ABSTRACT
Organized-disorganization and the stress experienced during disaster responses by those working within strained bureaucracies are among concepts highlighted. The main character is the officer in charge of the Indianapolis Police Department radio room. On October 31, 1963, a massive propane gas explosion during an ice show at the Indianapolis Coliseum left 81 dead and 400 injured. Many were trapped under large pieces of concrete. A crane was requested by on-scene commanders, but an out-of-date disaster response manual left dispatch personnel without a highly needed aid. Officers at the scene provided minimal situational intelligence so dispatch personnel were not able to develop clear images of the event, volunteer responses, or on-scene resource needs. The nurturing support of the dispatch unit commander’s wife following this disaster event is emphasized. Comparisons are made in the analysis section to other mass casualty events like the Aurora, Colorado, theater shooting in July, 2012. As an example of a secondary type of disaster victim, readers gain empathy for emergency personnel who experience disaster in ways that differ from people killed or injured at disaster scenes. Emergent systems, both official and unofficial are highlighted and contrasted to conclusions from other disaster studies.
