FIRE FIGHTERS EVACUATE ‘HOSTAGE VICTIM”
By Stas Margaronis
The Port of Redwood City hosted its annual full-scale emergency preparedness exercise on Thursday, Oct. 13.
During the briefing to preparedness participants, Kristine Zortman, Executive Director, Port of Redwood City explained that:
* Due to the pandemic, this year’s full-scale exercise was the first operation since 2019.
* The full-scale exercise is required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and supports the Port of Redwood City’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designation as a Federal Staging Area (FSA).
* In the case of an emergency, the Port of Redwood City is strategically located to keep the movement of goods, people and emergency resources flowing throughout South San Francisco Bay.
Zortman had previously noted:
“We spent $17 million raising Wharfs 1 and 2 by over 3 feet and re-enforcing them to withstand an earthquake of an 8.9 magnitude.”
The Port’s investment has won support from FEMA: “When FEMA discovered that we raised and strengthened the wharf, they designated the Port as the emergency staging area for an earthquake and natural disaster for first responders serving the South (San Francisco) Bay.”
This has allowed the Port to seek federal grants to support the wharfs as an emergency services staging area.
NEW ROLE FOR DRONES
DRONE FLYING PHONE (YELLOW PACKAGE) TO ‘HOSTAGE TAKER’
During the exercise a drone was used to deliver a phone to a pretend hostage taker who was then able to talk to hostage negotiators.
Port Commissioner Stan Maupin said that drones have made a “huge difference” in firefighting, just as an example.
STAN MAUPIN
Maupin was appointed to the Port Commission in 2022. Prior to his appointment, he served for over 32 years in the fire service starting in Foster City. During the last seventeen years, he served in Redwood City where he retired as the Fire Chief in 2020:
“Before when you arrived at a fire you had to send people around the fire to give you a status report. Now with a drone at the scene you can send the drone around the burning structure and get a real time update.”
STEVE LONGORIA
Steve Longoria, Emergency Manager, Port of Redwood City provided the overview of the day’s exercise:
- This year’s event focused on active shooter, hostage at ship and building collapse exercises that included an emergency operations center and field play response simulation with over 130 players.
- New technology was employed during this year’s training, such as a drone used by the crisis response team to deliver a cell phone for communications during the hostage at ship exercise.
- The safety and security of the Port, its people, the community and the surrounding environment are paramount in day-to-day operations and ensure the safety of the maritime community.
REGIONAL PARTNERS
The Port of Redwood City Commissioners and staff were joined by safety and security partners from around the Bay Area. Participating partners included:
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- Redwood City Police and Fire Departments
- Redwood City Communications and Marketing Departments
- Woodside Fire Department
- Central County Fire Department
- Menlo Park Fire Department
- FEMA Task Force 3 USR
BENEFITS OF A FULL-SCALE EXERCISE
POLICE TREAT ‘HOSTAGE VICTIM’
- Highlights the importance of multiagency coordination during an emergency response.
- Strengthens the relationships between local partners.
- Provides regular training opportunities for emergency personnel.
- Applies new response technology in simulation settings.