PORT TOWNSEND — A mock attack on ferry passengers by a crazed lone gunman Saturday taught those practicing how to respond to a real incident with effective communication and cooperation, said organizers of the multi-agency exercise.
“It went well, and a whole lot of lessons were learned,” said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman.
“We were able to fill some gaps in communication because the accuracy of information in an unfolding situation is tough to deal with, and the interoperability of the different communications devices makes it an even bigger challenge.
“We expected that we’d have those issues going in, and they were borne out during the course of the exercise.”
Saturday’s exercise simulated people wounded or panicked by a lone gunman on a ferry who was seeking to shoot or kill as many people as possible.
Volunteers played the role of passengers and in some cases victims.
First responders used the Washington state ferry MV Kennewick.
The ferry, which runs between Port Townsend and Coupeville, was out of service this weekend while repairs are made on the Coupeville terminal.
Aside from ferry personnel, about 100 people from law enforcement, role-playing volunteers and support staff participated, Beezley said.
Participating local agencies were East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, the Port Townsend Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management and Jefferson Healthcare, where the patients were taken after the incident.
Two Whidbey Island agencies participated: Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue and the Oak Harbor Police Department.
Also participating was the Island County Fire Department.
The scope of the exercise changed at the last minute, according to Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski of East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
A search-and-rescue operation using a dummy thrown off the ferry was canceled when a helicopter from the Port Angeles Coast Guard station developed mechanical problems, he said.
A planned helicopter airlift from Memorial Field in Port Townsend was shut down when Airlift Northwest was unable to participate.
Krysinski said fewer fire personnel participated than expected because some were still involved in mopping up a beach fire on Discovery Bay that began Friday and extended into Saturday morning.
“This is like real life,” Krysinski said. “Things change.”
As a result, what was originally intended to be three different exercises became a single event.
The role-playing passengers were given only a broad outline of what was expected to happen — only there was a shooter and that some people would be shot.
“They didn’t tell us a lot beforehand,” said Carolyn Avery, who played a victim.
“They just told us to act how we would in that situation.”
Avery said the passengers all ran away from the shooter to save themselves.
“At one time, we barricaded a door to keep him from coming in and killing us,” she said.
“That part was pretty intense.”
Avery said the role players were told about “safe zones” for those “who may have thought that it got too real.”
Avery said there was only one shooter and his face wasn’t visible behind a black mask.
The shooter was portrayed by Mike Krysinski, Ted Krysinski’s brother.
Beezley said the law enforcement officers were not given too much detail.
They never knew how many passengers were aboard or if there was a second shooter, he said.
“Once we had neutralized the shooter, we had to search all areas of the boat to make sure there wasn’t anymore danger,” he said.
“That part took longer than expected. We needed to make sure it was clear before we allowed the EMTs on board to take care of the patients.”
While the exercise was conducted in real time, there were some built-in delays.
Travel to Jefferson Healthcare hospital with mock victims, for instance, was slower than it would have been if sirens had been used.
“Anytime there is fast driving and sirens, it increases the risk of an accident,” Beezley said.
“We factored that in. We know that in a real situation, we’ll get to the hospital about five minutes faster.”
Krysinski initiated the exercise to coincide with a two-day ferry shutdown to repair the Coupeville dock.
Ferry service is canceled today and will resume with the 6:30 a.m. sailing from Port Townsend on Monday.
“It’s important that we need to learn how to play together and communicate between different agencies,” Krysinski said.
“This exceptional opportunity allows us to keep our skills sharp to provide the best skills to the community.”
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
