The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Campus Resilience (CR) Program, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), convened the third Regional Tabletop Exercise for Institutions of Higher Education (RTTX) on October 11, 2018, at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Building upon the success of the National Seminar and Tabletop Exercise (NTTX), the regional events are hosted multiple times per year, focusing on a risk or threat(s) specific to institutions of higher education (IHEs) within a geographic region. The one-day event focused on a natural disaster threat scenario, specifically a tornado during a large campus event, which is a first for the Campus Resilience Program Tabletop Exercise Series (TTX).
“The RTTX offers an opportunity for IHEs to experience a wide array of emergency management and resilience efforts in action from across federal, state, and local levels,” said Executive Director for Academic Engagement Trent Frazier. “This type of event allows the Department and IHEs to work together to address specific needs of regional academic communities.”
The event brought together more than 128 participants representing 34 colleges and universities from the Edmond, Okla. area, including institutions from Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas. During the event, participating colleges and universities worked through a moderated exercise scenario and an after-action session.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management Director Michelann Ooten delivered keynote remarks alongside University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz. Participants also included representatives from federal, state, and local departments and agencies that support campus resilience.
To learn more about the RTTX and access previous RTTX event materials, visit: https://www.dhs.gov/rttx.