Hurricane Zoey pounded the Washington region, pushing a storm surge of nearly 14 feet up the Anacostia River and causing massive flooding in the Washington Harbor. Heavy rains and more than 100 mph winds from the Category 2 hurricane led to a building collapse in Adams Morgan. Nearly 50 people were believed killed by the storm. Dozens of survivors filed into RFK Stadium on Wednesday morning, some newly homeless or disconnected from families, others in a poor state of mental or physical health. The victims found refuge on the second floor of the stadium following the storm, which also left 87,000 homes in the District without power.
The good news: The entire disaster and the city’s response were a drill. As part of the District response exercise series, the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency planned a full-scale natural disaster exercise involving all District government agencies and departments. Nongovernmental organizations, such as the American Red Cross, also participated.
The hypothetical storm left significant damage, destroying trees and power lines and flooding many homes. At the “shelter” at RFK, victims found respite from the aftermath, with cots for sleeping and three meals a day. Robert Bandy, one of five volunteers from the National Guard, played 81 year-old Russell Quam — his fourth role of the day.
“I’m cold, if I could get a heat pad or a drink. My whole right side is numb, I’ve got the cold shivers now,” Bandy said in character, also complaining of chest pains. The volunteers examined his chest carefully and later gave him a Mylar blanket to keep him warm. In an earlier role that day as a former soldier, Bandy was given Zoloft for his post-traumatic stress disorder.
The exercises appeared to show some areas in the city’s response that need improvement. HSEMA Director Millicent West said she chose the RFK location for its Metro-accessibility and parking lots. She admitted, though, that some participants had trouble finding the venue because of a lack of appropriate signage.
Nicole Nadale, an associate research analyst for Alexandria firm CNA, which has done emergency management, risk analysis and capability planning for the District and other governments, saw something that appeared to need tweaking. Nadale noted that the information station at the shelter appeared understaffed.
“I think they need to have more people there because everyone’s going to go to the information center first, and then they’re going to go to the other stations,” Nadale told The Washington Examiner.
Jaimie Quarrelles, head of the Training and Exercise Division in HSEMA, later said it was CNA who had recommended the number of people staffed at each station.
