Last Post

Well, here I am, my journey is drawing to a close, with just over 24 hours left in Boston.
Tuesday saw me return to the airport, to meet Richard Walsh and Matthew Brelis, who head up the Media Relations Department at Massport, Boston Airport.
It was a very sucessful meeting, and Matthew and Richard talked me through Media Management at the airport, the use of Media following major incidents, and the use of 'Social Media', which Richard described as 'Humanising your organisation'.
I left the Airport and travelled by a bus, that turned into a subway train, to the other side of the river to meet with Bob Wortman, the Chief Emergency Services Officer of the American Red Cross.  This too was a very interesting and succesful meeting.  We spoke in depth about Bob's experience during Hurricane Katrina, and his experiences at the New Jersey family Assistance Center following 9/11.
Wednesday saw me head off the Boston Police Headquarters to meet with the Chief of Uniform Officers William Evans, and his Deputy Darrin Greeley.  Yet again, a fantastic warm greeting from the department. William and Darrin gave me agreat insight into their own experiences and those of the Department.  We also spoke of recent exercises, and lessons learnt.   Darrin also kindly gave me a tour of the 911 incoming calls department (pic below) and the Despatch Department, which was most interesting and informative.  They even have cameras that sense gunshots, and turn to face the direction the shots were fired, in order to try and catch the culprit!
I then met Daniel Coleman, from the Intelligence Center, and he also shared his experiences, and talked me through intelligence gathering.  We spoke in detail about London's own Project Argus and Project Griffin.

Thursday saw my return to the HQ, where I met the head of Boston Police, Daniel Linskey.  Daniel is a truly remarkable character, who's knowledge is amazing.  We spoke for an hour and a half about Boston Police procedures, and emergency management.
After Daniel, came my last meeting of the trip, Brian Fleming.  Brian heads up the Peer Support and Family Assistance Unit's.  This was a very emotional meeting.  Brian talked me through problems that Officers may suffer following critical incidents and the support he and his team offer.  The support is second to none, and the team, although hard working, are definatley seeing results from the work they are doing.
I was showered with gifts from Boston PD, and need to find room in my suitcase to bring them all home!

So there it is, the end of a 6 week journey.  My journey has been amazing, it still doesn't feel real! i think the main thing that will always stay with me is the amazing, humble, kind and knowledgeable people I have met. I will never forget them, and would like to thank each and every one for making my journey so informatinve and amazing.

Thank you to you all.

Bob from the Red Cross

Boston PD Memorial to Officers lost.........

Darrin and the Supervisor of the 911 received calls

Yours truly and the Big Boss!

BOSTON!

Well here I am in Boston.  My first thought on arrival was how tiny it all seemed! It was like arriving in Toy Town after a month in NYC!!
After settling into the lovely apartment (very central and large, and widescreen on demand TV!) I set out to explore! Some noodles later and an early night was in store.  Saturday I took a Duck tour of Boston, half river, half road and totally brilliant!  Sunday shopping, and then a trip to the Top of the Hub, the largest building in Boston!
Monday saw me heading to the airport, not to come home, but to meet with the amazing staff.  The two planes that hit the Towers on that terrible day took off from Boston, and it was clear to see that the community had been deeply affected by this.  I met with Betty Desrosiers,Director of Aviation Planning and Strategy and Stewart Dalzell, Deputy Director of Environmental Planning and Permitting.  Aside from their day jobs Betty and Stewart also developed a Family Assistance Centre Plan in the late 90's.  The plan was to look at how families of those affected by an air accident at The Airport could have their needs met.  They tested the plan in September 2000, with local acting students playing the part of families.  A year later they put the plan into action for real, but this time it was no accident.  Families arrived at the airport shortly after the attacks, and the airport staff (mainly volunteers), sprung into action immediately.  The plan had earmarked the Hilton Hotel as a safe place for families, away from media attention and somewhere safe and secure.  The Hilton staff were amazing, and the care the families recieved in their darkest time was second to none.  I felt extremely overwhelmed by the dedication of these people, whose only thought on the weeks following the attacks was for the bereaved.
Next up was Bob Donahue, Fire Chief of the airport.  Bob was instrumental in ensuring the plan for families was written, and worked.  His own experience of that day was extremely moving, and the passion for helping others was clear to see.
I then met with Ed Freni, Director of Aviation for the Airport.  Once again, the view took my breath away! But then on to more serious things.  Ed actually set the Strategy for the airport response and the recovery, and it was fascinating to meet such a strategic thinker, with so much experience of dealing with incidents.  Ed started out as Cabin Crew Supervisor, and now commands the response to huge aviation incidents.  (Photo below). My lasting memory of that meeting will be seeing Ed's actual copy of the passenger manifest, with the terrorists names ringed, and his cabin crew friends named so soon after.  He lost many friends that day, and yet pushed his own emotions aside to ensure the safety, security and dignity of the airport community.
I then visited the Boston Airport Memorial.  A memorial to all of those on board the two planes (picture below).
Tomorrow brings more airport visits, and then American Red Cross in the afternoon. 
More soon!

