September 11th is a day that has been dissected by thousands. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has done extensive research trying to learn why preset evacuation processes failed so miserably. Information indicates that much of the failure originated in the stairwells of the towers as the swarms of people were clogging hallways, unable to descend.
Theories suspect that much of traffic flow on the staircases was slowed by overweight evacuees. It seems to me that people in such massive states of panic, regardless of their weight, would have varying reactions. Some would freeze up and go into shock, others would wrecklessly bound down stairs shoving others out of the way, other still would remain calm and aid others in manuvering to safety. Body size would not stop adrenaline from flowing.
What if overweight people legitimately did slow down the process? What do we do next time? Skinny people out first, fatter people last? If obesity in America is becoming such a drastic problem that evacuation strategies must be reconstructed to suit fatter people then we have a devastating problem on our hands.
Good summary and strong conviction on your opinion.
When you wrote “… has done extensive research trying to learn why preset evacuation processes failed so miserably.”, you should have included mention of the World Trade Center. Sept. 11 has many meanings, from NYC to Washington to Pennsylvania, from Boston to Europe and the Middle East. Just finish your thought there.
Also, link to NIST should have gone directly to report instead of homepage. I couldn’t find the report.
Otherwise, good stuff.
0.9
Comment by prof washburn — March 7, 2006 @ 1:41 am