Project Highlight: Public Health Preparedness
HHS Top Officials (TOPOFF) 3 Public Affairs Exercise Support
Client: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
The Top Officials (TOPOFF) 3 Exercise allowed the HHS ASPA to assess its ability to communicate effectively during an “Incident of National Significance.” The exercise scenario revolved around a terrorist plot in which plague was released in New Jersey and mustard gas was released on a crowd in New London, Connecticut, followed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that was detonated on the already affected crowd.
Additional international elements of play included plague spreading to Canada and chemical releases and explosive detonations in Great Britain. Finally, a large investigational element created a major law enforcement coordination component. ASPA exercise activity lasted approximately 12 hours a day for the entire exercise week.
ORISE enhanced ASPA involvement in TOPOFF 3 by developing ASPA exercise objectives and creating a robust control and evaluation structure. With over 600 simulated media and other stakeholder calls targeted at the recently completed ASPA EOC (crisis communication center), an intense response environment tested ASPA’s ability to activate, control, coordinate, and communicate during a major terrorism event with tremendous health and safety consequences.
