Disaster Preparedness Table Top Training

Building Resilience Through Tabletop Training Exercise

When a hurricane threatens Jamaica, the difference between order and chaos often lies in one thing: preparedness. On the 23rd of August 2025, the Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston hosted a Disaster Preparedness Tabletop Training Exercise (TTX) that brought together Rotary Clubs from Kingston and St. Catherine along with a key emergency partner — Office of Disaster Preparedness Emergency Management (ODPEM).

What is a Tabletop Training Exercise?

Unlike a field drill where equipment and personnel are deployed, a TTX is a discussion-based simulation. Participants gather around a table to walk through realistic disaster scenarios. It’s a safe, cost-effective way to test plans, identify gaps, and strengthen coordination before a real crisis hits.

The Objective

The mission of this training was simple but vital:
✅ Strengthen hurricane preparedness across Rotary Clubs.
✅ Improve communication interoperability with emergency agencies.
✅ Build leadership resilience under pressure.

By rehearsing before, during, and after hurricane phases, clubs ensure they are ready to act quickly and effectively when disaster strikes.

Testing Real-World Scenarios

The exercise was structured around three critical phases of hurricane response:

• Phase I: Preparedness
  A disaster coordinator is suddenly unavailable. Clubs must assign backups, share readiness checklists, and switch to virtual briefings when a central hub becomes inaccessible.

• Phase II: Impact
  With power outages and telecom failures, some clubs are cut off. The lead unit is incapacitated, forcing a backup command to step in. Meanwhile, reports of coastal threats demand rapid verification with the JDF Coast Guard.

• Phase III: Recovery
  After the storm, clubs conduct welfare checks, report damage assessments, and mobilize Rotary’s relief supplies — while ensuring transparent communication with ODPEM and emergency partners.

Each inject tested resilience, adaptability, and inter-agency coordination in ways that mirror real hurricane challenges.

Why It Matters

For communities across Jamaica, Rotary has always been more than service projects — it’s about being a trusted partner in times of crisis. This training demonstrates Rotary’s commitment to preparedness, not just response.

As Marlon Brown, Regional Cordinator at ODPEM, stated, “The preparation phase is the most important phase, after a disaster strikes there isn’t much that can be done”.

The Way Forward

The success of this training in Kingston and St. Catherine paves the way for replicating the TTX in other vulnerable areas across the country. By sharing lessons learned and refining our disaster playbook, Rotary is helping Jamaica stand stronger against future storms.