Texas Statewide CCTA Full-Scale Exercise Overview 2023

2023 TEXAS STATEWIDE CCTA FULL-SCALE EXERCISE OVERVIEW TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL COUNCILS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE TRAINING FEBRUARY 7, 2024 1

PURPOSE Discuss October 26-27 exercise design and concept Review exercise activity Review select takeaways and lessons learned 2

EXERCISE CONCEPT, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES October 26-27, 2023: Multi-shift full-scale exercise (FSE) conducted in five locations throughout Texas simultaneously, with overall exercise control maintained in Austin (~1.5 days of exercise play) Scenarios focused on coordinated attacks against schools and/or school-related events (K-12 and higher education) Exercise began with several days of warm start scenario injects developed by DPS Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division Each of the local exercises was incorporated into a statewide exercise scenario and response 3

EXERCISE CONCEPT, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES Exercise planning was coordinated by Texas Office of Homeland Security at DPS HQ in Austin Statewide planning meetings were virtual, with in-person regional meetings as needed Each local planning team: Featured a DPS and FBI planning lead Identified exercise objectives specific to local goals and training needs Had autonomy to design their own exercise scenarios and exercise concept FEMA National Exercise Division (FEMA NED) provided exercise control and evaluation support Developed control and evaluation materials Conducted controller/evaluator training Provided lead controller/evaluators at each exercise location Contributed to initial draft of the after-action report This approach facilitated local stakeholder buy-in and encouraged whole community participation 4

EXERCISE CONCEPT, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES Statewide Exercise Goals Review existing CCTA preparedness, response, interdiction, and investigation plans, policies, and procedures Identify gaps in plans, operational capabilities, response resources, and/or authorities Improve situational awareness, recognize best practices, and encourage information sharing among all stakeholders in the event of a CCTA Statewide Exercise Objectives Establish and maintain a unified and coordinated operational structure and process that appropriately integrates all critical stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to support the response to a CCTA Share timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence with all appropriate local, state, federal, and private sector stakeholders Deliver credible messages to inform ongoing emergency services and the public about evacuation, protective measures, family reunification, and other life-sustaining actions Effectively coordinate the incident investigation among local, state, and federal law enforcement stakeholders 5

Full-Scale Exercise Locations: Prosper, TX The Woodlands, TX El Paso, TX Lubbock, TX San Antonio, TX Issues addressed during the exercise included: Interagency coordination Interoperable communications IED response Emergency medical response Family reunification and assistance Hospital operations Joint police-fire-EMS tactics Hostage negotiations and rescue In total, there were over 1250 exercise participants representing 60+ departments, agencies, and organizations statewide Exercise scenario involved attacks against school targets by radicalized individuals inspired / supported by a foreign terrorist organization 6

REVIEWOF EXERCISE ACTIVITY Exercise Location Exercise Site(s) Exercise Scenario Active shooter attack during a school function at the ISD stadium, and an IED attack at the fire station Prosper ISD Children s Stadium Prosper Central Fire Station Prosper, TX Active shooter attack during a high school graduation ceremony The Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Active shooter attack at the UTEP student union El Paso, TX University of Texas El Paso Berl Huffman Athletic Complex Larry T. Neal Memorial Airport in Slaton, TX Aircraft crash response, an attempted airborne biohazard attack, and an IED attack at a Texas Tech student gathering Lubbock, TX IED threat at the UTSA campus and an active shooter attack at Universal City high school University of Texas San Antonio High school in Universal City, TX San Antonio, TX DPS Operations Center was activated at DPS HQ in Austin to support field response, coordinate intelligence activities, and provide situational awareness to DPS leadership 7

REVIEWOF EXERCISE ACTIVITY Statewide Exercise Control Cell (ECC) was located at DPS HQ in Austin ECC released exercise injects from the Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) and tracked exercise activity at each site Controllers in the ECC coordinated with Lead Controllers/Evaluators in the field to support exercise play ECC simulated non-playing agencies and organizations to answer RFIs from players, as needed TDEM provided personnel to support the ECC and serve as a simulated SOC 8

9

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/emergen cy-training-drill-held-in-prosper/3371280/ 10

SELECT TAKEAWAYSAND LESSONS LEARNED Incident command was successfully established at each exercise location, though the activation of multiple command posts at certain locations created confusion The DPS Operations Center was successfully activated and staffed, but some communications and information challenges remain Several (but not all) exercise sites demonstrated an effective use of Rescue Task Force and other joint police-fire-EMS response protocols The FBI Virtual Command Center (VCC) information sharing platform facilitated cooperation between the FBI, DPS, and other stakeholder agencies Interoperable radio communication among multiple agencies remains a challenge DPS ICT effectively worked with participating fusion centers to share information and analyze intelligence PIOs at numerous exercise sites integrated into incident command and supported activation of family reunification centers Coordination between law enforcement and victim services providers needs to be further developed and exercised During a complex mass casualty attack response, witness identification and communication will be a challenge 11

NEXT STEPS We are in the process of developing the exercise After-Action Report now Regional planning teams will review the draft AAR before it is finalized Findings from the AAR will be used to help update the DPS Terrorist Attack and Significant Criminal Attack Tactical Response Plan and the DPS Operations Center SOP Questions? Brandon Gentry Strategic Planner Texas Office of Homeland Security Texas Department of Public Safety brandon.gentry@dps.texas.gov 512.424.0031 (office) 512.815.6985 (cell) 12