Have you ever thought about your role in a mass casualty situation? We often concentrate on the issues inside the walls, but rarely consider that many of us are secondary responders to major catastrophes outside our nation’s prisons.
In the past, correctional officers have been used for security after hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. Most officers designated “peace officers” are part of some type of mutual aid plan. These plans are rarely implemented, and it is ever more unusual that we actually receive training for them.
Imagine this scenario: A major city close to your institution suffers a major terrorist attack. Chaos ensues, stretching the emergency services to their capacity. As riots and unrest strike the city, local police has lost control.
This scenario is completely feasible. We have had terrorist attacks in the past, and more are likely. Also the threat of natural disasters always looms in the shadows. We have watched over how these scenarios play out. Often the initial event is the precursor to the real chaos. As a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness strikes over the people of the city, many choose to go out into the streets and panic. Looting and rioting is an all too often seen side effect of other major incidents. Local police are equipped to deal with much of this, but manpower is always an issue. If the incident has shut down the streets, getting the officers to the incident can be half the battle.
This is where we come in. Who is better trained to deal with large, angry crowds than us? Most correctional officers have more practical riot experience than any police department. Many of us are experts in the use of chemical agents and other less lethal options of force. We use them at work every day, and know their faults. Most police officers have not had practical experience at large crowd control situations, and often lack enough less lethal options to be effective.
Now that we can establish that we have the tools and ability, are you ready? Consider this:
In 2003 a low level inmate escaped from a state prison support facility. The inmate’s offence was not violent, and he was not considered a serious risk to the safety of the institution, so he was placed outside the perimeter fence in an area we call Level 1. This facility has no real fence, except a 6' chain link fence that is there to show inmates their boundaries. The inmate was up for parole in four months.
Nonetheless, he was an escapee, and we were tasked to find him. It was the middle of winter. The temperature outside was about 29 degrees, but somehow it was still raining. Footprints indicated the inmate was on foot, setting out for a long walk across the countryside.
I was in no way prepared for what I had to do next. I was told I would be a stationary “checkpoint” officer, and my partner and I were to stay out of sight, but where we could see. We were strategically placed where we had a great view of the flat land in the area, but no cover. I was wearing my cheap departmental jacket, no hat, no thermals and no gloves. I worked inside of a building and figured I could survive with this for the walk to the car and back. We were posted there for over 10 hours. The weapons we had were freezing to our hands as it began to snow. Eventually we dug trenches in the mud underneath the snow to stay warm. It took me three days to stop shivering. In the end the inmate was found, nice and warm, in a barn about a mile from the prison.
As you can imagine, I learned a lot from this experience, as did many other officers in our unit. No one was really prepared for this. After this incident we learned to pack a “ready kit” either in our vehicles, or in our locker at work. Some things that would have come in handy that night, that I now have ready:
- A fully charged flashlight ( I have a stinger on my belt, but have a spare 3-cell Mag ready)
- Thermals
- A trench coat style rain and foul weather jacket
- A pair of warm gloves
- Extra socks
- Matches
- A fully charged cell phone battery
- An empty thermos (something I can fill with either hot or cold drink if I am called out)
- Some snack bars. Something high in calories and carbs. I have about 3 snickers bars and some granola bars in a zip lock bag.
- An extra hat
- A change of clothes.
All of these items would come in real handy should you have to respond to the community for any type of mutual aid. It could be something as simple as an escape, or something as dangerous as a terrorist strike. In either situation, you could be away from your family for several days.
In the scenario I provided, it could literally be days before you make it home. So it is essential that you prepare your family as well. You should have your family ready to react to your absence as well. Some of the things you may want ready for them at the house:
- A fully charged flashlight
- Candles
- An inexpensive water purification system (these can be bought at any sporting goods store)
- An available weapon of some kind (more on this later)
- A fully charged cell phone.
- Wet strike matches
- Extra blankets
- Canned vegetables and dried fruit
- Canned meats (such as Spam)
- Beef Jerky (not the spicy kind)
- Canned drinks, preferable fruit juices, not sodas.
- A good first aid kit
- Several bottles of alcohol wipes
- Extra toilet paper
- A portable potty (this can be emptied away from the house should water service be interrupted.
- Clean drinking water, at least a gallon per person, per day. You should plan on 3 days.
- A camping stove with plenty of fuel. Make sure your family understands this is for outside use only.
- If you have a wood stove, make sure there is wood within reach. If you don’t, make sure that you have plenty of warm blankets in the closet.
This is just a partial list. You can add such things as particulate masks and such as you wish.
I included a “weapon” on my list. If you have this available make sure that your family knows how to use it. I have taken my wife out in the woods to fire my weapon, so she knows what it is capable of should she ever need it.
We always talk about this stuff, but rarely actually prepare. We often don’t want to sound like conspiracy theory nut bags that sleep in gas masks at night; but if the day ever comes, you will be thankful. You should store all these items in waterproof bags in an upstairs area. If you have a one story house, store it in the attic if you have one.
Now that you are prepared with the tools you need, make sure that your department is conducting training on how you would respond to outside emergencies. If there is no training, suggest it. If that doesn’t work, read the procedures, do some research, and offer to conduct the training yourself.
In a post 9/11 world, we cannot afford to be passive. We need to be ready to react to anything thrown our way. Be it a small or large scale incident. Prepare your family and yourself to be away for several days. In the Katrina aftermath, some correctional officers and police officers were away from their homes and families for almost a week. We need to learn from these incidents and be ready not only to serve the public, but to protect ourselves and our families.
As always, if you have more suggestions for preparedness, feel free to add them in the comments section below or email me your questions.