NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Local, state and federal emergency management agency’s swarmed LP Field March 28 to participate in a simulated mass casualty exercise involving a Titans football game scenario.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District officials said the Corps had a definite interest in partnering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for perhaps the largest local disaster exercise since April 2006.
By participating in this exercise, the Nashville District was able to practice their role in the local emergency response, as well as, ensure employee accountability, said Nashville District security manager Connie Hardeman.
Intended to educate and evaluate the Greater Nashville Homeland Security District 5’s chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive detection and response capabilities in the occurrence of a catastrophic event that results in mass casualties.
At approximately 9:20 a.m., the exercise began with four suspects hijacking a commercial barge from Ingram Barge Company. Anchoring the barge under the Shelby Street Foot Bridge near LP Field, three of the four suspects entered LP Field Stadium where they ignited smoke bombs. These smoke bombs represented improvised explosive devices detonating into a crowd of “big game” fans near the stadium’s south and west gates.
According to Kim Lawson, department chief of the Nashville Fire Department, the Tennessee Department of Safety; U.S. Coast Guard; and Davidson, Sumner, Wilson, Williamson, and Rutherford County Emergency Management teams utilized a real-world response to secure the scene and provide victim triage and treatment.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District responded to the exercise by advising Cheatham and Old Hickory Locks to simulate procedures to halt river traffic potentially entering the LP Field area and ensuring 100 percent employee accountability.
Lt. Col. James A. DeLapp said “Except for Operations Division and a few outliers due to temporary duty or leave, the rest of the district is accounted for. We'll continue to track the accountability piece until completion.”