The master events list contains all the events, messages, etc., in a sequential order. Each event shows which controller must introduce it, and who the recipient is. It is intended for use by the lead controller only, and is used to keep track of the overall progress of the exercise.
It is very useful to generate this list in a database. This can help the management of events during scenario development and can be used to produce lists of events organized by controller.
Table X-1 is an example of a master events list for a threat category V type exercise.
X-1: MASTER EVENTS LIST FOR EXERCISE IN COUNTRY “R” MASTER EVENTS LIST Country R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks iating Event: A fire and explosion, caused by turbine damage occurs at a nuclear power plant (NPP) in country A. This causes the partial activation ntry R’s national nuclear emergency plan (NNEP) organization. The event happened approximately nine hours ago. STARTEX Input 1. Provide all information received from external sources, concerning the event. The PIC and TSC participants will be separated for the first input. They will work separately to develop their assessment of the information available. The NNEP National Coordinator will be separated from both groups.
This input initiates the exercise. Information received either directly from the country A or through the IAEA should be available. If nothing has been received, inputs generated by the exercise control group will be provided. Provide time for participants to assimilate and assess available information to determine impact to country R. Exercise Evaluator will be with PIC to take notes and direct the discussion. Exercise Recorder will be with TSC to take notes. Exercise Simulator will be with the TSC to direct the discussion. Exercise Director will accompany country R’s Health Authority. 15:35 The NNEP National Coordinator requests an initial assessment briefing.
Input 2. Briefing is requested in person by the NNEP National Coordinator for ASAP but not later than 09:45. The PIC and TSC will be brought together and will remain together until after lunch.
The purpose of this input is to help focus the participants on the task at hand. Controller 2 will be the primary recorder. 15:45 The NNEP National Coordinator is briefed. Input 3. Assemble for the briefing. The briefing is simulated and questions asked.
MASTER EVENTS LIST Country R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 10:00 16:00 Multiple requests for information are received from concerned family members of country R’s Armed Forces’ personnel and the media. Input 4A. Television stations are requesting information for early morning news programs and one of them is requesting an interview with the Minister of the Environment. Input 4B. Concerned family members have called country R’s National Defence inquiring about the safety of country R’s Forces personnel in country A. The Acting Lead of Defence Staff has asked the Lead of Medical Services to respond to inquiries. He/she in turn has asked the Health Authority for any information it may have.
The purpose of this input is to sensitise participants to the potential for requests for information from a wide variety of sources entering the system at a number of points. This input is given to the Atmospheric Environments Services (AES) representative. This input is given to a Health Authority TSC representative. 10:15 16:15 The President of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority requests Question Period Notes for the Minister responsible for the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority Input 5. This input will be given to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority PIC representative. The Question Period Notes are to be in the possession of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.
The purpose of this input is to remind the participants of one of their primary functions- to inform the government. This input is given to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority PIC representative.
MASTER EVENTS LIST Country R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 16:30 The media reports on various issues concerning air travel to and from country A’s continent. Input 6A. Country R’s X airlines announce that they are re-routing all flights that might fly over country A. Input 6B. Country R’s Y airlines have announced the cancellation of all flights to and from the nearest city to the emergency site. Input 6C. Y airlines Pilots’ Association issues a statement that they have informed their members to refuse to make flights through the plume and have suggested that travellers with destinations to country A reconsider their travel plans. Input 6D. The union representing the ground handling crews at one of country R’s International Airports have advised their members not to handle flights that originated or stopped over in country A. Note: Inputs 6A - 6D are intended to be video inputs. A hard copy of the media report is also available for use if necessary. Input 6E. Alliance of country R’s Travel Associations request for information to support members.
This input will require participants to react to actions by various groups, which are based on misinformation or an incomplete understanding of the information. Exercise Simulator will look after video input. This is Video Input 1. Exercise Director will provide this input to External Affairs (EA) PIC representative.
MASTER EVENTS LIST Country R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 10:45 16:45 The environmental group “Greenpeace” has issued a statement suggesting that “a similar emergency could easily occur at a country R nuclear generating station since country A’s reactor is similar to those of country R’s and it is operated and maintained to its safety standards. In addition, current and projected country R electrical power requirements do not warrant putting the public safety in such grave jeopardy.”
Input 7. This input is a fax from an environmental group’s office in country R’s capital and will be given to the assembled participants.
The purpose of this input is to require the participants to look at the issues involved in dealing with special interest and/or expert groups. This includes the problem of dealing with inaccurate information presented as fact by such groups. This input is given to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority TSC representative. 11:00 17:00 Country R’s media are clamouring for interviews with government officials (Ministers, President of Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, etc.) for their mid-day news programs. Input 8. Multiple inputs from various media, primarily TV and radio, but also the printed press, to government departments.
