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San Francisco details stepped-up security for mass events and readies Golden Guardian earthquake exercise
Summary
Police, fire and DEM described tightened event planning for upcoming large gatherings and outlined the Golden Guardian regional exercise, including a Tenderloin mass-feeding drill aimed at serving 6,000 meals and EOC activations to test 48-hour response capabilities.
San Francisco officials on the Disaster Council described enhanced security plans for upcoming mass gatherings and provided details about Golden Guardian, a statewide earthquake exercise that will activate city operations.
Deputy Chief John Loftus of the police department walked through event-planning steps: identify the event type and venue, assess history and organizer track records, assemble a planning team, develop an operations order in an NIMS/ICS format and scale staffing to event size. For a major race the department briefed planners on a planning assumption of roughly 30,000 runners and walkers and about 100,000 spectators; policing plans include officers from all 10 districts, tactical and mounted units, bomb technicians, canine teams, automated license-plate readers and multiple mobile command vehicles.
Loftus answered questions about backpack limits and reporting suspicious activity, noting that organizers set a size limit (about 15 by 11 inches) and urging the public to alert on-site personnel or call 911. A subsequent speaker emphasized civil-liberties concerns and clarified that backpacks were not banned outright, only size was restricted.
Deputy Chief Mark Gonzales described the fire department—s mass-gathering planning: event analysis, EMS minimums, mobile command posts, rescue watercraft and contingency staffing. Fire leaders reiterated the need to replace the 800-megahertz radio system to preserve responder safety.
Jill Raycroft, Golden Guardian exercise lead, said the statewide exercise will test a 7.8-magnitude San Andreas earthquake scenario at the 48-hour mark. The city will fully activate its emergency operations center, host approximately 80 EOC players and operate a live shelter at St. Mark—s Lutheran Church. Raycroft said a Tenderloin mass-feeding exercise will attempt to serve 6,000 meals to vulnerable populations to test mass-care and logistics.
Next steps: agencies will participate in the exercise next week, observe activations and collect after-action lessons for improvements to event planning and mass-care operations.
