Conducting a full-scale emergency response drill is the ultimate training exercise. However, doing so in-person is not always feasible. A well-planned tabletop exercise is easy to do virtually and can provide a good opportunity to critique your processes and identify potential improvements and corrective actions. 

Sample scenarios for tabletop exercises 

Be prepared to answer questions about your plan of action in each of these potential situations: 

• An armed intruder has come in through your facility’s main entrance. Upon entering the building, the intruder immediately begins to fire. 
• Law enforcement has been notified and is on its way, but the immobile and elderly are still being evacuated. The shooter is making progress at entering through your barricade. 
• An employee who is rumored to be disgruntled is attending a meeting. He appears to be agitated. During the meeting, he stands up and begins screaming, “I have a gun.” All of this is taking place in your largest meeting space. 

Exercise preparation 

Start by reviewing the scenario to determine the objectives. Identify the emergency/violence response plan processes and procedures to be used. Your exercise team should include no more than 15 people – none of whom helped develop the processes. Organizational leadership should be present to observe and evaluate the exercise. 

Exercise execution 

Have the tabletop team introduce themselves and state their assigned roles in the emergency/violence plan. Review the processes and procedures that should be used in the scenario. When introducing the scenario, don’t get too specific or provide a lot of detail. 

Begin with a five-minute group discussion on the course of action that should be taken, moderating the conversation as needed. Introduce the next portion of the scenario and read through the considerations. Moderate another five-minute group discussion on the course of action that should be taken. 

Exercise conclusion 

With organizational leadership, review the effectiveness of the exercise and evaluate your organization’s performance. After iIdentifying any areas of weakness and concern that were observed. , Ccreate goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely to address each area of weakness and concern. Identify who will be responsible for completion of each of the goals created, then monitor goal progress to ensure completion. 

After goals have been completed, schedule a future exercise to determine if areas of weakness and concern have been resolved. 

To support your preparedness efforts, we’ve developed an Armed Intruder Preparedness Tabletop Drill template. Continue reading for more armed intruder preparedness information, resources, and materials.