Atlanta Prepares Super Bowl LIII Security Plans

According to Amy Patterson, vice president of operations and logistics for the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, those involved in Super Bowl preparations will work on contingency plans for everything from suspicious packages, protests and even mass casualty incidents.

• By Jessica Davis
• Dec 10, 2018

Atlanta, Georgia, police and representatives from partner agencies met Wednesday at the Executive Public Safety Tabletop Exercise to work on their security plan for hosting Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 4.

Law enforcement partners including the FBI, GBI, Homeland Security, Georgia State Patrol, MARTA police, NFL security, Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency, and World Congress Center police were in attendance at Wednesday’s event to discuss what-if security scenarios for the Super Bowl as well as the 10 days of events leading up to the big game.

According to Amy Patterson, vice president of operations and logistics for the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee, those involved in Super Bowl preparations will work on contingency plans for everything from suspicious packages to protests and even mass casualty incidents.

“Today’s an opportunity for us to exercise those plans through about eight scenarios that we’ll talk about, things that could happen during 10-day operational period of the Super Bowl,” Patterson said.

Those in attendance said Atlanta is ready to host, with less than two months to go until Super Bowl attendees begin arriving in town.

“I’ve seen different events throughout the country in different positions I’ve held, and I’ve never seen an area where law enforcement, and also the private community, work better together than here in Atlanta,” said Chris Hacker, FBI Atlanta special agent in charge.

Wednesday’s event was closed to the public and to the media following an opening speech by Atlanta’s Police Chief Erika Shields, but Shields said the law enforcement partners are working hard and it will be worth it for the city.

“Take pride in what Atlanta’s doing,” she said. “We’re hosting the Super Bowl, which is a fantastic event. Enjoy it and know that your city has an A-game, and they’re ready to execute.”