Congress evacuations went as planned last week
By Elizabeth Jenkins

WASHINGTON - Following last week's terrorist attacks here and in New York, Capitol officials have increased security and developed an enhanced evacuation plan for the Capitol.

In a briefing today, members of the Committee on House Administration and the Capitol Police told House members and their staffs about an interim evacuation plan that is now being enforced and encouraged their colleagues to follow the plan closely in future emergencies.

The plan includes Capitol Police officers' checking with each office to make sure that everyone has exited the building and offering assistance to people with special needs, closing parking facilities and improving telecommunications among House members and the Capitol Police.

On Sept. 11, Sally Tibbetts, press secretary to Rep. Charlie Bass, R-Peterborough, heard the evacuation alarms go off and said she followed the office's planned evacuation procedures.

"The congressman came out of his office and said we should evacuate," Tibbetts said. She added that the staff followed Bass outside to the street corner designated as their meeting place and then went to a staff member's apartment, which they used as their "base of operations." Bass's staff learned it was safe to return to their building by way of a message from Capitol police to Bass's pager.

"Things worked out well," Tibbetts said.

She said that staff members discussed the evacuation plan used by Bass's office on Sept. 11 and determined that it was effective. Nevertheless, in light of the evacuation briefing held yesterday, Tibbetts said, some changes would be implemented." We did find some of their recommendations helpful," she said.

Among the new procedures that Bass's office will enforce are a secondary plan and a requirement that the staff check in with Capitol Police before leaving the Capitol grounds.

Offices that did not have an evacuation plan in place, or a designated meeting spot were not quite as organized. And some members complained about inadequate communication informing them of the situation.

"One of the things that was a concern of everyone on Tuesday [Sept. 11] was the lack of information," said Lt. Dan Nichols, spokesman for the Capitol Police. "It was a very fast- breaking situation."

"It would be our benefit, certainly the benefit of the congressional community, if we can provide better information on the situation at hand," Nichols said.

He said that Capitol Police officers will use public address systems and bullhorns to address assembled members, as well as a telecommunication systems such as pagers to notify members of an emergency situation and to allow members to talk to each other.

Though the House was briefed today on evacuation procedures, no such briefing has been scheduled for the Senate.

"Everyone knew exactly what to do," said Matt Ferraguto, a spokesman for Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, of last week's evacuation.

Ferraguto said that everyone in the office evacuated together to Upper Senate Park on Constitution Avenue. Kennedy's office, however, is considering creating a second location out of the Capitol area where everyone can meet once they have evacuated the building.

Jeff Turcotte, press secretary to New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, said that each staff member learns about the office's evacuation plan on his or her first day at work.

He said there are no plans to change the office's evacuation system. He added, however, that last week's attacks were a "significant, substantial reminder" of what needs to be done during an evacuation.

"The evacuation was very orderly," Turcotte said. "I was surprised."

Nevertheless, he said, after the Sept. 11 attacks, plans were reviewed to make sure they complied with fire safety and were adequate.

Erin Witcher, spokeswoman for New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith, also said that her office's plan was effective. She called the evacuation "orderly" and said everyone left the office together to go to the designated meeting place.

"The senator made sure everyone was out of the office," she said.

Nichols said that fire drills are held once a year in each office, but that a full evacuation of Capitol Hill had never occurred before.

"It was the first time in the 200-year history of this complex that we have had an evacuation of all 19 of our buildings at one time," said Nichols of the Capitol Police. "So it was certainly an unprecedented situation that we were facing."