MBTA Safety Department Emergency Response Exercise Quincy ...

August 20, 1999
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
CITY OF QUINCY
To: Mike Foley, M.B.T.A- Safety Division
From: Chief Thomas F. Corman, Jr.
Subject: M.B.T.A. Drill - Quincy, Ht.
May 23, 1999
on Sundry. May 23. 1999 at 0900 hours , the Quincy Fire Department, along
with other public safety personnel, participated in a mock drill. This
drill was held under the Water Street Bridge where a four-car train, heading
to Boston on the Red Line, hit a piece of heavy equipment.
The accident tested all the agencies that would be called if one of these
incidents happened . This is the first time a drill of this magnitude has
been done in this city. There were some minor problems that needed to be
addressed and one is to keep key people near the command center. In an
actual accident I believe this would not be a problem.
All the firefighters performed professionally and worked well together as
did all the other agencies that took part in the drill. The Quincy Hospital,
along with their medical team, was a genuine asset to this drill. This
part of the drill was important in that it enabled the three policing
agencies to work well it tracking down the person responsible for accident
and the assistance given to us before and during the drill.
I believe having Med Flight in the drill made the drill a great success.
Med Flight had only been called upon once; therefore, this was a great
aid to my department. What made this drill go off with only a few minor
enage was the training received by the M.B.T.A. over the years and the
planning that went into this drill.
Thank you, Mike, far all your help; the Braintree Fire Department. Boston
Fire Department. Metro Fire, M.B.T.A. Police, Quincy Police, State Police
Bomb Squad, Amtrak, Fallon Ambulance, Med Flight, Boston, and M.B.T.A.
support people. Special thanks to Dr. Diaz and his crew from Quincy
Hospital for supplying the victims and in obtaining Med Flight Boston
to take part in the drill. Without the cooperation of all involved, this
drill would not have been possible.
CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
TEG/dm/ 40 Quincy Avenue Quincy,MA 02169 Tel: (617) 3761040. FAX: (617) 376-1409