Metro-North Conducts Annual Emergency Preparedness Drill

Grand Central Terminal, NY, October 16, 2010 – Metro-North Railroad conducted their 28th annual drill officially known as the ‘Emergency Preparedness Exercise’. NYPD, FDNY, Amtrak, NY State EMT and MTA PD participated in the Metro-North sponsored drill while Amtrak, TSA and other agencies observed the activity on track 15.

Metro-North President Howard Permut and MTA Chairman Walder spoke before the exercise began. The message delivered was that this time the focus would be on a railroad emergency instead of handling bomb threats as done in recent years. They added that the purpose of this real-life situation was to keep the skills of the first responders sharp.

The exercise began after every one reported to GCT’s track 15 and entered the Bombardier-built 85-foot commuter cab car and heard the instructions given to the participants, conductors and locomotive engineers being given their situational training. They were to follow the instructions on the activity cards given to them with no variation. After the observers left the car, it was show time.

In a real time accident scenario, a train would figuratively hit the bumper block and derail, and two serious and several other less-serious injuries would occur. The two ‘serious’ ones would be the engineer with severed limbs and a passenger would have whiplash. Both would be taken off the train in ‘spine stretchers’ and moved out of Grand Central on gurneys to waiting ambulances at an impromptu crisis command center on 42nd Street and fire trucks located on Vanderbilt Avenue.

In reality, various federal, state and local first responder agencies would respond and have their own jurisdictional responsibilities, but for the most part groups such as the TSA were observers.

I observed a high-level of professionalism and efficiency by the participants. Everyone performed their duties quickly and with a sense of urgency. Videographers from the different groups shot video that would be examined later for grading. From my eyes, the drill was a resounding success.