MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURE INFORMATION CENTER
In conjunction with Jim Hall, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, and Jerome M. Hauer, Director of the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced plans to create the first comprehensive, nation-wide operations center for airline disaster information.
Based on a program created by British Airways, The Emergency Procedure Information Center will offer centralized and comprehensive services that will facilitate the collection and dissemination of critical accident information. Most importantly, the Center will also offer aid and comfort to those affected by the disaster.
In the event of an airline crash anywhere in North America, the Emergency Procedure Information Center will be the vital information link between airline management, government agencies, rescue workers, the victims' families, and the public. In addition to this immediate information, the Center will provide humanitarian services to the victims and their loved ones. These services include:
- Passenger Manifest Information
- Travel assistance for air, rail, car, passport , and visa needs
- Hotel Accommodations
- Foreign language translation
- Liaison with hospitals, medical examiners, and mortuaries,
- Liaison with local authorities, clergy, and mental health counselors
"After the terrible tragedy of TWA Flight 800, where families and friends of victims waited days for passenger information, it became evident that loved ones should never be treated in such a fashion again," Mayor Giuliani said. "This center is a large step forward in insuring that information and support flows to families in a timely manner."
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall also recognized the need for such a center. "When an airplane crashes, one of the most important duties an airline has is to promptly and compassionately notify the victims' families," Mr. Hall said. "While many large airlines are up to this task, there are a number of small or foreign carriers without adequate reservations systems or other resources that may become overwhelmed. For this reason, I strongly support the formation of a New York-based EPIC Center and commend the Mayor for his leadership in this effort. The NTSB will do all that it can to facilitate the formation of EPIC as quickly as possible, and I urge the nation's airlines to consider it's use."
Located in New York City, the Emergency Procedure Information Center will be staffed by specially trained employees of participating airlines, as well as members of New York's City's Police and Fire Departments. When needed, additional personnel will be summoned to help the Center achieve its goal of providing the victims and their families with information and support.
The Center will be operational within 25 minutes from the time an incident is reported. A toll-free telephone number will then be released to the media by the airline involved, providing the public with a well-publicized and immediate point of contact. The Center will be staffed to meet the challenges of incidents involving up to 1,000 casualties.
Utilizing the most technically advanced communications equipment available (including a dedicated 800-number that can handle thousands of calls, fax and telex terminals, radio transmitters, and computer links to numerous airline and governmental databases), the Center will collate and control all information related to the passengers and crew who were involved in the incident. In addition to dealing with aviation incidents, the Center can also be placed in operation for a mass casualty/mass fatality ground transportation incident.
The Emergency Procedure Information Center will be funded by the airlines through a yearly fee, and through other corporate contributions. When the Center is activated in response to an incident, the affected airline will cover the cost of the center's operations.
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