Draft EMPEX 2

EXERCISE EMPEX 2

THURSDAY 19th JANUARY 2006

Hosted by:
Government Office for London
Riverwalk House
1st Floor
157 – 161
London
SW1P 4RR

GOL Co-ordinator: Martin Wilkinson

07769 640632 (Mobile)
020 7217 3405 (Fax)
mwilkinson.gol@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk

DTI Co-ordinator: Alan Proud

Bay 191
151 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 9SS

020 7215 3689 (Office)

07834 667061 (Mobile)
Alan.proud@dti.gsi.gov.uk

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Table of Contents

Introduction Page 3
Exercise Arrangements Page 4
- location
- briefing
- exercise objectives
- DTI exercise
objectives
- Exercise rules
GEG Terms of Reference Page 5
Structure of the GEG Page 6
Participation Pages
7- 8
Exercise scenario Page 9
Method & timetable Pages 9 – 10
Joint post exercise report Pages
10

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Introduction
The Telecoms Industry National Emergency Plan requires
an annual test of the Plan. The first Emergency Planning
Exercise – EMPEX 1 - took place on 20th January 2005.
EMPEX follows the series of Harmony exercises which
tested the Memorandum of Understanding between BT
and C&W .

Under the aegis of the Telecommunications Industry –

Emergency Planning Forum (TI-EPF), member companies
have signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding for
co-operation in emergencies. The signatories to the MoU
have also signed a Confidentiality agreement. The MoU is
supported by the National Emergency Plan for the UK, of
which the National Emergency Alert for
Telecommuncications is an integral part. NEAT allows for
the BT National Network Management Centre at Oswestry,
or the Cable & Wireless Global Network Operations Centre
at Small Heath Birmingham, to open up audio conference
bridges to allow Communication Service Providers (CSPs)
24 hour contacts to report details of network incidents,
their impact, and any requirements for assistance.

EMPEX 1 recommended that in EMPEX 2 government

should be more fully involved and that media
communications for all participants should be tested. A
Government Executive Group (GEG) comprising DTI, CSIA
and CCS, has therefore been established to participate in
the exercise. An industry convened audio media
communications bridge, attended by DTI [and OFCOM]
media representatives will harmonise the media message
amongst industry, government and OFCOM.

[The Scottish Executive and government Office North East

will also partcipate.]

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Exercise Arrangements

Location
Government Office for London
1st Floor
Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London
SW1P 4RR

Briefing
This will be conducted for all the participants, including
GEG members, from 0930 to 0950 by the industry exercise
planners at Riverwalk House. The exercise starts
immediately afterwards.

Exercise Objectives
- test the procedures and processes of the TI-EPF
MoU/National Emergency Plan
- incorporate the EMPEX 1 recommendations as
appropriate
- include participation of central government/devolved
administrations and industry as appropriate
- provide familiarisation for those people who would
use the MoU in a real event

DTI exercise objectives

To test :
- central government participation in the exercise
through the Government Executive Group
- liaison arrangements between GEG and the local
response managed by Scottish Executive and
Government Office North East
- media communications through the industry
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communications bridge
- audio telecommunications conference facilities

Exercise Rules
- the exercise will be played in real time
- messages (telephone, fax, e-mail) to be headed with
“Exercise EMPEX2”
- all messages/issues to be logged using appropriate
operation logs
- if a real incident occurs the exercise may be
terminated

Government Executive Group: Terms of Reference

The Government Executive Group will:

i) Coordinate the government’s response to the

emergency including giving such advice or Direction to
relevant persons, as it considers appropriate, for
protecting human welfare1 and national security2, and
ensuring the effective and equitable use of resources, to
the greatest extent practicable;

ii) Comprise representatives from DTI including its News

unit, the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the Central
Sponsor for Information Assurance;

iii) Be chaired by DTI in its role as lead government

department;

iv) Liaise with relevant persons in formulating its response

including, but not limited to, the Scottish Executive, the
Government Office for the North East, the NEAT
conference bridge, the media communications bridge,
individual telecoms operators, OFCOM, NISCC and NSAC.

