MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, POLICE COMMISSIONER RAYMOND
W. KELLY, AND FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA RELEASE
McKINSEY & COMPANY STUDIES OF NYPD'S AND FDNY'S RESPONSES
TO WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK
Report Focuses on Departmental Reforms and Inter-Agency
Coordination and Communication
Go to the FDNY's Report
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond W.
Kelly, and Fire
Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today released the studies
conducted by the management-
consulting firm of McKinsey & Company (McKinsey) concerning
the NYPD's and FDNY's
responses to last year's attack on the World Trade Center.
Earlier this year, the NYPD and
FDNY each enlisted the services of McKinsey on a pro-bono
basis to identify both the effective
and ineffective aspects of the responses so that the City
might be better prepared for large-scale
emergencies in the future. The independent, comprehensive
reports confirm the tremendous
bravery and heroism of the men and women of both Departments
in conducting the most
successful urban emergency evacuation in modern history, as
well as highlighting important
areas for improvement in responding to large-scale emergencies.
"The findings of the McKinsey report illustrate both
the strengths and weaknesses of the New York Police Department
and Fire Department in handling large-scale emergencies, and
provide significant opportunities for these vitally important
agencies to improve their ability to respond to potential
crisis situations in the future," Mayor Bloomberg said.
"Some of the report's recommendations mirror the initiatives
launched by the NYPD and FDNY over the last few months to
promote inter-departmental communication and coordination
and protect New York City during catastrophic events; others
deserve thorough consideration by the respective Commissioners.
We owe it to those we lost and to those they left behind to
learn what we can from this tragedy and I would like to thank
McKinsey for their hard work so that these two agencies can
build on the their proud traditions of being the world's Finest
and Bravest."
"In the end, this examination of our performance will
make us a stronger Department," Commissioner Kelly said.
"None of the findings detract in any way from the remarkable
heroism and life saving efforts by the police officers and
firefighters who responded that day."
"This report by McKinsey & Company successfully
completes the goal we outlined six months ago: to look independently
at the Fire Department's response and operations on September
11, to see what lessons we could learn from what happened,
and to come up with recommendations for change - along with
a blueprint to implement those changes - that will leave us
better prepared if we are ever again confronted with a catastrophic
emergency," Commissioner Scoppetta said.
In its review of the NYPD's response to the attack on the
World Trade Center, McKinsey identifies several opportunities
for improvement in the emergency response capabilities of
the Police Department. The report highlights the following
areas for potential improvement:
- Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of key
NYPD officials during large-scale emergencies
- Enhancing mobilization procedures
- Efficiently providing and distributing equipment to personnel,
improving intra-department and inter-department communications
- Establishing a comprehensive emergency preparedness and
response plan, which includes counter-terrorism training.
The NYPD has already begun to address many of these issues,
and has established several task forces to develop specific
action plans in the areas of operational command, communications,
personnel deployment, equipment and logistics, intelligence,
training, and planning. In addition, since January 1st, the
Police Department has implemented a series of reforms independent
of the McKinsey report:
- Created a counter-terrorism unit
- Expanded and enhanced intelligence division
- Revised command and operational succession plan
- Improved mobilization procedures
- Upgraded equipment for officers.
In its review of the FDNY's response to the attack on the
World Trade Center, McKinsey identifies several opportunities
for improvement in the emergency response capabilities of
the Fire Department. The report highlights the following areas
for potential improvement:
- Improving the FDNY's internal and operational capabilities
in emergency situations by utilizing its Operations Center
to coordinate incident command and control throughout the
City
- Creating specialized incident management teams
- Instituting effective staging and recall procedures
- Establishing mutual aid agreements with other agencies
- Improved and expanded planning procedures
- Scenario-based training
- Enhanced communications processes and technologies
- Flexible family and member support services
- Effective coordination of the FDNY's emergency response
plans with those of other agencies at the City, State, and
Federal levels.
The FDNY has already enacted measures aimed at achieving
many of the goals set forth by the McKinsey report, including
expanding and reorganizing the Department's top uniformed
ranks through the appointment of five Staff Chiefs as Borough
Commanders.
Since January 1st, the NYPD and FDNY have launched several
initiatives and established various policies and procedures
to facilitate inter-agency cooperation, coordination, and
communication during emergency situations. In addition to
regular meetings between Commissioners Kelly and Scoppetta,
the collaborative measures include:
- Assigning Departmental liaisons for placement at the agencies'
respective headquarters
- Establishing an interagency senior executive coordinating
committee to review and resolve operational issues
- Placing FDNY Chiefs on NYPD helicopters in certain emergency
situations
- Examining ways in which the NYPD's radio infrastructure
might enhance the FDNY's communication system.
Go to the FDNY's Report
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