I was just about to post the next blog in the emergency planning series, when I learned of the collapse in a storm of a large tent at Kilroy's Sports Bar last weekend: http://www.mercurynews.com/sports-headlines/ci_20508159/1-dead-after-storm-blows-down-st-louis. It is eerily similar to what happened at the Indiana State Fair. In a matter of seconds, the strong gusts of an oncoming storm upended the tent, killing one man, sending seventeen to hospitals, five of them in critical condition and 100 needing some kind of on site medical attention. The tent had been permitted and inspected according to local requirements. The investigation is just beginning, however we are entering the tornado season in the Midwest and the hurricane season in the U.S. coasts. That's millions of people in possible jeopardy at thousands of events: concerts, graduations, festivals, fairs, and sporting events as well as smaller gatherings. As a promoter or organizer of any event, especially outdoors, tragedy can happen in seconds, but pre-planning and timely execution of emergency procedures can and will save lives. It doesn't matter if 200 or 20,000 are at your event. You must be vigilant and prepared. I do think patrons are in part responsible to make decisions regarding their own welfare but once you assume the responsibility for others, you do just that. You are responsible to know when and how to protect your patrons and guests.
My next blog will be the elements of emergency preparedness plans for your business and the last will be how to make effective emergency plans for events.
Showing posts with label emergency planning for events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emergency planning for events. Show all posts
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Summer Stage Collapses Update
A 7th person has died as a result of the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. Sugarland and it's manager have been named as defendants in a potential lawsuit, in notices sent to the Indiana Attorney General. Others who have been named as potential defendants include: Live Nation, Lucas Entertainment Group, security company ESG and stage builders Mid-America Corp. Kenneth Feinberg, the man who mediated distributations of compensation from 9/11, the Virginia Tech shootings and the the BP oil spill, will determine settlements from two pools of money: a $5 million Tort Claim Fund and $800,000 from individuals and businesses.
Another stage, this one at the large Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium has collapsed in another violent storm, killing 5 people, injuring 140 more.
The same type of pattern - severe storms predicted, people stay in place, structures fail and people die. From this point forward, no promoter can use as a defense, we couldn't have imagined this happening. Outdoor event organizers need to revisit evacuation policies and procedures. Some, like the Indiana State Fair organizers that night, do not have detailed well rehearsed evacuation plans in place. A nine bullet point one page list, including "stay away from windows and what to announce over the loudspeakers" isn't enough. I don't know all of the issues that night, however, it is vitally important to prepare for the unexpected.
First, you must make a diagram of the venue and surrounding parking lots, structures and area roads.
Second, you identify load points (pinch points) that will slow down evacuation.
Third, you identify safer structures that people may take shelter in. Make arrangements to be able to use the buildings, consult with your insurance carrier to cover those structures as well, if needed. Also consult local experts on traffic flow patterns and crowd behaviors consistent with the local. Some people are more independent and less likely to comply with directives from authorities. Pick up all the actual local knowledge as possible from the people who have the experience "boots on the ground." Work out a phased evacuation, emphasizing a steady deliberate operation. This will reassure people that you have a well thought out plan in place, helping to keep folks calm. You will need to determine how long each phase will take to determine a timeline for decision making.
Fourth, strongly consider hiring a private professional meteorologist who can monitor and correctly analyze the data to allow sufficient time to activate your plan. The cost will be negligible compared to the costs of a disaster. Assemble adequate personnel, coordinate with local authorities and venue management. Document all activities ideally video as well as written documentation. This will be very useful to your insurance carrier in case of an incident as well as making improvements to policies and procedures. Building training videos for your operations people is a good idea.
Fifth, the person responsible for making the evacuation decision must clearly and completely understand the incoming information. There must be a clear chain of command. All responsible in an evacuation procedure must rehearse, test the equipment and make sure that things like locked doors are able to be opened quickly when needed.
The bottom line is this is not about the promoter and sponsors losing money. If one bad show will put you out of business, you're not ready to promote that size show. Start smaller, build up a bank account and grow deliberately and safely. Your obligation, as soon as people enter the venue, is to provide the safest most enjoyable experience possible.
Another stage, this one at the large Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium has collapsed in another violent storm, killing 5 people, injuring 140 more.
The same type of pattern - severe storms predicted, people stay in place, structures fail and people die. From this point forward, no promoter can use as a defense, we couldn't have imagined this happening. Outdoor event organizers need to revisit evacuation policies and procedures. Some, like the Indiana State Fair organizers that night, do not have detailed well rehearsed evacuation plans in place. A nine bullet point one page list, including "stay away from windows and what to announce over the loudspeakers" isn't enough. I don't know all of the issues that night, however, it is vitally important to prepare for the unexpected.
First, you must make a diagram of the venue and surrounding parking lots, structures and area roads.
Second, you identify load points (pinch points) that will slow down evacuation.
Third, you identify safer structures that people may take shelter in. Make arrangements to be able to use the buildings, consult with your insurance carrier to cover those structures as well, if needed. Also consult local experts on traffic flow patterns and crowd behaviors consistent with the local. Some people are more independent and less likely to comply with directives from authorities. Pick up all the actual local knowledge as possible from the people who have the experience "boots on the ground." Work out a phased evacuation, emphasizing a steady deliberate operation. This will reassure people that you have a well thought out plan in place, helping to keep folks calm. You will need to determine how long each phase will take to determine a timeline for decision making.
Fourth, strongly consider hiring a private professional meteorologist who can monitor and correctly analyze the data to allow sufficient time to activate your plan. The cost will be negligible compared to the costs of a disaster. Assemble adequate personnel, coordinate with local authorities and venue management. Document all activities ideally video as well as written documentation. This will be very useful to your insurance carrier in case of an incident as well as making improvements to policies and procedures. Building training videos for your operations people is a good idea.
Fifth, the person responsible for making the evacuation decision must clearly and completely understand the incoming information. There must be a clear chain of command. All responsible in an evacuation procedure must rehearse, test the equipment and make sure that things like locked doors are able to be opened quickly when needed.
The bottom line is this is not about the promoter and sponsors losing money. If one bad show will put you out of business, you're not ready to promote that size show. Start smaller, build up a bank account and grow deliberately and safely. Your obligation, as soon as people enter the venue, is to provide the safest most enjoyable experience possible.
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