Eastern Massachusetts SM K9HI on Boston Marathon Tragedy and Response
It’s been an extraordinary past few weeks for the citizens of Massachusetts as well as for the entire country. The tragic events at the Boston Marathon on Patriot’s Day and the weeks following will forever be seared into our collective memories. The bombings, subsequent violence, the lockdown, an historic manhunt, and the eventual capture of a dangerous fugitive not only shook us but led us to summon our most enduring and positive of human qualities. We listened and watched in awe to the stories of first responders (and ordinary citizens) who rushed into harm’s way to aid the injured and dying. In the days afterward, we collectively grieved. Slowly, now, we collectively heal.
For the hundreds of Amateur Radio volunteers from across New England who came to serve that day, the Marathon was going to be a fun, routine public service event. Sure, operators at previous Marathons have endured hardships and weather-related challenges. Temperature extremes in years past have resulted in hundreds of requests for ambulance transport to area hospitals. One year, there was even a fatality. But in all of the thirty-plus years of Boston Marathons in which amateurs have served, this one was without precedent.
Amateur Radio volunteers performed admirably during the period where they were covering a normal public service event. BAA officials in Hopkinton successfully ensured a smooth and safe start, thanks in part to efficient communications provided by the hams that shadowed them.
Checkpoints and first aid stations were able to verify and obtain needed supplies, and later, coordinate the transport of runners. Red Cross officials who crisscrossed the course were kept in the loop always, thanks to their Amateur Radio shadows. But then … 2:50 PM. Initially, rumors and vague reports surfaced. CNN texts and other media alerts began to light up smartphones. Phone call volume increased. In fact, in many locations along the course, cell phone service crashed under the strain. Soon, it was apparent to everyone that a major disaster was unfolding, and amateurs were caught up in the middle of it. The jarring directive went out over the amateur networks to halt all runners.
Stop the Marathon
The BAA’s mission abruptly changed, and new priorities were quickly introduced. As Marathon volunteer Tim Carter, W3ATB of Meredith, New Hampshire succinctly puts it, “The bombs created a new set of problems. How do the runners stay warm? How do the runners get fed? How do the runners get to their belongings? How do the runners discover if their loved ones waiting at the finish are okay? How do the runners let their loved ones know where they are? How will thousands of runners be transported to who-knows-where?”
News coverage of the bombings and subsequent capture of the suspects has, of course, been non-stop and numbing. Soon, for the first time the behind-the-scenes story of Amateur Radio at this Boston Marathon will appear in the volunteers’ own words in the pages of QST. I want to thank our Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, for helping to pull together much of the material that will appear in these stories. Some of the other contributors include: Paul Topolski, W1SEX, District Emergency Coordinator for Worcester County, Western MA; Steve Schwarm, W3EVE, DEC for Field Operations, Eastern MA; Tim Carter, W3ATB; Carl Aveni, N1FY, Assistant SEC; and Terry Stader, KA8SCP, DEC.
I’m proud of the actions of the section’s ARES members and other Marathon Amateur Radio Communications consortium participants during this horrific event. When the shock hit, amateurs shifted gears seamlessly from public service event coverage to full-blown emergency
operations. The fact that amateurs are trained and able to make such a profound transition so quickly ensures that our services will always be in demand. You have this Section Manager’s sincere gratitude.
Phil Temples, K9HI, ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager
