District of Washington officials provide fast, safe evacuation for biological attack exercise

  • Published
  • By Benjamin Newell
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Few weekend travelers driving by the Pentagon on July 11 noticed a truck lumbering along the perimeter of the building showering it in a transparent layer of bacteria in the early morning hours. Fewer still saw the helicopters that landed in one of the Pentagon's vast, empty parking lots minutes after the white powder settled.

The powder from the truck was a simulated biological agent attack. The two helicopters, from the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., were responding to the attack scenario and landed at the Pentagon to ferry away personnel who had been "contaminated" by the bio-agent.

The entire scenario was part of an Operational Response Test conducted by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency staff. The test gave pilots from the 1st HS a unique opportunity to practice one of its primary missions: supporting civil authorities when asked. The exercise at the Pentagon required the versatility and speed of the 1st HS to remove a designated "senior official" from a contaminated area.

"As the largest helicopter squadron in the Air Force, the 1st Helicopter Squadron's UH-1 helicopters are a vital part of the joint team's emergency response for any contingency within the (National Capitol Region)," said Lt. Col. William Meeks, the 1st HS commander. "Our helicopters are the most versatile element of an evacuation procedure and allow for very fast and safe movements to clean locations."

Dr. Christina Murata, the PFPA chief science officer, led a team that included participants from almost 20 local and federal agencies to collect more than 2,000 samples from helicopter pilots, crew, passengers, aircraft surfaces, volunteers, Airmen and filtration units exposed to the biological simulant. The PFPA members, working with Airmen from the Air Force District of Washington, planed the exercise for more than a year.

"We really want to get our discoveries out to first responders across the country," Dr. Murata said. "With a sample pattern this broad, our results should really help disaster relief workers and first responders as they decide the best way to take action following an attack."

Prior to evacuation procedures, a small amount of stable and inert white powder consisting of a biological simulant was spread using air pressure machines in the bed of a truck. Nearly 100 volunteers from a wide cross-section of employees in the National Capitol Region were situated near the point of release and exposed to the harmless agent.

This exercise was a follow-up to a June 2007 experiment that tested roadways, civilians, and vehicles after a release of the same biological simulant. This test focused primarily on "decontamination of people, the effect of evacuation aircraft on an attack site and the spread of an agent under the day's weather conditions," Dr. Murata said.

AFDW Airmen volunteered as well for the exercise, providing trained Airmen to use dry filtration units that detected the presence of the simulant before, during and after the evacuation. Staff Sgt. Stacey Barker, assigned to the AFDW A3/5, volunteered to be the senior official evacuee for the exercise. Her assignment called for two helicopter flights.

"The 1st Helicopter Squadron pilots and flight chiefs were very fast and efficient," Sergeant Barker said. "I was amazed that when the drill started, I was brought by security personnel from deep inside the Pentagon to the helicopter landing zone in a matter of minutes."

The helicopters also provide a challenge during a biological attack. Their speed and efficiency is vital to evacuation, but the rotor wash they create can kick up settled contaminants.

Two helicopters were used for the exercise. One flew to the Pentagon, providing a noncontaminated sample before the simulant was released. The same helicopter was used to remove evacuees after the release, allowing scientists to test the spread of the contaminant to the crew, their aircraft and the passenger.

A second helicopter arrived at an alternate location after the agent was released. The effects of its rotor wash on the settled powder was tested with a series of small dry filtration units. These units trapped the free floating simulant in small cotton filters, which will be later tested in labs to determine the effect of rotor wash on biological agents.

AFDW Airmen operating the filtration units were trained on how to meticulously handle small cotton filters in a way that would prevent cross-contamination. Two-man crews performed intricate choreographies revolving around the sensitive equipment.

"We're really just applying scientific method to sampling and ensuring the validity of the samples," said Staff Sgt. Parker Stade, an emergency management craftsman with the 316th Wing Civil Engineering Squadron.

The 1st HS officials swift response time and realistic execution of an evacuation provided scientists a chance to evaluate a helicopter's effect on a hot, contaminated area.

"'How can we use these as mitigation tools? How can the helicopters be more effective, while spreading less contamination? What can AFDW do to improve its support role?' These are all questions that exercises like this can help us answer," said Michael Hargrove, a civilian contractor for AFDW.

Scientists with the PFPA will be studying the samples and patterns of contamination into this fall. Full results of the tests will not be available for months, as the complexities of the nine-hour exercise will take some time to evaluate.

"AFDW is vital for the success of this operation and any that might require evacuation and support," said Paul Benda, head of PFPA's CBRNE directorate. "We've been planning this since January and AFDW has been nothing but helpful and supportive.

"We are continuing our efforts to improve the safety and security of the Pentagon and local Community," Mr. Benda said. "The results garnered by this test will help first responders determine the best methods of decontaminating people and facilities following a bio-attack."