Commerce’s NIST to Hold WTC Investigation Press Briefing in New York
Sept. 17 Event Will Precede Launch of First-Person Data Collection Projects

For Immediate Release: Sept. 10, 2003

The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will brief the media on the plans for Projects 7 and 8 of the agency’s ongoing technical building and fire safety investigation of the WTC disaster. These projects involve the collection of first-person data to study occupant behavior and evacuation, and emergency response. This will be done through face-to-face interviews, phone interviews and focus groups.

This is an ambitious undertaking and will need the active participation of WTC survivors, first responders to the disaster and family members of WTC victims in order to be successful.

NIST’s field data collection project is different from—but complements and is being coordinated
with—other studies also collecting and analyzing first-person accounts. It is designed to provide the information and materials critical to reaching the overall goal of the NIST WTC investigation: improvements in the way people design, construct, maintain and use buildings, especially high-rises.

Media Registration: For security reasons, all media—including production crew members—planning to attend the briefing in person must register by noon EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 16, by calling (301) 975-2762 or sending e-mail to media@nist.gov. Registered media must have proper credentials (a news media badge with photo or a photo ID with a business card) to enter the briefing room.

Phone/E-Mail Links for Reporters Only: NIST plans to make a toll-free telephone line available for reporters only to listen in on the briefing. It is expected that this audio conference line will be suitable for recording actualities. Because a limited number of call-in spots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, reporters should call (301) 975-2762 starting Monday, Sept.15, to get instructions on using this service.

Questions from offsite reporters may be e-mailed during the briefing to media@nist.gov for presentation —time permitting—during the question-and-answer period.

A comprehensive Web site on the NIST WTC investigation is at http://wtc.nist.gov.

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date created: 09/10/03
last update: 09/10/03
contact: inquiries@nist.gov