, Tim Kaine, has likewise expressed his commitment to the endeavor. Amy Sebring: Barry next please. Barry Drogin: I didn't mean to put you on the spot. A lot of EM training can be as much about learning the user interface as about learning the scenario. It would be useful if Hampton Roads developed a generic scenario-training course that outside agencies could use that didn't concentrate on the particular software developed for the HR facility. I wanted to know if you offered that yet. Amy Sebring: (or plan to I suppose Barry?) Barry Drogin: Well, funding, you know... Amy Sebring: Bob or Charlie, do you have any plans in that direction in the long term perhaps? Barry Drogin: Otherwise it's just a model facility. Charlie Venable: Barry, That is not currently offered, although we have the expertise to generate such a course. Amy Sebring: Ava next please. Avagene Moore: Bob, if a group wishes to train at the EMTASC, do you have housing facilities or do they make arrangements in the area? Bob Harper: There is ample housing within the area, and we will assist as needed. Joseph Sernell: ? Amy Sebring: Joseph, last question please, when you are ready. Joseph Sernell: Is there going to be, for lack of a better term, a simulation of a simulation that everyone could look at to learn more about the inputs and outputs that could be expected by the system? A detailed PDF or Power Point presentation perhaps? Bob Harper: We have a capabilities briefing that we will be happy to mail or send to you. Charlie Venable: One note of clarification for Barry, The EMTASC is not just a model facility. Models/simulations are just tools employed to facilitate training. If we are anything we are a command and management training facility. Amy Sebring: Let's wrap it up for today. Thank you very much Bob and Charlie for an excellent job. We hope you enjoyed the experience. Please stand by a moment while we make a couple of quick announcements .... Amy Sebring: Again, the formatted transcript will be available later today. If you are not on our mailing list and would like to get notices of future sessions and availability of transcripts, just go to our home page to Subscribe. Amy Sebring: Also see the wealth of previous transcript available ... Amy Sebring: We would like to welcome a new Partner today. Mythics Inc., http://www.1enterprise.net , makers of the software product, 1Enterprise Emergency Resource Manager (ERMA); POC Nick Intintolo / Director, 1Enterprise Bob Harper: Final comment? Amy Sebring: If your organization is interested in becoming an EIIP Partner, please go to our home page and click on "Partnership for You" Amy Sebring: Please go ahead Bob. Amy Sebring: (and Charlie, if you would like to add anything also, please do) Charlie Venable: Thanks for hosting us. We would be glad to continue the dialogue in the future. Bob Harper: The EMTASC is a facility and a capability to prepare people and leaders for decision making during times of stress. We can provide here or at audience locations. To answer an earlier question better, we can interface with HAZUS and ESRI software as required. Amy Sebring: Thanks. Thanks to everyone for participating today. We stand adjourned but before you go, please help me show our appreciation to Bob and Charlie for a fine job.