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IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART 1, GO HERE: ECOMM IN POST 9/11 ERA
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART 2, GO HERE: ECOMM IN POST 9/11 ERA PT2
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART 3, GO HERE: ECOMM IN POST 9/11 ERA PT3
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"Emergency Communications In The Post-WTC 9/11 Era"
part 4 of 7
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by Robert Hejl - W2IK
First responder at WTC 9/11 "Ground Zero" Ex-OES, Ex-AEC, Hurricane Bob, Iniki, Andrew, LI Wildfires, "Storm Of The Century", New England Ice Storms, Flight 800 and other emergency events
all rights reserved. Contents may NOT be copied or used in
any form or part thereof without written permission
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Part Four: Terrorist Event Preparation
Before I discuss, in terms of equipment, preparation for supporting emergency communications during a terrorist event, I wish to talk about mental and emotional preparedness for such disasters:
Mental preparedness is just as important as proper communications training. Most amateur radio operators can learn how to properly use a radio or be taught to set up a communications post when deployed during a natural disaster such as a hurricane or manning a shelter due to flooding. However, we must remember that during a terrorist event it is quite a different matter. When there is a hurricane, it is easier to track the hurricane's path and predict what might lay ahead. We can set ourselves mentally and emotionally for what may happen during a natural disaster. The same cannot be said during a terrorist incursion. The first terrorist event quite possibly may lead to other strikes in ways which cannot be readily forseen. When we are asked to deploy, will the information we are given be accurate? There have been greater instances of mis-reporting during terrorist attacks, both here and abroad, than the reporting of efficient, true facts. Facts that we would need to know and work with to in order to complete our communications obligations and at the same time have our emotions in check.
The one event I have spoken about before involves a "one-point" terrorist act that evolves into a "multidimensional event". These are disasters that trigger or combine with weaknesses within an existing area that will result in a "super event". An example of a super event that might occur is if due to a terrorist attack on a commerical jetliner we are called out for the possibility of a crash at or near a local airport. So, we prepare mentally, emotionally and equipment procurement with the idea that our deployment would be for an event not unlike a crash due to equipment malfunction. Fire Departments and Rescue groups train for this type of crash all the time. However, let's say that this plane crashes during an emergency landing at San Antonio Airport in Texas. Depending upon it's direction and altitude, during such a crash it might clip or hit the chemical tanker cars that Union Pacific routinely has parked on it's tracks which parallel along Wetmore Avenue and are adjacent to the airport. I have read some of the chemicals in these tankers. Their contents are very scary. Let's say the plane attempts a landing but crashes into these tankers releasing their contents. The plane, as it crashes, continues another 300 feet. At that point it might hit the aviation fuel stored in large tanks at the outer perimeter of the airport where other planes (delivery services, etc.) are also parked. So, in this one terrorist crash event the plane ruptures dangerous chemicals from the tanker cars, hits the volatile aviation fuel and sparks a tremendous fireball that ejects toxic fumes from the chemicals into the air. This "super event" would mean the evacuation of tens of thousands of nearby residents and businesses.
Without the mental toughness to perform and improvise under such changing and stressful situations, you could easily withdraw into an "emotional shell" and become shut off from what needs to be done. If this happens, it would cripple your ability to be an effective communicator. You need to remain calm and focused even when parameters change. In remaining calm and acting as a communications professional it will make those around you feel more secure in the outcome and even in how they perform their tasks.
I repeat: Always remember that during a terrorist event, the emphasis on a particular priority might quickly shift to another level, pace or place. As another, but this time true example: During the WTC disaster at "Ground Zero", we were in the midst of what would have been called a search and rescue operation, at the same time wary that an additional terrorist strike might take place. This induced a double-edged stress level. Then, the situation changed because it was determined that there was a hazmat threat caused by all the chemicals discharged when the buildings fell, such as hundreds of gallons of battery acid and tons of freon, etc. The situation might become even more amplified due to the possibility of these chemicals combining to form even more lethal compounds such as mustard gas. This quickly added to our already high stress level. Still another threat was also revealed a bit later when it was discovered that one of the buildings housed medical waste so there were bio-toxins that could have easily been released in the air by the fires within the building. Again, another stressful situation piled on top of the basic operational stress. As you can see, emergency operations can easily shift to a different level and with that change so would you in order to meet the extreme needs of the mushrooming event. Prepare to be flexible. Think ahead. Could you re-deploy quickly to another location? Would you have enough supplies and equipment to cover any additional needs? Are you able to fight off the increased pressure to do your job in the midst of changing events?
Dealing with, and working through, these additional threats can test the metal of us all. (By the way, many of us who were deployed at "Ground Zero" during that time have since developed what is being called "WTC Cough" which was an unforseen effect from breathing in the dust particles at the site.) However, do not expect such an involved event to be thurst upon you should the unlikely possibility occur that you are asked to deploy for a terrorist event. Also, be aware that usually terrorist events are spotty at best and not wide-scale due to the limited resources of terrorists and the limited number of "followers", but it can happen. And how does one cope during any terrorist act and at the same time supply emergency communications support?
No one can give you a present of "mental toughness" nor can all of us be expected to face the full impact in the aftermath of a terrorist attack along with it's endless combinations of additional evolving complexities. To be faced with a terrorist event means the possibility, although very slim, of seeing destruction close up and often mentally equating the victim's plight to the possible plight of our own family and friends. The temptation to personalize this type of tragedy must be avoided at all costs. Do not waiver from the reason you are there: Supplying communications as part of a team that is responding to the event. Focus on radio and the important job you are preforming and not the sorrow. Try as hard as you can to direct your emotional energies towards doing your communications job as best as you can.
