Problem/Issue
Are we ready, New York?
Chances are New York City would not be prepared for an evacuation if something were to go wrong. Residents of the city do not have enough information to be able to perform a swift, efficient evacuation, which can lead to further delays. Of course, there are those who are prepared for the worst, but what good is a city with only a few survivors?
There are many instances in which an evacuation may have to take place. During a fire, people must evacuate the burning building. In case of a hurricane, those closest to the coastline must leave in search of higher ground. Finally, in the event of a terrorist attack or hazardous material spill, the government will inform people on what to do and where to go.
Judging by business codes and school policies, these two areas seem to be the safest when it comes to emergency evacuations. Each building is required to have an evacuation plan. It is required of schools to practice fire drills at least twelve times in a single school year, eight of which must be done before December, Townsend Harris’s Assistant Principal, had an emergency response booklet on hand, which listed each room of the school, along with primary and alternative evacuation routes for each. These documents are required to be filed by the Department of Education. Residents should also have a similar plan, especially those living in multi-story buildings.