Emergency Evacuation of Afghan Refugees Using HazMat Safety Officers

During the 22-day period of August 21 to September 12, 2021, Mr. Hildebrand served as the Chief Safety Officer with Emergency Management Solutions, Inc. supporting the U.S. Department of State in the emergency evacuation of approximately 45,000 refugees from Kabul, Afghanistan. Refugees were received, stabilized, and processed at Dulles, Virginia before they were transported to U.S. military bases stateside for further processing and resettlement.

Emergency Management Solutions recruited 15 Assistant Safety Officers from Maryland and Virginia Hazardous Materials Response Teams to support the operation. The unique backgrounds of fire department special operations personnel were well suited for the many challenges of non-stop 24/7 safety operations.

This presentation will provide an overview of how safety officers adapted and overcame many unusual problems over three weeks that ranged from emergency medical evacuation of men, women, and children with issues ranging from gunshot and shrapnel wounds to dehydration as well as sanitation, life safety and fire code issues, finding missing children, dealing with language barriers, and many other unimaginable problems. Mr. Hildebrand and several Assistant Safety Officers who supported the complex operation will discuss lessons learned and how the HazMat Team skill set adds value to resolving complex problems under exigent circumstances.