This input is intended to require participants to assess or reassess the requirements of the media and how best to deal with them. The inputs will be given to the PIC participants from the Health Authority, EA and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority.
MASTER EVENTS LIST R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 17:25 Unconfirmed report of a second, more serious, explosion at the country A’s NPP. Input 9. This input will be taken from the Internet by the media. Note: This input is intended to be a video input. A hard copy of the media report is also available for use if necessary.
This report is in fact false and is intended to present the problem of dealing with rumour. Exercise Simulator will look after the video. This is Video Input 2. 17:35 “Greenpeace” issues another statement to the effect that “if the report of a second, more serious, explosion at the NPP is true, this would create a catastrophe of biblical proportions.”
Input 10. This is as a result of the input above. It will once again be a fax from the environmental group.
The purpose of this input is to require the participants to deal with inflammatory rhetoric rather than statements of substance. This input will be provided to a Health Authority PIC and TSC representative. 17:50 Citizen action groups are demanding that the licences for similar NPPs not be renewed. They point to the recent safety history of the facilities and to the age of one of them. Input 11. This will be a televised news broadcast concerning picketing at the facilities. Note: This input is intended to be a video input. A hard copy of the media report is also available for use if necessary.
The purpose of this input is to require the participants to deal with current country R nuclear issues. Exercise Simulator will look after the video. This is Video Input 3.
MASTER EVENTS LIST Country R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 12:20 18:20 A TV news station reports in its 12:00 edition that a spokesperson for country A’s continent nations has stated that six nations are testing milk for deadly radioactive contamination. There is additional coverage of related country R news including citizen action groups in various parts of country R questioning the need for testing of country R milk.
Input 12A. A TV news station 12:00 edition reports that a country R neighbour TV station has stated that several country A continent nations will test milk for Iodine-131. There is an unconfirmed report from the neighbouring country that an unnamed government source has stated that they are considering testing milk but have not yet made a final decision. Input 12B. The Cheese Producers of country R have been called for a ban on the importation of cheese products from country A. Input 12C. The Wine Growers have called for a ban on importation of this year’s wines from countries surrounding country A. Note: Inputs 12A - 12C are intended to be video inputs. A hard copy of the media report is also available for use is necessary. Input 12D. The Department of Agriculture reports that there have been numerous calls to regional offices, from individual concerned citizens and consumer action groups demanding to know what food products are being/will be affected.
The purpose of this input is to require participants to acknowledge the existence of other influential special interest groups and to deal effectively with the issues they raise. Exercise Simulator will look after the video. This is VideoInput 4. This input will be given to the Department of Agriculture TSC representative.
MASTER EVENTS LIST R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 18:30 The situation at country A’s NPP has become a little clearer. There was not a second, more serious, explosion. Input 13. This input will be a fax from the IAEA.
This input acknowledges the participants’ efforts to seek accurate information. This will be provided to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority TSC representative. 18:45 Misinformation, rumour and conflicting information have heightened the public’s perception of the perceived risk as compared to the real risk. Concerned citizens and advocate groups are flooding switchboards with demands for information on the impact of the nuclear emergency for country R citizens. In addition, a member of a scientific organization has provided expert opinion to at least one media source.
Input 14A. This input is intended to be provided to various participants to represent the information coming from a variety of sources. Each input will contain a sample of the questions being asked by the public. Input 14B. This input is intended to be a media interview with Dr. Z of country R’s Institute of Radiation Safety. It introduces potential conflicting and/or misinformation. Note: Input 14B is intended to be a video input. A hard copy of the media interview is also available for use if necessary.
This input is intended to sensitise the participants to the real probability that the public’s perception of the risk will be considerably different from the real risk to their health and wellbeing. TheExercise Director will provide this input to a representative of each department. Exercise Simulator will look after the video. This is Video Input 5.
MASTER EVENTS LIST Country R Time Country A Time Event Simulator Actions Remarks 13:15 19:15 The NNEP National Coordinator requests an update briefing. Input 15. This input will be made in person by the NNEP National Coordinator who will be segregated from the process of developing the briefing. The PIC and TSC participants will be separated so that they will be required to physically seek out information.
This input emulates the process that would be in place if the NNEP were fully activated. It will require the participants to develop the briefing package. Exercise Director will accompany country R’s Health Authority. Exercise Evaluator will be with the PIC to take notes and direct the discussion. Exercise Recorder will be with TSC to take notes. Exercise Simulator will be with the TSC to direct the discussion. 14:00 20:00 The briefing is presented. Input 16. Assemble for the briefing. The briefing is presented and questions asked. 14:20 20:20 There is an unconfirmed report of a serious loss of coolant emergency at one of country R’s NPP. Input 17. The apparent cause of the LOCA was a badly corroded header in a steam generator.
This input will be given to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority TSC. 14:30 20:30 ENDEX Input 18. Participants are to be reminded of the time and place for the debriefing.