National Guard Plane Crash at Hotel Site - Evansville, Indiana » Lessons Learned

1. Command and control of a complex inter-agency emergency response is enhanced significantly by good equipment and well-planned communications procedures.

   Evansville’s new communication system was put to an extreme test and passed with flying colors. This was due in large part to good planning. The telephone system handled a 500 percent increase in call volume during the initial hours of the incident, but all calls got answered. Fireground personnel from the city fire department, township fire departments, local EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, coroner, and public works agencies all were able to communicate effectively if not always efficiently. Those who were not on the new trunked radio system sent representatives to the command post to relay their messages. Despite the magnitude of the incident and the large number of agencies involved in the response, remarkably few complaints emerged in the formal critique. Those agencies which were not part of the new radio system expressed an interest in either acquiring the hardware or developing a means for sharing equipment at disasters.

2. The use of the Incident Command System complemented effective communication and facilitated a smooth transition to recovery and investigation.

   The use of the incident command system facilitated an effective interagency response to this disaster. Fire service, law enforcement, EMS, emergency management, and public works departments all worked better because of the coordination and communication facilitated by use of the ICS. Moreover, the transition from response to recovery went smoothly because no single agency “owned” the ICS.

   Some of the problems which did arise during the incident were linked to self-responding units and individuals not checking-in with the Command Post and integrating their responses into the KS. Although this led to some confusion, and may have contributed to untoward actions by some responders, the Incident Commander was able to overcome this disorganization and produce an effective response.

3. Rescue operations should be restricted to personnel trained and equiped to deal with the hazards present.

   The most serious injuries to emergency responders were suffered by personnel who attempted to perform duties for which they were not trained and not properly equipped. Every emergency responder has a role to play at a major incident. Law enforcement personnel can focus their attention on controlling access to the scene to prevent additional people from becoming involved. Emergency medical personnel can triage, treat, and transport the injured. Controlling the fire and locating and removing the injured from danger should be left the primary responsibility of firefighters.

4. Adherence to minimum construction standards contributes to successful outcomes.

   No building is designed to withstand the effects of an airplane crash. However, this fire demonstrates that compliance with model building code requirements and adherence to good design practices contributes to successful outcomes. Although part of the restaurant collapsed when the tail section of the airplane landed on it, the hotel sustained relatively minor structural damage. Only those north-facing guest rooms whose windows shattered on the initial impact sustained heavy fire damage. The interior fire was confined to those rooms except where doors to the corridors were left open. Most of the fire damage was caused by the burning aviation fuel, as opposed to interior finishes and furnishings.

5. The actions and accounts of survivors reinforce the understanding that human behavior in fire emergencies is generally rational. adaptive. and goal-oriented.

   Despite the sudden and overwhelming danger which confronted the occupants of the Drury Inn all of the survivors appeared to react in an adaptive and rational way, and evidence suggests that the victims responded similarly.