There are several ways to do this. One is to envoke the idea that this is actually a drill and that your skills are being tested. Another is to make a test of yourself by using a "personal points" approach. Give yourself mental points for each communications and direct communications-based observation you have properly made in an attempt to reach 100. This redirects your thoughts away from the ugliness and more towards your communications duties. Another way is to observe what others are doing and see how they are handling the situation. When positive things happen at the site, such as a rescue, rejoice in the fact that one more soul was saved and one more family, whom you will never meet, were also saved from permanent heartache. Not to be disrespectful, but sometimes even "breaking the mental ice" is needed by an occasional joke as long as it isn't event related. At the Incident Command Center during the WTC disaster, I was surrounded by police and rescue workers. When I spied a tray of donuts at the food area, out came my jokes about "cops and donuts". The police at the scene laughed at my comments. It helped release their stress and my own. Changing "mental gears" in this fashion will help you weather your deployment. Make sure that when you take a break at your deployment area that you have a book to read or crossword puzzles to attempt. Remind yourself that you have relatives and friends back at home who love you and will support you after your deployment is completed. Quite often the cure of any depression caused by a terrorist event is the release to your family and friends. By relating what you went through in the fulfillment of your communications duties you will unburden yourself and educate your family about what really transpired.
There is a very small, yet distinct possibility of seeing human remains in all types of degradation, such as those witnessed by rescue crews during a plane crash, especially if your deployment takes you to the triage area or incident command post. This does not mean that you will be charged with any responsibility of victim removal, but you may be faced with seeing this happen as you fulfill your communications duties. Some of us cannot tolerate such scenes. This won't be a television show. It will be real life with real victims. Many emergency service people, such as fire/rescue, have learned to work beyond what they see towards a goal of helping those who might still be able to be saved. These are your neighbors whom you are helping. Your community and country thank you as they will benefit from your efforts.
Let's get away from developing scenarios about terrorism or listening to those who have. There are too many that are being thrown around by people who have no right to do so and no idea of what they are talking about. These are usually generated from the news sources whom are what I call "media terrorists". They want to sell papers or have you glued to the radio or television and will drag in any so-called expert to do so. Most of their reporting belongs more on a science fiction program rather than a news program. The actual facts about terrorism tend to be very boring and simple. One involves chemical or biological terrorism. If a terrorist wanted to kill tens of thousands of people, then chemical or biological attacks would not be the way to go. Any event involving either biological or chemical agents would require more money, manpower and product than any terrorist group can obtain for the results as theorized by "experts". As an example, the terrorist attack on the subway in Japan a few years ago was meant to kill thousands. It did not. And part of this plan was developed by chemical terrorist experts. Biological and chemical agents have either a short active lifespan, a small effective range or must be emitted in great quantities within a small, closed environment. Subway tunnels are designed to breathe. The ventilation system passes many more cubic feet of air than you might imagine. When someone on TV states that one drop of this or that could kill thousands, he is spouting theoretical jabber and not actual facts. These bio-chemical toxins normally won't work when it's freezing, they don't last long in hot weather and wind will spread it so thin it will lose it's effectiveness. You also have to either get it directly on you or inhale it for it to do any harm, so the best defense is to get out into the fresh air and wash any area exposed.
So, now let's go back to that original WTC "Ground Zero" problem. It is now quite obvious that the only people who might have become ill due to the rogue chemicals combining and becoming airborne were those who were in very close proximity (within 100 feet or so) if toxic compounds or gases had been uncovered. Just the fact of being several hundred feet away, most of us were not in danger. If we had known that, then our stress would not have been as great. We were ill informed during the event. Had some of us known the real conditions, that the possible exposure area was very small, then people would have not been scurrying around looking for full face masks and could have done a better job by not fearing. Instead, ill informed by "experts" at the scene when we were told poison gas could quickly cover several city blocks, we feared.
Let me give you one line about the anthrax scare right after 9/11:
During the period in which one person died each week from anthrax, about 400 times that amount died from flu-related ailments around the country. Again, too much press giving too much wrong information in order to get you to buy their newspapers.
OK, a few more words about anthrax: Forget all the theories spouted by would-be experts and look at some cold, hard facts. Things that really did happen. During the "cold war days" there was an accident at a bioweapons plant in a place called Sverdlovsk (since re-named Ekaterinburg) USSR in 1979. This represented a release of hundreds of millions of anthrax spores into the air. More than any terrorist group could ever wish to obtain. Even though the local population was not notified, out of a city of over ONE MILLION only 66 people died. These were mainly plant workers. And this was at a location that made the stuff, no where near a place where most of us live. Many studies have shown that large amounts of anthrax must be inhaled for someone to become infected. Once the anthrax spores have been released into the air they do become a threat, especially if they are in a building with a closed ventilation system. If you are ever in a building that has been threatened by some anthrax scare, if you can't evacuate the building as soon as possible such as due to a power outage that stops elevators, open every window even if you have to break them. Out in the open air anthrax spores follow a very narrow path in the direction the wind is blowing. Once they hit the ground they stay there and are no longer a threat to being inhaled. So as a wide-scale terror weapon they fall far short of actually infecting a large population.
Terrorism is meant to disrupt, not kill. It is meant to make us feel vunerable. It is the irresponsible reporting and rumors that actually develops fear within us. When we are better informed, we fear less. And when we fear less, we can do our job more effectively.
GO TO PART 5 BY CLICKING BELOW
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