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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/15/96-13:00CDT
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Olympic Safety & Security; Emergency Response-1996
Chicago, IL, July 15, 1996 (ENN) -- According to Olympic planning authorities, no stone has been left unturned in their efforts to plan for all possible contingencies during the upcoming games in Atlanta. Experts say that a preliminary assessment of potential problems would reveal some interesting challenges that may lay ahead for the Olympic security, medical, and emergency services staff.
In order of likelihood, Clark Staten of the Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI) has issued the following list of potential problems that the staff of the Olympics might anticipate and have to contend with:
<1> Heat Injuries/Emergencies
Having planned and acted as the Fire/EMS incident commander for the Chicago-based "Taste of Chicago" celebration, in which as many as 1.5 million people participate each year, Staten says that Atlanta weather may prove to be a major difficulty for Olympic medical officials. With high temperatures and humidity, the possibility of numerous cases of heat cramps, exhaustion and stroke can be expected. Depending on conditions, literally hundreds of people may be overcome with heat emergencies, each day, during the games.
<2> Mass Casualty Personnel/Preparation
According to Olympic officials, and in keeping with the general "volunteer spirit" of the games, most emergency medical care at the Olympics will be provided by American Red Cross first aiders, volunteer EMT's, nurses, and doctors from throughout the country. While this may be a cost effective alternative to hiring a large professional staff, some experts fear that it may also prove ineffectual in the management of a potential large multiple-casualty event (See #3,4,5 below). As currently configured, it appears possible that this system could also be overwhelmed by a series of small incidents or a large influx of patients from multiple sites, (See #1 above) simultaneously. It has been suggested that at least a small "core group" of professional Fire/EMS managers may prove necessary to effectively allocate resources, manage emergency personnel, and provide necessary coordination and oversight of all of the venues and responding emergency agencies.
<3> Crowd Control/Soccer Violence
Although Olympic events generally draw a different type of crowd than professional sporting events, the real possibility of crowd related violence continues to exist. Particularly in the Soccer venue, and to some extent in some others, rivalry between fans could cause a violent eruption of support for conflicting teams. Aside from the problems associated with simple fist-fights between fans, the real danger involves a possibility of those fights escalating and an ensuing stampede with multiple injuries. Olympic officials say that they have most areas of the venues under closed circuit television surveillance and can move rapidly to stop any fights, but experts point out that crowds can quickly develop a mind of their own. Rioting and stampede incidents in England, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Brazil, and a number of other countries have demonstrated the volatility and potential ferocity of soccer crowds. Consideration of a safe and rapid evacuation of the various venues must be given serious consideration.
<4> Terrorism/Politically Inspired Violence
The Olympic games provide a unique opportunity for terrorists of every kind, from all around the world. No other international event receives the press coverage from more than 150 countries or general attention that is afforded the Olympics. It is also significant that few other events gather as many important people from as many countries, with as many potential enemies. According to Staten, current circumstances would indicate that the 1996 Atlanta Olympics are facing a "multi-dimensional" threat of both domestic and international terrorist attack.
Since the 1972 Palestinian "Black September" attack on Israeli athletes, Olympic officials have been aware of this threat and have spent massive amounts of time and money to counter the insurgents and assassins. In large part, they have been very effective and have thwarted numerous attempts by any number of terrorist organizations to wreck havoc on the games. 1996 is no different, and Olympic security planners say that they have made "unprecedented" preparations for this latest international gathering.
More than 20,000 military and law enforcement personnel are said to be assigned to monitor security measures. Special teams of local, state, and federal officers have been training and attending periodic briefings on issues relating to the games. SWAT, Hostage Rescue, Chemical/Biological/Nuclear materials, and crowd control issues are being given special consideration by the planning staff. As many as 5,000 volunteer (unarmed) security personnel, many of them off-duty police officers, are also expected to participate. Yet, despite the best efforts of Olympic security planners, the possibility still exists for an horrendous act by a fanatic with a religious, political, or ideological grudge to bear.
Extra danger exists at out-lying venues, which are more remote, and where security measures may not be as extensive. Additionally, it should be noted that striking anywhere in the vicinity of Atlanta or the games will draw the same amount of publicity, desired by fanatics. Therefore, it is possible that terrorists will strike another "soft target" that is not so extensively protected by the Olympic staff. Or, transportation systems, of all kinds, could also a major target of opportunity. One potential scenario even finds a car bombing(s) or hostage incident(s) in another part of the USA, hoping to draw essential FBI and ATF personnel away from the Olympics, prior to an attack there. All in all, there are some extremely dedicated people working very hard to prevent any possible occurrence that might disrupt the games; most terrorist experts agree, however, that even these efforts may not be able to stop a purposeful suicide bomber.
<5> Chemical/Biological/Nuclear (CBN) Threats
Of special concern to Olympic security officials is the possibility of the use of "weapons of mass destruction." Ever since the Aum Shinrikyo cult incidents in Tokyo, Yokohama, and other locations in Japan, emergency planners have feared that chemical or biological weapons would be used by terrorists against civilian populations. Nothing could be a more tempting target than an Olympic venue, where 50,000 people could be killed or injured in a single strike...and it would covered "live" by literally hundreds of world-wide television and radio networks.
One scenario that could be pause for concern is a simple but yet effective dispersal of a chemical or biological agent. Using a helicopter or crop dusting plane, disguised in a variety of ways, a dedicated terrorist could simply fly over the various Olympic sites and systematically drop any number of toxic agents on unsuspecting crowds. While Olympic planners have undoubtedly thought of this concept and restricted the airspace surrounding the venues, an anticipated large number of media, emergency and other aircraft could make identification of potential foe difficult.
Officials say that the federal NEST (Nuclear Emergency Search Team) and several U.S. Army Chemical/Biological detection, decontamination and treatment teams are either on-site or on 24 hour call to respond to CBN emergencies on or near the Olympic sites. Several drill scenarios have reportedly been conducted in regard to the CBN threat and federal officials tell ENN that they are prepared for such an eventuality.
Thousands of local, state, federal and international Olympic officials have been working for many months to ensure that the 1996 Centennial Olympic games are safe, sane, and secure. Bill Rathburn, Olympic Security Chief and former head of the 1992 Olympic security effort in Los Angeles, has been quoted; "Atlanta will be the safest place in America during the Olympic games...everything humanly possible will be done to safeguard both the athletes and the public." ERRI analysts and consultants say that it is their most fervent hope that Mr. Rathburn is right, and that the "bad guys" don't choose Atlanta as the site of their next atrocity.
(c) Emergencynet NEWS Service, 1996
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