Standard Chartered Bank and 9/11 preview

My next day was spent with Standard Chartered Bank, in Bryant Park. 
Rob and Tony are the two Business Continuity Managers there, and I received a very warm welcome on my arrival.. and was once again greeted by an amazing view! (below)
Rob and Tony told me all about their 9/11 experiences.
Rob worked in one of the Towers at the time of the attacks, but was thankfully late that morning, and Tony was in WTC 7, and luckily survived the collapse.  It was very moving to hear their stories.
After their personal accounts they went on to talk me through the BC processes of their respective companies at the time.  It was intersting to compare and contrast the Diaster Recovery approaches from NY and the UK..
I was not far from Ground Zero so I visited the Preview Center, which is a temporary arrangement until the museum opens.  Again, moving and emotional.
Tomorrow I visit the Office of Emergency Management in Brooklyn, and then leave for Boston.
Boston will se me spending a day at the airport with the staff who assisted the families from plane victims, 2 days wwith Boston Police Department, talking through their emergency plans and a day with the Red Cross. 
I am not sure if I will have wifi in my apartment, but if I do you will hear more soon!!

Rob and Tony and their view!

Hicksville and James Bond

The day after my conference I travelled by train to Long Island, to a town called Hicksville.  I was meant to spend some time in NYC with Terry Winters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, however due to the huge impact of Hurricane Irene, Terry has been deployed to Nassau County Emergency Planning in Hicksville where he is assisting those whose properties were damaged by Irene.
Terry met me from the train station and we drove to the Center.  It was exteremely intersting to see Terry in action (below), and it was time well spent.  The Center also houses some scientific research companies.  I was lucky to be invited to see a mapping system in action, it was truly amazing, very James Bond, so I can't write much more about that!

JP Morgan

I visited the amazing Chase Manhatten Plaza to attend a conference ran by an organisation called Contingency Planning Exchange (CPE).  JP Morgan were hosting the event, and on arrival I was asked to attend the 60th floor!! On arrival the view was the first thing I noticed (Picture below).  It was simply stunning. 
After networking over coffee and cookies, the Conference began.  Some very interesting speakers followed.  Lieutenant Kevin Fowler from the New Jersey State Police spoke about the Trans Hudson Emergency NJ/NY plan.  He has written a plan to get people home to New Jersey from New York in the event of an emergency such as a 'blackout'. 

A colleague called Steve Gutkin (who I have already spent a day with) spoke next about his team, called The Regional Catastrophic Planning Team (picture above).  Steve introduced me to the audience, which was quite an experience!

9/11 Memorial and Westfield Shopping Center!

Yesterday was a very interesting day indeed.   Last week I met a fellow Fellow called Ian Nuttal, who is researching 'Practical Lessons Learnt from Major Disasters' in the States.  He is a Search and Rescue Firefighter in the UK.  He came to NYC and we met up! He asked if he could come along to my meeting with the '9/11 Memorial and Museum' Team.  I asked the team, who said they were more than happy for us both to attend.  We arrived at their office, on the 20th floor overlooking Ground Zero, and were treated to a presentation around the planning for the Memorial and Museum.  We also met with the Head of Education (Picture below), an Oral Historian and a Curator.  The Museum does not open until next year, however I would urge anyone visiting NYC next year to visit, as from the preview images I was shown, it looks to be an amazing facility.
After our meeting we were taken down to the site and escorted to the front of the queue.  After very thorough security checks (of which Ian did not have to take part in, as he is a responder), we entered the site.  It is very moving, but what becomes clear almost instantly, is that it is not Ground Zero anymore... It is a place for reflection and peace.  The site is still surrounded by construction work, yet has a sense of calm and quiet.  The names of the victims are grouped together as per where they died (picture below).  So each plane, each company, each emergency service, has it's own place.
Something that interested me greatly was The Survivor Tree (picture below).  The only tree that survived the attacks.  The Tree is the only Callary Pear Tree at the site.  The new trees that have been planted are Swamp White Oak Trees (225 planted so far, 416 eventually).  The Survivor Tree, is a gathering place for those that survived the attacks, a symbol of growth and recovery... as you can clearly see where the Tree began to grow following it's ordeal.
It was a moving afternoon, but at the same time it is amazing to see the recovery of the community taking place before your eyes, ten long years on.

Today I was invited to Paramus Shopping Mall, the second largest in The States! I met with the Secuirty Manager and we talked about the risk management he has put in place since the attacks, the extra security, and their emergency plans.  I also met with the Emergency Manager for the municipality of Paramus, and we swapped stories and shared information.
The Mall is owned by Westfield, so it was of particular interest to discuss security, because of the Stratford Westfield being so closely located to the Olympic Park!

