Planning & Coordinating a Community Drill,
Part 3: Using Feedback to Improve Response Capability

Part 1 and 2 of this series focused on planning and implementing a community drill, but perhaps the most important step is actually collecting, analyzing and implementing lessons learned during the drill. Read part 1 and 2 of this series by visiting The Responder archives at http://www.kindermorgan.com/public_awareness/The_Responder/2009-02/archived_issues.cfm.

During the drill, facilitators should observe the response of participants. As soon as possible following the completion of the drill, encourage participants to document their observations and impressions.

Facilitators may consider providing a short questionnaire designed to capture specific information such as feedback regarding response time, availability of equipment or inter-agency communication and coordination. Questionnaires provide a confidential way to capture feedback that may not be shared during the drill debrief session.

If you identified opportunities for improvement during the drill, the debrief session is key to implementing change. Host a drill debrief session to collect feedback and provide opportunity for discussion. During the debrief, facilitators will want to:

	Review the entire scenario and the goals of the exercise with the group
	Bring copies of emergency response plans and procedures for reference during discussion
	Review participants’ questions and comments that were noted during the drill
	Lead discussion designed to identify why there were gaps in response time, unexpected inefficiencies or uncertainty with regard to response tactics, etc.

Once the initial evaluation is complete, schedule a time for following up and consider planning another drill in the future to test those changes.

2009 Issue 3 Articles

View Archived Issues

New & Expanded
Pipeline Systems:
What it Means for First
Responders &
Communities

Emergency Medical
Care at the Scene of a
Natural Gas Incident

Planning &
Coordinating a
Community Drill,
Part 3: Using
Feedback to
Improve Response
Capability

Pipeline Emergency
Self-Assessment for
Response Agencies