NCJ Number
199659
Date Published
2003
Length
215 pages
Annotation
This After-Action Report (AAR) describes the activities of Arlington County (Virginia) representatives and those of supporting jurisdictions, government agencies, and other organizations involved in the response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
Abstract
Although the terrorist attack occurred in Arlington County, VA, the target was a U.S. military facility under the direct control of the Secretary of Defense. The response to the attack involved a large number of agencies, organizations, and individuals from all levels of government and the private sector, and it lasted for an extended period of time. This AAR consists primarily of descriptions of the response, rescue, and recovery activities as perceived and recounted by the responders at all levels and by representatives of all participating organizations. The AAR project team conducted 92 separate debriefing sessions and interviewed approximately 475 participants. The AAR is organized into four annexes and four supporting appendices. An annex on fire department operations encompasses all aspects of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services activities performed by Arlington County, as well as supporting jurisdictions, agencies, and organizations that operated under mutual-aid or similar provisions. The annex that focuses on hospitals and clinics describes the response of medical treatment centers throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area, including hospitals, urgent care centers, and military health clinics. The annex on law enforcement describes the activities of those law enforcement agencies that shared primary jurisdictional responsibilities for the attack, i.e., the Arlington County Police Department, the Defense Protective Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as many other law enforcement organizations that provided response support. The annex on the emergency management and the emergency operations center presents the activities of the Arlington County Government in support of the first responders and citizens of the county. The standard format of each annex consists of observations of what occurred, findings regarding what was learned from the perspectives of responders, and recommendations and lessons learned that can lead to improvements in responding to disasters. 23 figures and appended 24-hour timeline, data reference directory, and Pentagon penetration damage diagrams