stated that the first survivors were transported to hospitals between about 0300 and 0330. The EMT stated that the last survivor was found about 0430. According to hospital records, the first survivor transported by helicopter to the U.S. Naval Hospital arrived about 0334, and the last survivor arrived by helicopter about 0710. Also, hospital records indicated that the first survivor transported to Guam Memorial Hospital arrived by ambulance about 0420 and that 16 other survivors were transported by ambulance to Guam Memorial, the last of which was admitted about 0709.[1]
1.15.3.1 Emergency Response Planning and Exercises
At the Safety Board's public hearing, the GCD director testified that, in April 1997, a joint full-scale disaster drill had been conducted on the airport with Guam airport authorities.[2] The GCD director stated that no off-airport drills had been conducted before the accident but that an off-airport aircraft accident drill had been scheduled for September 1998.
The GCD director added that, after the accident, new radios had been purchased to allow interagency communication and coordination during emergencies. The GCD director also testified that, before the accident, GCD authorities had a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Air Force for emergency response but had not established an MOU with the U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard. The GCD director stated that, after the accident, Guam authorities formed an emergency response committee, which included the Navy, the Coast Guard, and the Air Force, and that an MOU involving all emergency response agencies on the island had been drafted. The director stated that the MOU called for emergency response drills involving all of the agencies.
In June 1999, the GCD acting administrator stated that, instead of the MOU, a final draft of "Joint Standard Operating Procedures for Mutual Civil Emergency Support for Emergencies or Disasters Without Presidential Declaration" was circulated to the GCD office; Commander, Naval Forces Marianas; U.S. Coast Guard Marianas Section; and the U.S. Air Force 43rd Air Base Wing. The acting administrator indicated that the procedures could be implemented by the end of June 1999. The Safety Board's latest information from the GCD office (August 1999) indicated that the procedures had not been implemented.
Officials from the GCD office stated that the planned September 1998 off-airport exercise did not take place. In June 1999, the GCD acting administrator stated that planning for a major off-site exercise had started.
- ↑ Admittance times may be different than arrival times because patients received immediate emergency room treatment before being officially admitted to the hospital.
- ↑ Title 14 CFR Section 139.325, "Airport Emergency Plan," paragraph (g)(4) and (5), requires the certificate holder, that is, the airport, to "at least once every 12 months, review the emergency plan with all the parties with whom the plan is coordinated...ensure that all parties know their responsibilities...and hold a full-scale airport emergency plan exercise at least once every three years...."
