Incident
The incident I chose to review where emergency management operations were initiated, was the
2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. The emergency management of the Boston Marathon
bombing, though not perfect, is a great example how collaboration between multiple disciplines,
and public safety organizations, and proper planning lead to effective response and recovery.
The incident occurred on April 15, 2013, during the annual running of the Boston Marathon. The
Boston Marathon is a large event spectated by thousands of people who take part in the
celebration and fanfare. With such a large event, which runs through eight cities and towns, there
are multiple agencies representing the cities and towns. To assist with the event are
representatives from state and federal government agencies coordinate with the local government
to streamline the coordination.
At 2:49 pm, the first bomb explodes, followed by a second bomb, which was detonated 13
seconds later. The bomb blasts set into motion a plan that had been developed by emergency
managers in the local, state, and federal agencies who were involved and participated in the
event.
Below are a few examples of the best practices that were in place during the and directly after the
attack.
Best Practices - Preparedness Phase
Each year, representatives from police, fire, and medical agencies, along with the Massachusetts
National Guard, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency review, update, and revise the
operations plan of each of the agencies for the day of the marathon. During this planning
meeting, leaders review past practices to see where improvements can be made and they take
part in tabletop exercises where leaders are confronted with possible scenarios. In 2012, the
temperature on the day of the marathon was unseasonable high which caused a large increase in
heat related illnesses, which put a strain on the medical staff and hospitals (Massachusetts
Emergency Management Agency, 2014). Learning from the previous year’s race, the 2013
marathon added more medical stations on the race path and added bigger medical tents at the end
of the race. Also in 2012, the representatives were involved in a tabletop scenario where there
was a mass casualty event at the end of the race involving the collapse of the grandstand
(Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2014). Along with the tabletop exercises, full
scale, reality based, training drills throughout any given year, which involved medical
professionals and hospital logistics. The collaboration between multiple organizations at the
state, local, and federal level clearly made the response and recovery phases efficient and
effective collectively during the Boston Marathon bombing (Hu, Knox, & Kapucu, 2014).
Best Practices - Response phase
Almost immediately after the bombs were set off, the mass casualty incident response plan began
to send messages to the emergency operations centers involved in the event operations
(Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2014). The police officers who were on
security posts immediately responded and rendered aid until medical personnel could arrive. A
Unified Command Center was quickly formed to coordinate response and prioritize efforts. Law
enforcement kept roadways clear to allow ambulances to respond without delay, protected
hospitals and important buildings, and quickly secured the crime scene (Massachusetts
Emergency Management Agency, 2014).
Existing mutual aid agreements, were critical during the initial response. An example of the
importance of mutual aid agreements was the need for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
teams. The New England State Police Compact allowed EOD teams from New Hampshire,
Connecticut, and Rhode Island to respond to assist with suspicious packages and clearing the
scene (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2014). Mutual aid agreements with
multiple law enforcement agencies were initiated by the Boston Police Department to increase
the police presence in the city and surrounding areas. EMS units from surrounding agencies were
able to respond to the scene and assist with transporting victims to area hospitals.
Best practices - Recovery phase
Once the dust settled from the attacks, the emergency management operations continued with the
recovery phase by efforts to reopen the business district, give assistance to affected businesses,
mental health aid, and many more steps to get life back to normal. One such recovery plan that
Boston excelled was the reopening of the businesses and residents that were directly impacted by
the attack. Waiting for the area to be safe, trucks and personnel from different agencies staged in
the area directly outside of the crime scene (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency,
2014). Plans that had already been made, such as building inspections, clean up, and other
activities, allowed residence to return back to their homes and the businesses to reopen
(Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2014).
The response to the Boston Marathon bombing gives us an example of how planning and
preparation can result in a response that is well coordinated, and eases recovery for those
effected by the event. This reminds me of Psalm 18:34 which says, "He trains my hands for
battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze" (NASB, 1995).
References
After Action Report for the Response to the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings: Technical
Resources. ASPR TRACIE. (2014). https://asprtracie.hhs.gov/technical-
resources/resource/2721/after-action-report-for-the-response-to-the-2013-boston-marathon-
bombings.
Hu, Q., Knox, C. C., & Kapucu, N. (2014). What have we learned since september 11, 2001? A
network study of the boston marathon bombings response. Public Administration Review, 74(6),
698-712. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12284
New American Standard Bible. (1995). Www.Bible.Com.
https://www.bible.com/bible/100/1TH.5.NASB1995
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