Tomorrow I head to JP Morgan, to attend a Business Continuity Conference entitled 'Ten Years On'.

Unfortunatley I have still not met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as they are still deployed upstate looking atter those affected by Irene.  So, after some thought, I suggested that I travel upstate to meet them and witness the work they are doing.. so that will happen on Friday, they can't come to me, so I will go to them!

Enjoy my pictures, more soon

Quick update!

A very quick update, as I am so busy!
Had some excellent meetings last week.... one in particular was with Chief Joe Pfeifer of the FDNY.  He is Chief of Counter Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness..  A fascinating man.  He was the subject of the film the French Brothers made during the Terror Attacks, simply called 9/11.  I would urge everyone to see this film, and this incredible mans esperience. 
Also I have had sucessful meetings with The New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Centre, and the Regional Catastrophic Planning Team.  I have met Commissioner Bruno, Head of the Office of Emergency Management, and so many more!
Tomorrow I have a private tour of the Memorial.  Tickets are sold out until November, so I am extremely proud to be invited personally.
More soon!!

9/11 Ten Years On

Well, that was emotional!
The day started with my arrival at the Salvation Army Headquarters, in downton Manhattan.
The Salvation Army had laid on a support centre for those affected by the attacks ten years ago.  After attending one of thir planning meetings I thought that I knew what to expect! I was wrong.  The centre was amazing.. in attendance were 8 therapy dogs, acupuncture and massage facilities and quiet areas staffed by counsellors.  There was also a 1400 seater theatre streaming the opening of the memorial live.
Food had been donated, and caterers had volunteered to serve it.
It was a Centre of two halves. The theatre was quiet and emotional, and the foyer was busy with those catching up with old friends, networking and sharing experiences.
Most of my day was spent trouble shooting, however I also did some registration and meeting and greeting guests.
At lnchtime, a fellow Churchill Fellow Ian Nuttal arrived.  Ian is a Firefighter in the UK, and is researching practical experiences learnt from major disasters in the US.  I showed Ian around the Centre, and then headed off to Penn Station to say goodbye, as he was visiting colleagues in Long Island that afternoon.  Ian was in full dress uniform, and when the NYPD saw him, we were escorted through the station, and allowed to travel for free, in respect for his UK position. 
The City was alive with uniforms, I decided to visit Ground Zero later that evening, once the crowds had dispersed.  Following a tip from a friend, I went to the W Hotel, which has a terrace overlooking Ground Zero.  It was extremely emotional.  The memorial is beautiful, and very fitting.  With peoples names grouped together dependant on the place they died. 
Walking around the City that evening was an experince I will never ever forget.  I met British Police, British Fire Officers, and many American responders who had felt the need to be there, whether involved or not.  The atmosphere was also extremely friendly, with everyone chatting to everyone, no matter what your job, where you came from or why you were there.
Today I had the privelidge to meet with Chief Pfeiffer from the FDNY.  He was the first Chief Officer on the scene on that terrible day, and my meeting with him was sucessful and yet moving.
I have a very busy week this week.  Tomorow I meet a British Police Officer, who is here researching a similar project to mine.  We can swap ideas and share experiences.  I also have a trip to New Jersey 'Fusion Centre', a place where resilience ideas are 'fused' together to plan for the future.
I will also be spending a day at the Office of Emergency Management on Thursday, which is the closest organisation to the Contingency Planning Units that Local Authorities have in the UK.
So... more soon.. I hope you find my pictures interesting.

Claire

Irene, DC, trains and NYC!

Apologies it has taken me so long to update....
Well, I arrived at Heathrow, still not really knowing if my plane would even be taking off! But it did, and the Pilot kindly updated us that there was no way he would ever fly us into a hurricane.. and that Irene was not due to hit Washington till much later that evening!
So I arrived at Dulles airport in the pouring rain (after a very scary landing!).  I took a Taxi to my apartment, which was lovely, and awaited the arrival of Irene.  However, after a 7 and a half hour flight, exhaustion set in, and I manged to sleep through the whole thing!
The next day the sun was out, and you would only have known that Irene had hit because of the broken branches everywhere. (see picture below, if you look closely you can see the broken branches)
Sucessful meetings with the Air Transportation Board and the FBI followed.. as did a very moving trip to the Pentagon Memorial, and before I knew it it was time to take the train to NYC!

Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic are monitoring the situation...

Sightseeing hampered!

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/washington-monuments-closed-following-earthquake/

Two days to go........

And it all seems so real now! An earthquake has hit the East Coast, and a hurricane is due... I might actually be involved in a real incident!! And I thought I was off to research them..........
Hopefully my plane will land safely...
Checked the weather, 35 degrees and heavy rain today! Wow......

Getting close!

Wow, two weeks and two days to go! Most of my preparations are in place... just confirming my final meetings... then it's off I go!
I had better get ready to bid farewell to this Town, and look forward to replacing it with the Three Big ones I am visiting Stateside!