Scientific investigators from Columbia
University, the New York City Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National
Institute of Standards and Technology are conducting comprehensive
public safety studies into the evacuation of and emergency
response to the World Trade
Center (WTC) on September 11,
2001. The goal of these studies is to enhance the safety
of occupants in tall buildings by improving understanding
of human behavior, improving emergency response capabilities
and procedures, and enabling improvements to U.S. building
and fire codes, standards, and practices.
These researchers are coordinating their activities with
the overarching goal of seeking to improve life safety in
the future for building occupants and first responders. Some
critical questions surrounding the events of September 11
that the group of researchers will address include:
- How
do specific building design features promote or hinder
evacuation of buildings?
- Can we better enable persons with disabilities to safely
evacuate from tall buildings?
- How do people become aware of their situations and make decisions
during a time-constrained evacuation?
- How
can emergency communications in tall buildings be improved
to ensure that the occupants and emergency responders
have the information they need -- in as timely a way
as possible—to make the best decisions for themselves
and others in
need of rescue?
- What type of training can improve the evacuation of people
from buildings?
Principal
Investigators from each study will be present to discuss
their projects at a community forum
on April 8,
2003 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The New York Academy
of Medicine, Room 440, located at 1216 Fifth Avenue (entrance
on 103rd St.), New York, NY. Each speaker will briefly describe
the objectives, methodologies, and timelines for their work.
Former WTC employers, employees who survived the attacks,
victims’ families and friends, and first responders
who were present that morning are strongly encouraged to
attend.
Members
of the media are invited to a press conference on April
8, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. at the New York Academy of Medicine,
Room 440, located at 1216 Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street,
New York, NY, when principal researchers will briefly describe
each study and answer
questions about their studies. Members of the media are welcome
to remain for the community public forum which will begin
at 5:30 p.m.
BECAUSE SPACE IS LIMITED, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA MUST
RSVP to Stephanie Berger at the Mailman School of Public Health,
212-305-5365; sb2247@columbia.edu. If you are unable to attend,
Dr. Robyn Gershon, principal investigator of the Columbia
University study, will be available for interviews. Please
call 212-305-4372/5365 to arrange.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call (212) 305-1186, email wtc-evacuation@columbia.edu, or
visit http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/CPHP/wtc.html
For directions to the forum, visit http://www.nyam.org/directions.shtml
We look forward to the opportunity to listen to the WTC
community and hope you will join us for this important forum.
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