In early October, three Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets enrolled in the school’s emergency management degree program traveled to Oak Bluffs with their instructor Ronald Bearse to meet with the emergency managers and health agents to gather information for a Capstone project, planning an all-hazard tabletop exercise for the Island.

A tabletop exercise involves key personnel discussing simulated scenarios in an informal setting and is conducted to review, assess and improve a wide variety of emergency management roles, responsibilities, plans, policies and procedures.

First-class cadets Michael Barry, Scott Camacho and Michael Oar queried Island officials as to their objectives and goals in developing this type of exercise. This fall the cadets will develop a plan complete with the measurable objectives and metrics required by federal agencies when administering grants.

The plan will be delivered in December. The cadets are exlected to return to the Island in late spring.