How did this happen so quickly, and what were those hundreds of people do the week before SVB's collapse? Do they just rehearse taking over banks until one does collapse?
These plans involve a significant amount of preparation and coordination among various government agencies, including the FDIC, the Federal Reserve, and local and state authorities. Prior to a bank's failure, these agencies may conduct stress tests and other assessments to identify potential risks and develop action plans.
In the event of a bank failure, the FDIC typically takes over the bank's operations and quickly sets up new systems to allow for depositors to access their funds. This may involve setting up temporary branches or working with other financial institutions to provide services to affected customers.
It's possible that the people involved in these efforts have undergone training or rehearsals in preparation for a potential bank failure, but there is no information in the provided search results to confirm this. Overall, the ability of the government to quickly respond to a bank failure is due to the existence of contingency plans and the coordinated efforts of various agencies.