When Executive Director Mike Tester heard gunshots ring out at his convention facility, he couldn’t help but imagine his worst fears were coming to life.
Luckily for Tester, the gunfire was only part of a planned simulation that in the end would bolster the security of the facility, not shatter it.
On February 14, Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) conducted a massive—and unprecedented, at least in the convention center world—full-scale security exercise that enlisted the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Orange County Fire Rescue and Orange County Sheriff’s Office to put its emergency response plans to the test.
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“I spoke with the CISA executive director at that event and then I walked off as it was beginning and I heard the ‘pop, pop, pop’ of the guns—the ‘assailants’ had already entered and they were starting their [assault],” Tester said. “Even though I knew what it was, it was really emotional. We had actors and they were screaming, and I was so thankful this was a test.”
In all, the exercise involved more than 400 participants and 150 first responders with multiple simulated incidents that mimicked a complex coordinated attack. The goal was to test the convention center’s core capabilities in areas such as on-scene security and protection, mass-care services, situational assessment, public information and warning, and operational coordination, according to the OCCC.
“Convention centers have done active shooter and other types training, but I don’t think anyone has done it to the breadth and depth that we did,” Tester said. “And not only were all of the professionals involved in it, but we also invited the neighborhood, so we had a lot of directors of security and security managers from hotels and restaurants and other venues around that were able to come in and take part in it because it’s important for us that we’re collaborating and we have relationships.”
While Tester and the OCCC security team obviously couldn’t reveal any specific security weaknesses that may or may not have been uncovered during the exercise, all agreed that communication is always an area where improvements can be made at any large facility.
Knowing procedures, codes and establishing safe perimeters around points of entry are other basic security elements that any large public building should strive to improve.
The massive drill also satisfied another challenge that any large facility faces: complacency.
“Regular training is important to develop consistency and memory; to develop standards and keep those rock solid in times of emergency,” Tester said. “The biggest thing that cities and destinations can be guilty of is going, ‘OK, we got it. We got it covered,’ and being complacent. You never, ever want to be complacent.
“In the case of what we did, it was an active shooter,” he continued. “How do you get prepared to see those signals, those signs so you’re all trained to spot and stop before it happens, to where it is not a national story, it’s a local story that someone got arrested.”
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Clients Demand High Security Levels
In destinations the size of Orlando, perennially one of the most popular meetings and conventions cities in the U.S. and which regularly hosts massive gatherings, security is always a primary concern.
“They want to feel comfortable that you have a deep and detailed security plan,” Tester said of his meeting planner clients. “There is no doubt that it is absolutely top of mind.”
The level of security, however, is always dependent on the amount of money a convention client is prepared to spend.
“Do you want to do Plan A, Plan B, Plan C?” he asked. “Plan A could be you’re putting in weapon detector systems, but then you’re going to have to supply personnel. We will sit with a customer and build a safety and security plan based on their needs and their budget, but certainly security is more important than budget.”
Tester credited the OCCC’s lead security officer, Isiah White Jr., the OCCC’s security, parking and transportation director, with conceptualizing and organizing the herculean effort.
“This was Isiah’s baby from the get-go and his idea of putting the team together in place,” Tester said. “I have done active shooter training at other facilities but not to the degree with the outside help of CISA, which had never done one like this at a convention center.”
The exercise was funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security—the only one given to a convention center, to his knowledge—to test functionalities at facilities that host large numbers of people.
“Usually, they go to airports and other large venues and such, but not a convention center,” White said.
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Law Enforcement Onsite
Tester said one of the advantages the OCCC has in terms of security is a dedicated law enforcement presence on campus.
“We actually have law enforcement assigned to the facility,” he said “They are housed out here and they come in to work every day, so we do have really good accessibility to local law enforcement if something comes up. And, in fact, in our pre-meetings the lieutenant will come in and be a part of it. They’re like an extension of our staff.”
For Tester and other dedicated convention facility veterans, a very personal part of their career calling is keeping large numbers of people safe on their watch.
“The thing that keeps me up at night is people being safe in this building and something happening where someone is hurt bad or loses their life,” Tester said. “For anybody that’s running a building, it’s got to be. What else is more important than the safety and security of the people that are there? It’s incredibly vital and, quite frankly, when you’re just reacting to it, that’s when you have challenges.”
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