[Scan-DC] D.C.'s disaster plans—a disaster?

[b_thom@juno.com]

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html

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TIMING BELT 

When it comes to couture, At-Large Councilmember Carol Schwartz usually
has no equal in the John A. Wilson Building. Schwartz turns even the most
mundane oversight hearing into a runway show with her chunky necklaces
and thick leather belts, which feature a variety of buckles,
semi-precious stones, even a brassy plate that could have been borrowed
from Wonder Woman. 

Last week, though, D.C. Chief Technology Officer Suzanne Peck gave the
council’s leading fashionista some competition, walking D.C.’s corridors
of power carrying a thick green military belt. The U.S. Navy–issued
accessory featured a pouch and was weighed down with a cell phone, spiral
notebook, BlackBerry e-mail device, Arch Wireless text messager, Nextel
phone with two-way radio capabilities, and a third mobile phone labeled
“switch redirect”—all clipped to its canvas material.

Bargain-shopper Schwartz won’t sport one anytime soon. It’s not for sale
at Filene’s Basement. However, Mayor Anthony A. Williams will reportedly
model the belt for the cover of the May issue of Governing magazine.

With the U.S. bombing Iraq and D.C. hovering at Code Orange, Peck briefed
D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp, as well as council chiefs of staff,
on the Williams administration’s plan for government communications in
the event of, well, an event. If such a day occurs, according to Peck,
D.C. government will hum along as usual. 

Uh-oh. 

The D.C. Council had been back in the Wilson Building just two days when
hijackers crashed commercial airliners into the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The executive office had yet to move and
remained at One Judiciary Square. D.C. government offices were plunged
into chaos. Phone lines jammed. Deputy mayors and senior officials had no
way of communicating. 

Meanwhile, the mayor seemed MIA.

Now D.C. government has upgraded its emergency-communications
capabilities to Sally Quinn specs. Peck’s emergency Batbelt includes
almost everything except an inflatable kayak for a riverine evacuation.
The Nextel phone allows D.C. gov higher-ups to two-way-communicate. The
Arch Wireless device sends direct messages between users. BlackBerry
sends e-mail. The “switch redirect” service allows agency heads to
redirect phone service from their offices to the District command
centers, such as the Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs.

“On the day anything happens, you will reach in your pocket,” Peck told
LL as she reached into her purse Tuesday morning. Emergency procedures,
phone numbers, and other instructions have been reduced to
credit-card-size manuals, which Peck keeps in her wallet. Another batch
of cards is in the belt pouch.

In the 19 months since 9/11, the D.C. government has significantly beefed
up its emergency-preparedness capabilities. The District received $156
million in federal funding for such efforts, $46 million of which went
into technology.

Investment in hi-tech gizmos—and the hiring of former Mayor Sharon Pratt
to consult for the D.C. Department of Health on
bioterrorism—notwithstanding, D.C.’s emergency-prep team continues to
underwhelm regular old residents. 
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