Marilyn Hollier , University of Michigan: Are You Ready? - Emergency Management Case Studies and Practical Solutions

What If?

Gold Coast Airport Marathon started on Sept. 2 1979 with 124 runners for the full marathon. It has grown every year to include 28,000 runners in 2013. The Gold Coast Airport is the 5th busiest International Airport in Australia.

Marathon Route

Most likely target would be Start/Finish line due to

the concentration of people

Key Spectator gathering areas

124 race participants in 1979

28,000 race participants in 2013

30 countries

Countless Spectators

5,000 more runners than The Boston Marathon

9:30am to 10:00am largest group of runners crossing the finish line.

The Numbers

Race date July 5-6th 2014

What if 2 bombs go off by the finish line?

What Pre-Planning would you do?

11 Road Closures on Saturday

34 Road Closures on Sunday

Smaller Weekend Hospital Staff Shifts

Distance to Hospitals (Walking)

Panic

Confusion

Identifying unconscious victims with no ID

Relatives and Friends crowding waiting rooms

Relatives and Friends going to the wrong Hospitals

The Problems

What do you do?

Bombing Finish Line

Panic, Looking for Help

Mass Trauma

Transportation Chaos

Gold Coast Hospital closed in Sept 2013

Hospital Locations

Start/End of race

Gold Coast University Hospital

The Hospital is just over a mile from the optimal attack point.

New 750 bed Hospital (Best option for victims)

End of Race

Hospital

Gold Coast University Hospital

How do you handle it?

Will there be a mad rush to your Hospital?

Do you go on Lock-Down/Access control?

Do you screen everyone entering the Hospital ED?

How will you identify victims and connect family to victims and patients?

What if the Terrorist is an unidentified victim in your Emergency Department?

How will you handle the media? Dignitaries?

Recovery: address PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Questions?