Sample Pandemic Exercise for Crisis Management Team
Need to plan a Sample Pandemic exercise? Below is simple exercise “straw man” to help you build from at your organization.
In times when the threat of a pandemic looms ever so closer, the demands on crisis management teams have never been more pressing. It’s with a sense of urgency and a commitment to preparedness that we delve into a comprehensive exploration of a pandemic exercise tailored for those at the forefront of crisis response.
This exercise is designed not just to challenge but also to empower our crisis management teams with the knowledge, skills, and insights they need to navigate through the torrents of a global health crisis. Navigating a pandemic scenario requires more than just a theoretical understanding of protocols; it demands a hands-on approach to simulation that mirrors the complexities and unpredictability of real-world events.
| Pre-Notification (Sent to Team 2 to 3 Days Before Exercise) | First Exercise Update Given to Team | Second Exercise Update Given to Team | Third Exercise Update Given to Team |
| Increase in H1N1 cases in surrounding areas.
Increase in severity and impact to infected persons. First case of H1N1 confirmed at Headquarters. | Absenteeism at 25% for critical business units.
School closures on the horizon. Postal Service delivering mail every 2 days. | Absenteeism is at 49% for critical business units.
Schools closed in the city impacting staff ability to come to work. Two highly critical suppliers cannot support the business and have suspended product delivery for 3 weeks. IT staff absences are impacting ability to maintain system availability. | Absenteeism down to 35%.
Schools remain closed. Time to process orders has increased by 75%. Postal service delivering mail every 3 days. Financial institution used by company has delays in processing payments. |
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SUGGESTED TEAM ACTIONS | |||
| Review plans.
Prepare recovery teams. Hold status update meeting. Activate core Crisis Team. | Assess priority of business processes.
Assess critical staff needs. Activate contingency plans. Update Incident Action Plan. Issue internal and external communications.
| Assess priority of business processes.
Assess critical staff needs. Activate contingency plans. Update Incident Action Plan. Issue internal and external communications. | Assess priority of business processes.
Assess critical staff. Activate Plans. Identify impacts. Update Incident Action Plan. Issue internal and external communications. |
The sample pandemic exercise above is highly simplified and requires you to build it based on your organization and its critical functions. We hope this “straw man” helps you in your exercise development.
Michael Herrera
Michael Herrera is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MHA. In his role, Michael provides global leadership to the entire set of industry practices and horizontal capabilities within MHA. Under his leadership, MHA has become a leading provider of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery services to organizations on a global level. He is also the founder of BCMMETRICS, a leading cloud based tool designed to assess business continuity compliance and residual risk. Michael is a well-known and sought after speaker on Business Continuity issues at local and national contingency planner chapter meetings and conferences. Prior to founding MHA, he was a Regional VP for Bank of America, where he was responsible for Business Continuity across the southwest region.
