By Jamie Thompson
EMS1 Staff
WASHINGTON — As the nation’s capital, Washington DC is no stranger to big occasions. But Tuesday’s inauguration of Barack Obama posed an immense challenge to even the most experienced of personnel at DC Fire & EMS.
With as many as 2 million people — one of the largest crowds in Washington’s history — gathering for the historic event, the department’s extensive preplanning was put to the ultimate test.
“It was a phenomenal day and we were proud to be a part of history,” said Billy Hayes, EFO, director of public information and community affairs at the department and FireRescue1 columnist. “This was a banner day, the world’s eyes were on us and we certainly rose to the challenge.”
By 6 p.m. Tuesday, the department had responded to 1,300 calls for service, mainly falls and cold weather issues.
Personnel also had to respond to injuries related to the mass movement of people along the parade route, while several medical tents on the National Mall were converted to warming stations, offering warm liquids and a place to rest. Around 700 people were treated in these tents alone.
In addition, two downtown rail stations were shut down for nearly an hour shortly before 9:30 a.m. after a woman fell onto the tracks. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. DC medics also had to respond to the Capitol’s Statuary Hall during the afternoon when Sen. Edward Kennedy suffered a seizure.
“Most of the calls we had during the day were due to hypothermia,” Hayes said. “We also had issues with people staying outside for extended periods and then going into warming stations, where many collapsed because they were getting too warm too quickly.”
Early planning
The department’s inauguration planning began as far back as June when a committee made up of various agencies began meeting with the Secret Service, before the identity of the new president was even known.
“From June to November we were building off of the previous inauguration plan,” said Larry Schultz, assistant fire chief of operations. “But then when the candidate has been selected, things really step up and anything you might have had before may have to change.
“However, our planning assumptions back at the start did take into account the possibility of this being a historic event.”
One of the department’s major tasks for the inauguration ceremony was producing a mass evacuation plan, which outlined a string of considerations and measures.
They included:
- Enhanced signage, electronic message boards and 1,000 National Guardsman to help direct and control the flow of people
- Most of the entire downtown area being closed to vehicular traffic, which helps deconflict pedestrian vs. vehicle issues
- Fourteen fire stations being along evacuation routes, which could be used to treat injured people or to help in unification efforts. These stations were supplied with extra EMS supplies.
In preparing for the inauguration, Schultz said mobilizing all four platoons had been considered. However, the department sought first to get enough volunteers to work overtime and, according to Schultz, “our people really stepped up to the plate.”
The department has around 330 staff members on duty every day. But their numbers swelled Tuesday by an additional 520 personnel, including 400 members just to cover inauguration-related events.
Secure areas
To reduce the amount of time it would take to respond to an emergency, engine companies were placed inside secure areas. Personnel had to ensure they carried their ID at all times and were checked every time they left or entered one of these areas
One of the big challenges at events such as the inauguration, Schultz said, is in balancing the need for security with being able to ensure quick responses.
“To most people, certain things can seem contrary to delivering a quick service in an emergency, but in today’s climate it’s something that has to be done,” he said.
“Look at terrorist attacks around the world and you’re seeing the increasing use of people wearing public safety uniforms and stealing ambulances and police cars to deliver explosive devices.”
Besides dealing with the extensive security arrangements in place, the department also faced general fire code and safety issues.
Every hotel in the city was inspected along with all inauguration ball sites leading up to inauguration, while metro systems also underwent extensive checks.
“We were making sure the standpipe systems in tunnels worked, that the emergency power down buttons were operating, that the emergency exit shafts opened up, all of those things,” Schultz said.
D.C. Council’s decision to give permission for registered bars and restaurants to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. beginning early Saturday morning and running through early Wednesday morning also presented issues.
To address it, Chief Dennis Rubin instructed mandatory inspection of all nightclubs and met with nightclub owners to encourage them to police themselves in adhering to fire codes.
Looking back on the inauguration day itself, Hayes said he was delighted with the role the department played in ensuring its success.
“The plans that were put in place were phenomenal and the resources we had were pretty amazing,” he said.
“I think everybody was so pleased to be a part of history in the making and we also able to show the what a world class department we have here.”