Saturday, June 4, 2005
Logan International Airport

Overview:

The Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security, Massport and the Metro-Boston Homeland Security Region will conduct a full-scale terrorism preparedness exercise at Logan Airport.

Code-named Operation Atlas, this consolidated real-time exercise will simulate a terrorist hijacking of an airliner en route from Paris to Chicago. The drill includes rescue, triage, victim assistance and hospital transport. More than 50 federal, state and local agencies will participate in the exercise, along with more than 80 volunteers who will pose as victims.

Operation Atlas builds on the partnerships forged during security preparations for the Democratic National Convention held in Boston in July 2004. Five tabletop drills already have been held in preparation for the live exercise to test response preparedness, information sharing, and the coordination of resources by multiple response agencies.

The purpose of the exercise follows:

To execute a comprehensive terrorism preparedness program.
To find and close gaps in city, state, and federal emergency response.
To assess the Metro-Boston Homeland Security Region’s ability to respond to a high-level threat in compliance with Federal Department of Homeland Security guidelines.

Special Guidelines:

Due to the nature of the tactical operations to be conducted by law enforcement agencies during this exercise, media access will be limited to designated areas only.
A press pool (1 video & 1 still only) will be established in the event federal and local law enforcement officials allow movement of the media outside the designated area.
A narrator will be present in the media area throughout the exercise to explain ongoing activities.
The FAA will prohibit helicopters in and around Logan airspace during the exercise.
In the event of inclement weather Operation Atlas will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 5.
Additional and more specific information on Operation Atlas will be discussed at a press conference to be held at 11:00 AM Friday, June 3. A separate media advisory will follow.
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, along with federal, state and local officials will be on hand during Operation Atlas to meet with the media.

Expected Picture Opportunities:

Arrival of plane accompanied by fighter jets
Massport and other emergency rescue vehicles arriving on scene
State police and other law enforcement agencies
Interaction of local agencies involved in the exercise
Triage area set-up
Victims being escorted to emergency medical care vehicles
Ambulances departing with victims

Logistics:

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Media arrive and check-in at the Delta Building parking lot on Prescott Street, North Cargo area (directions below). Massport will direct media to the TSA/State Police security checkpoint to screen all persons and equipment.
Please arrive early to allow adequate time for screening prior to boarding busses for transport to the staging area. Media arriving after 9:00 AM will not be granted access to the media staging area.

9:10 AM: Massport buses depart for designated media staging area. (Light refreshments and restrooms will be available.)
9:15 AM: Media stage in designated press area.
10:00 AM: Exercise begins with the arrival of United Flight 9073.
1:00 PM: Exercise concludes. Transport back to parking lot.

Directions to Media Check-In:

Route 1A North past airport entrance to Route 145/Bennington Street exit
Right at end of ramp
Immediate right onto Frankfurt Street
First left to Prescott Street, follow Operation Atlas signs to parking lot

Call Phil Orlandella, 617-561-1818, or Richard Walsh, 617-568-3100, for more information or if you would like to attend.

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