Coverage of the Sept. 29 and 30 405 Freeway closure
Emergency Crews Prepare for Carmageddon's "What Ifs"
Emergency response teams deploy for the weekend closure of the 405 Freeway
Gordon Tokumatsu
Friday night Caltrans crews will begin shutting down a ten-mile stretch of the 405. On Thursday, officials finalized their response plans in case of an emergency during Carmaggedon weekend. Assistant Chief Patrick Butler says he's "confident" that the 911 system will be fully operational. Gordon Tokumatsu reports from Encino for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2012.
Helicopters on stand-by and a quick-strike motorcycle response team are just some of the ways emergency response crews are gearing up for a weekend closure of the 405 Freeway.
The LA Fire Department's Incident Management Team will strategically deploy emergency resources based on traffic conditions and community needs to make sure response times are not impacted by the closure. Assistant fire Chief Patrick Butler said the 911 system will be fully operational to handle emergencies.
The wild card this weekend is the threat of a brush fire along the Sepulveda Pass, as evidenced by last week’s fire near the Getty Center. Helicopters will be standing by at strategically located landing pads.
"We will actually have fixed fire stations that we'll build like a camp, much like we would with a brush fire,” assistant fire chief Patrick Butler said.
The department’s motorcycle response team will be on patrol again during the Carmageddon weekend. The trained paramedics on two wheels will be able to weave in and out of any traffic jams in case of a medical emergency.
The motorcycles have defibrillators and other medical supplies on board.
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