1 As defined in the Civil contingencies Act 2004

2 In the context of Section 94 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 as amended by Schedule 17 of the
Communications Act 2003
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Government Executive Group

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Participation3

Government Executive Group (GEG)

Role Name Organ Contact

isatio numbers
n
Incident Controller DTI
Support Manager DTI
Logkeeper DTI
Media DTI
Communications
Information Alan Proud DTI 020 7215
Manager 3689
Information DTI
Manager
NEWS DTI
Legal Suzanne DTI
Coe*
Down-stream oil Paul DTI
emergency Borthwick*
planning
Fuel & Power Tim Rook* DTI
Emergency
Planning
Fuel & Power Duncan DTI
Emergency Adams*
Planning
HMG NEAT Dave CSIA
Rapporteur Mowbray
David Heath CSIA
COBR Nigel Brown CCS
Electronic Security Bob NISCC
Downie*
Physical Security Adrian NSAC
Cleve*

Scottish Executive and GO- North East

Scottish Executive
Gregor Lindsay 0131 244 2561
3 * Indicates participation by phone only
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Gregor.Lindsay@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Stephanie Amice 0131 244 2183

Stephanie.amice@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

GO- North East

David Hay 0191 202 2227
David.hay@gone.gsi.gov.uk

Industry

C&W NEAT Audio Conference Bridge

Xxxxyyyyy. PIN aaaabbcc followed #

Media Communications Audio Conference Bridge

Xxxxyyyyy. PIN aaaabbcc followed #

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Exercise Scenario
- single wide geographical area to be affected;
- severe weather, storms and flooding, snow and ice
affecting both fixed and mobile infrastructure;
- central Scotland/Edinburgh [key location] with North
East also affected;
- selected number of Communications Service
Providers (CSPs) affected;
- invocation of the NEAT process.

Method & Timetable

09.30 – 09.50
- briefing on exercise by industry EMPEX 2 planners
09.50
- start of exercise

Thursday 19th January 10.30 (as if Wednesday 18th

22.00)
- severe weather in Scotland & NE causes power
outages, structural damage to telecoms
infrastructure
- 1st NEAT alert to be managed by C&W
- initial damage assessment
- initial impact assessment
- initial requests for assistance

Thursday 10.30 – 11.30

- HMG NEAT rapporteur liaises between NEAT bridge
and GEG and vice versa
- at end of 1st industry NEAT bridge, industry NEAT
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rapporteur provides oral and brief written report to

GEG
- 12.00 – 13.00 1st industry media bridge attended by
GEG media rep.
- 11.30 – 13.00 GEG prepares response on NEAT
strategic issues
- 13.00 – 13.30 working lunch

13.00 – 14.00
- 2nd NEAT call
- GEG Incident Controller attends 2nd NEAT call and
gives response
- updated telecommunications impact assessment
- shopping list of requirements for assistance
- offers of assistance from other CSPs

14.00 - 14.30
- GEG prepares final report

14.30 – 15.00
- 2nd (final) industry media bridge attended by GEG
media rep. to agree updated media statement

15.00 – 15.30
- 3rd industry NEAT bridge with final closing reports
from industry, GEG Incident Controller

15.45 – 16.15
- hot wash-up review: industry, GEG, media, [OFCOM,
GO-North East, Scottish Executive], observers

16.30 – 17.00
- hot wash-up exercise review led by industry EMPEX 2
industry planning team and close

Joint Post Exercise Report

- to be compiled by EMPEX 2 industry planning team
- to contain feedback from the exercise de-brief in
terms of issues raised and recommendations for fine
tuning the MoU/NEP and support operational
procedures
- report to be completed and presented to TI-EPF for
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sign off by end February 2006

- TI-EPF to take ownership and implement the
recommendations and upgrade the respective
documentation

BR2
Content & Communications Industries
December 2006

Ref: EXERCISE EMPEX2A.rtf

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