WYPR: Mock Disaster Staged At M & T Bank Stadium (2008-08-04)

If a radioactive bomb suddenly exploded inside M & T Bank Stadium in downtown Baltimore, potentially threatening the lives of thousands of people, how would emergency personnel respond?

That was the point of a major emergency management exercise held Saturday at Ravens stadium, dubbed Operation Purple Haze. It was designed to give first responders experience in handling a simulated attack on the order of 9-11 or a natural disaster. Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.

"If we are proactive in our efforts, it can really not only bring about a sense of safety and security for the citizens in the city and state of Maryland, but it also shows that we are thinking out-of-the-box as we move forward. Not that we hope for an incident to happen, but we need to make sure that we are prepared [so] that it doesn't happen."

A plethora of city, state and federal officials were on hand for the nearly day-long drill, representing such agencies as the Maryland Stadium Authority and
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

While stressing that there's been no threat of an imminent attack, officials said Baltimore has multiple landmarks and sites that could possibly be targeted. Ed McDonough is a spokesman with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

"As you know, Baltimore is the key player in the region in preparedness for a mass casualty event. On any given day, there may be thousands of people gathered in any number of places around here. M & T Bank Stadium or neighboring Oriole Park. First Mariner Arena, the Inner Harbor. the Hippodrome, the Lyric, the Meyerhoff or any number of high-profile facilities or colleges around the city.

Dick Cass, president of the Baltimore Ravens, echoed that sentiment.

"We have a tremendous responsibility to do everything we can to help the 70-thousand fans who come to our stadium, be safe on game day. And this is part of that effort."

At times, the emergency exercise resembled the set of a horror movie. Hundreds of volunteer actors covered in fake blood and ghoulish make-up, played injured and frightened victims. One little boy fell to the ground, moaning. A woman searched frantically for her mother. Others yelled for assistance.

Melissa and Darrell Shelton, a South Baltimore couple, who work at M & T Bank Stadium as security guards, were among the volunteers. Melissa, 32, clutched a bright orange card that described the role she was to enact.

"Deep cuts on the right side of face. Respiratory 22/ pulse 70. Blood pressure 106 over 80. I'm supposed to be a female, [aged] 57 and contaminated."

In uniform and responding to the chaos, were actual police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Rushing back and forth, they set-up incident command, triage and the decontamination of victims, as well as multi-agency communication and emergency public information.

Major Bryan Fisk, dressed in Army fatigues and a beret, is part of the medical team at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Observing the drill, he said while emergency situations may vary, there are key actions that first-responders typically take in a crisis.

"Gathering intelligence on the situation, determining scene safety. The need for decontamination and patient care. And then, trying to find out the best locations to set up those sites. And assisting in whatever way we can."

Officials said they last conducted a full-scale drill of this kind back in 2002. However, they have continued to hold smaller so-called "table-top" exercises on a regular basis which simulate various scenarios.

But the consensus among officials here was they hoped they never have to use this knowledge during a real attack.

I'm Donna Marie Owens, reporting in downtown Baltimore, for 88-1, WYPR.