LA PLATA, Md. (March 8, 2009)—The Charles County Department of Emergency Services was asked to assist in the 56th Presidential Inauguration ceremonies on January 20, in Washington, DC. Emergency Services, in conjunction with the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department, deployed an “All Hazards Strike Team” on Jan. 19 and 20 in support of the District of Columbia Fire Department and the United State Coast Guard.
The Emergency Medical Service component of the strike team was made up of two EMS ambulance teams each comprised of an Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport ambulance (each staffed by a paramedic and EMT) as well as two support vehicles with supervisory personnel. The EMS units were deployed along the parade route to respond to calls for service, assist with triage and to provide treatment of the public for possible hypothermia.
EMS Personnel assigned to the mission included: Lt’s Walden and Summers, Paramedics Parton, Smith, Hayes, Ramsey, Barbour, Hiponia and Martin and EMT’s Scott, Fox, Morgan and Weyrich.
The second unit deployed was the Charles County Tactical Response Team, which was responsible for providing technical decontamination support to the United States Coast Guard Maritime Security Operations Group operating out of Bolling AFB. The team deployed on Jan. 19 and operated until the end of the Inauguration the following day.
Tactical Response Team personnel assigned to this mission included: Assistant Chief Weiss, Sergeants Donley and Ellis, and Specialists Kennedy, Jefferson, Hancock, and Raybon.