Disaster and Health Missions
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OPERATION READY 2007
World's Largest Airport-Based Mass Casualty Drill
On October 27th,2007 Massport and 60 other participating local, state, and federal agencies and organizations including the North East MA MRC conducted a full-scale emergency drill at Boston Logan International Airport. The exercise code-named “Operation Ready 2007,” was the world’s largest airport-based mass casualty drill.
A simulated, runway collision involving two passenger aircraft tested response capabilities, communications procedures, emergency airfield access, and the ability to transport hundreds of casualties to area hospitals. More than five hundred volunteers and up to 1000 emergency personnel participated in the exercise.
The simulated runway collision involving two passenger aircraft at Boston Logan International Airport kicked off the world’s largest airport-based mass casualty exercise.
Some 400 volunteer "victims", (30 NEMRC volunteers) triaged in color-coded t-shirts, were the main players in the exercise which mobilized 60 different agencies including 13 area hospitals, 1,000 emergency personnel, about 50 ambulances, 35 fire vehicles, two helicopters, eight boats, and about 20 buses.
Code-named Operation Ready 2007, the drill was designed to test the emergency response capabilities of the airport, local, state and federal agencies and the ability of those agencies to communicate effectively with each other during a crisis. In addition, the exercise challenged emergency medical teams to transport hundreds of casualties from the airfield to area hospitals and those hospitals to process the victims quickly.
The victims included NEMRC members, hundreds of Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets, Boy Scouts from the Chelmsford’s Troop 77, employees from several area health organizations, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Cambridge Health Alliance, and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. Also involved were the Framingham Auxiliary Police, Robert Half Legal, Fidelity Investments, Northeastern University and CERT - Community Emergency Response Teams. Massport, working with the Massachusetts Office on Disability, placed a special focus on disabled passengers. Rescuers had the task of assisting blind victims accompanied by guide dogs, as well as a mobility-impaired individual. Many of the victim participants spoke a foreign language and the exercise examined how quickly foreign consulates are notified.
"Our first priority is the safety and security of the traveling public," said Thomas J. Kinton, Jr., CEO & Executive Director of Massport. "This drill emphasized the importance of teamwork with a single objective in mind: to save lives."
Objectives of Operation Ready 2007 included:
• Evaluating mass casualty operations, transport capabilities, and surge impacts to area hospitals.
• Reviewing regional traffic plans of law enforcement and state transportation agencies to optimize the flow of emergency vehicles.
• Evaluating the interoperability of public and private emergency operation centers (EOCs), and the interaction of emergency plans of public agencies, corporate partners, hospitals and foreign consulates.
"At Mayor Menino’s urging, Boston EMS and other city agencies have made it a priority to test and retest our emergency preparedness plans. This exercise tested our ability to assemble the personnel enabling us to dispatch dozens of ambulances to Logan and safely transport hundreds of people to area hospitals in a short amount of time," said Richard A. Serino, Chief of Department, Boston EMS. "We also tested a new patient tracking system that will be utilized by EMS, hospitals and emergency management partners for a comprehensive patient tracking system ensuring patient accountability and family reunification. Each time we work together with our partners in City, State and Federal agencies as well as private institutions and businesses, we strengthen those relationships to better serve the residents and visitors of Boston."
As part of the drill, Massport’s communications department held simulated real-time briefings for journalism students from Boston University’s College of Communication and Emerson College.
Federal regulations require large airports to conduct training drills once every three years and Massport tries to hold a drill once a year. The last large scale drill at the airport was Operation Atlas in 2005.
GOVERNOR PATRICK'S STATEWIDE TASK FORCE
on Emergency Preparedness for People With Unique Disaster Needs
Throughout the late summer and early fall NEMRC staff and volunteers worked with the Shelter Work Group for the Statewide Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and People with Unique Needs. The contributions of NEMRC members have been credited for bringing work group members to an awareness of the challenges faced by stakeholders who provide services in all-hazards mitigation, planning, response and recovery.
The Steering Committee of the Statewide Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and People with Unique Needs, on behalf of the Executive Office of Public Safety, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Massachusetts Office on Disability, and the UMASS Medical School, E. K. Shriver Center first met in February 2007 to initiate a collaborative process to improve emergency planning efforts across the state.
Former NEMRC Director Nancy Murphy was an invited and attended the second Summit in October to review progress, provide general input and discuss next steps. A final report of the Task Force with recommendations is being prepared for the Governor.
PREPAREDNESS
Hazmat Awareness Class
The NEMRC sponsored two sessions of a HazMat Awareness class that credentialed 28 volunteers from two Medical Reserve Corps units, as well as representatives from several local boards of health and one fire services department. The courses were taught in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services who provided the course materials and instructors for both classes. Students chose between one of two sections offered to accommodate working volunteers. The six hour course was offered in a single all day session or two shorter evening classes totaling the course required hours.
Students were taught to identify the basic chemical and physical properties of hazardous materials. They gained a basic understanding of the detection methods and equipment that are used to monitor and identify hazardous materials by professional HazMat personnel.
The class included an introduction to the ICS system. They were taught to identify elements of ICS needed to coordinate responses to an “all hazards” incident. The basic introductory course gave the student to opportunity to be certified in ICS100. Students written course assessment were very positive. The instructors praised the Medical Reserve Corps leaders for their preparedness foresight and ahead of the curve planning process.
SPECIAL POPULATIONS CONFERENCE
Special Populations Conference - NEMRC attended the first Special Populations Conference on March 16, 2007 at the Logzan Hilton Hotel. Former Director Nancy Murphy facilitated tabletop discussions between persons with disabilities, provider organizations and local & state officials from DPH and emergency management. The conference was a first step to bring disciplines together in an effort to assist persons with disablities with their personal preparedness training.