Preparedness:
D.C. Emergency Management Agency
With Barbara Childs-Pair
Deputy Director,
D.C. Emergency Management Agency
Thursday, July 1 8, 2002; 1:30 p.m. EDT

The events of Sept. 11 have brought the United States to a heightened level of awareness. Specialists advise that individuals can take steps to improve their safety in the event of an emergency, but they should also have a solid understanding of the national, state and local plans for responding to a terrorist event.

The District government has received $12.9 million in appropriations to enchance preparedness in the event of another terrorist attack. It has reworked its emergency operations plan and has modeled it after the federal plan. Barbara Childs-Pair, deputy director of the D.C. Emergency Management Agency was online Thursday, July 18 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the District's readiness.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Vienna. Va.: When 9/11 happened, it seemed there were conflicts between what the federal government was doing and what the District government was doing. What provisions are you making to ensure that this doesn't repeat itself?

Barbara Childs-Pair: We have done a lot of planning in that area since 9/11. We have met with the White House, the Office of Personnel Management, GSA and other appropriate federal agencies to ensure communications is in place to coordinate all of our response efforts and they are inclusive in our District Response Plan.

Washington, D.C.: How do we get a copy of the D.C. Emergency Evacuation Plan?

Barbara Childs-Pair: The D.C. Evacuation Plan is currently on the District's Department of Transportation Web site, ddot@dc.gov.

Alexandria, Va.: How can a family be prepared in case of an atatck?

Barbara Childs-Pair: What a family can do to prepare itself is to have a disaster kit with a portable battery operated radio, at least three days of non-perishable foods, design a meeting place in case they have to leave home, and look at our family preparedness guide which is on our Web site, which is http://dcema.dc.gov. It talks about all the kinds of things you can do to create an emergency plan.

Washington, D.C.: If there were a terrorist attack right now, how would the D.C. Emergency Management Agency respond?

Barbara Childs-Pair: We have an emergency notification protocol which would inform all of our emergency response agencies to report to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) which is located at 2000 14th St., NW. This notification would include the appropriate federal agencies within the region. The fire department and the Metropolitan Police Department would be the first on the scene of the incident with all of the other emergency response agencies in our EOC with Mayor Williams. We would then assess the situation and take a next step with a plan of action responding to the incident.

Washington, D.C. : How do you keep down the panic if there is another attack?

Barbara Childs-Pair: Through a number of planning mettings. The mayor has committed to do briefings with the media within an hour of when the incident occurs, briefing the public on what actions he is taking as well as advising them of what action they need to take. He has involved our cable TV channel to ensure that this happens. It is imperative that people have a portable battery-operated radio to be able to get directions and instrtuctions over the radio. He will also utilize the Emergency Alert System to broadcast emergency public protection actions.

Arlington, Va.: Where did D.C. get most of the 12.9 million in funding you reference?

Barbara Childs-Pair: D.C. received $12.6 million from Congress for emergency preparedness planning, training and exercises.

Barbara Childs-Pair: I D.C. received $12.9 million from Congress for planning, training, exercising, procurement of protective equipment and the upgrade of the EMA (Emergency Management Agency).

Leesburg, Va.: The day of the Sept 11 attacks, traffic in DC came to a virtual standstill. With clogged roads it was very difficult for Emergency crews to reach the scene. What traffic control measures are the DC government taking to ensure that an orderly evacuation may occur if the need arises? Also, does the plan include routes that are set aside for emergency crews and first responders only?

Thank you....

Barbara Childs-Pair: Since 9/11, there has been a lot of plannning in this area. We have designated Emergency Event Routes for an expedited rush hour. That's why it is essential that we do all of the plannning in this area with our federal counterparts as well as the transportation departments in Maryland and Virginia. Traffic lights are being synchronized; HOV lanes changed and of course, Metro is part of this planning and response effort so that we have a well coordinated transportation plan.

Washington, D.C.: How big of a staff does DCEMA currently have?
Is this sufficient?

Barbara Childs-Pair: EMA currently has 33 staff persons and certainly would like to have additional staff. The funding recieved from Congress has aided us in this area.

Baltimore, Md.: I recently participated in a mock disaster in downtown Baltimore. There were only about 200 'casualties' but supplies were quickly consumed. What is being done to prepare treatment facilities in this regard?

Barbara Childs-Pair: The Department of Health received funding to build area hospitals' treating capacity for a terrorist event. We also have additional medical supplies on hand if an incident occurs. Yes, we would be overwhelmed but unlike other jurisdictions, we have a lot of military installations that we can call upon to assist with medical treatment which gives us an additional capacity. And of course we would call on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for additional resources.

Loudoun County, Va.: Have you been using consultants to help prepare the District since Sept. 11th?

Barbara Childs-Pair: That is correct. We have attempted to bring in the best from all of the different areas, from plannning to response and recovery for terrorist events to ensure that the District is adequately prepared to respond and recover from any major emergency/disaster in the District.

Barbara Childs-Pair: It is encumbent upon the citizens and tourists to help us. They need to be prepared to take care of themselves up to 72 hours. Prepare your disaster kit; talk with your family about a meeting place. Design your family emergency plan so that we all can be responding to ensure our safety.

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