As a benefit of membership, Clean Rivers Cooperative provides to its members Drill and Exercise support. This includes a team of specially trained personnel to operate in support roles throughout the Incident Command System (ICS) as well as a number of specifically developed tools to aid in effective documentation and communication during these exercises.
This support has, in the past, been primarily exercised in large hotel ballrooms with hundreds of people gathered around tables and donning ICS vests. COVID-19 has required quite the shift over these past 20 months since the initial shutdown occurred. The incorporation of virtual drills with multiple satellite locations has become the standard for the time being.
Clean Rivers has been working actively to not only maintain the same level of support during this shift, but to identify areas which would enhance our ability to collaborate with the stakeholders involved in a response. We have evaluated and selected methods that will improve our levels of support not only during virtual drills, but also once in person exercises again become the standard.
Upgrades to our Command and Communications Trailer have enhanced communication and presentation equipment, allowing us to increase utilization during drills and exercises. Providing clearer displays for in person and remote guests though an upgraded display system, PA system and computer connectivity allows more participants to be able to clearly communicate in briefings between remote presenters and in person staff.
We have also developed and invested in digital tools for tracking and communicating resources and tactics throughout the command post and into the field. Tools like digital mapping, shared document displays and cloud based private access to critical operating information have allowed for continued operational effectiveness in an entirely new environment.
Clean Rivers is proud of the teamwork and collaboration that has been essential to maintaining our region’s continued success throughout this time. We look forward to returning fully to our in person exercises and believe that the tools developed during this time will help us to increase our effectiveness in both remote and in person events for the future.