Report: Communications Overwhelmed in Las Vegas Mass Shooting

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Communications were snarled and police, fire and medical responders were overwhelmed by 911 calls, false reports and the number of victims during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, according to a report released Monday by U.S. and local authorities. The report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Clark County Fire Department and Las Vegas police provided an overview of first responders' actions on Oct. 1 and ways authorities can improve. 1 October After-Action Report [Las Vegas Shooting] (2MB pdf) "It's almost impossible to jump hundreds of responders into an ongoing immediate event and have it go smoothly, communications wise," Fire Chief Greg Cassell said in an interview with The Associated Press. Among more than 1,500 calls that police and fire dispatchers answered within the first two hours of the shooting were 16 false calls. They include reports of an unattended backpack at an emergency medical site, a hotel fire, and active shooters at casinos and the nearby airport. One report said 20 hostages were being held at the New York-New York resort. "Congested radio traffic made coordination difficult for response agencies," the report said. "The calls caused a heightened sense of alert, and in some cases the fear of a multi-pronged, coordinated attack near the initial shooting." It said fire dispatchers and firefighters were not even aware of the country music festival that 22,000 people were attend...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Major Incidents News Terrorism & Active Shooter Mass Casualty Incidents Communications Dispatch Source Type: news