Helo Med Evac Operations during Dulles Airport Emergency Exercise 2007

The Helo Med Evac Landing Zone Operation
Supported By Loudoun County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
For The Washington Dulles International Airport Emergency Exercise, May 5, 2007

This is the story of what we saw and did during our detail to the Emergency Helo Med Evac Operation

By Norm Styer - AI2C of Clarks Gap, Virginia
Member of the Loudoun County Amateur Radio Emergency Service


Introduction The alert notice came from Tom Dawson - WB3AKD at our February meeting of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group: Set May 5th aside for the Dulles Airport Emergency Drill. In April, Gary Quinn - NC4S requested that all volunteers step forward; I volunteered to help. In early May, Gary told me that I was assigned to the helo med evac site just like the last operation. Then on April 30th, I attended the all hands meeting at the Cascades Library. With five days to go, most functions and activities were identified and folks had been assigned to most. Several big comm vans would be pre-positioned for our net control activities. The operations plans and operating nets, repeaters and other radio frequencies were reviewed. This would be bigger and better than the last one. Usually ARES's things don't have this luxury; normally, you just have time to grab your go bag.
The All Hands Meeting Tom Dawson, WB3AKD of Round Hill, the Emergency Coordinator for Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Loudoun County, briefed about forty-five amateur radio volunteers at the Cascades Library in eastern Loudoun County on Monday, April 30, 2007. The Operations Plans were briefed and most assignments and duties were firmed up.
The Assembly Area I set two alarms for 5 AM and was on the road off of Canby within the hour. I had packed everything the night before. I carried a dual-band handheld radio and a second 2-meter handheld with fully charged batteries and a couple dozen AA backups. Then there were three sandwiches, 4 sodas, a big bag of potato chips, and box of chocolate cookies.This stuff went into the backpack with a change of clothes, some tools, a Red Cross first aid kit, a flashlight, and a raincoat. Oh, yes, my camera, too. Security was more this time. As I monitored the local VHF frequencies, a lot of arriving folks were alarmed at all the gates and the 'not-wave-through' delays. They knew we were coming and quickly routed us to extra non-employee check-in lines. I was on the roster and was cleared to proceed. I found Carol Boehler - KF4TJJ at the assembly area checking in ARES volunteers. We had to sign away any liability claim and then were issued an identification card and lanyard. By 8 AM everybody was there. The evacuation buses were first class, like brand new, and the drivers were fast at work covering all seats with plastic. The ARES bus riding crews had placed big four-prong suction cup antenna mounts on the outside of each bus right behind the driver. These would support the APRS and voice coordination net. About 8:20 AM I found a ride out to the landing zone with the airport authorities who would also manage the landing zone. They took good care of us. I was followed soon after by Karl Hamilton - KI4BDS who also pulled duty at the landing zone. Karl's handheld had went 'belly up' earlier in the week. So, he brought a dismounted mobile rig, a j-pole antenna and a 12-volt storage battery. We were well equipped and only about 100-meters from the net control station.
*The Victims*	The volunteer victims gather at the moulage area for their make up. They numbered over 130 and eventually took special buses to the crash site where they played their roles. Most of them got to ride on to one the area hospitals.

ARES Check-In

Carol Boehler - KF4TJJ of Leesburg assists Gary Strong - AI4IN of Ashburn register for the exercise. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Carol Boehler - KF4TJJ of Leesburg assists Gary Strong - AI4IN of Ashburn register for the exercise. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Carol, KF4TJJ, and Denny, KF4TJI, Boehler registered ARES members and issued identification badges. Members were obliged to sign a 'no fault claim' to participate.

ARES members sign in to the operation, sign the 'no claim release statement and receive identification badges. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Squad Recruits

A group of new recruits from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue assemble for the exercise. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

American Red Cross

Larry Hughes - K3HE of Leesburg prepare to depart for the Red Cross Family Assistance site. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Larry Hughes - K3HE of Leesburg prepare to depart for the Red Cross Family Assistance site. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Larry Hughes, K3HE, a regular Loudoun County American Red Cross worker, prepares to head for his assignment at the family assistance station.

At the right is one of nine special regional American Red Cross mobile communications package that can provide a remote T-1 satellite communication service. I wondered if they 'fired it up?'

One of nine special communications packages fielded throughout the nation by the American Red Cross. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

The Emergency From the Helo Landing Zone, we had a good view of the action. Within minutes of the incident, fire and rescue vehicles and crews were arriving. On the far right are the three mobile communications shelters that ARES used to support the operation.
The Helo Med Evac Operation Within ten minutes of the start of the incident, medical evacuation helicopters began arriving. We had support from four air operations: Fairfax County Police - N408FC, MedStar - N139NH, INOVA Fairfax - N2258F, and US Park Police Eagle One - N22PP. Evacuation began around 1000 hours and within the hour, nine patients had been air lifted to local hospitals. Things seemed to move faster that the last exercise. Patients were brought to the landing zone very quickly. Karl and I would report arrival of aircraft and the destination of departing patients. Everyone was gone by 1102 hours.


The air and ground EMT's escort the patient to the waiting aircraft.
Final Pass By The Crash Site By 1130 hours, the med evac landing zone operation was terminated; I closed station with the NCS. And I got a close up view of the cleared crash site on the way off the exercise site. I checked out with Carol Boehler - KF4TJI in the assembly area and by 1300 hours, I was home on Canby.
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