as mentioned in previous message on city council hearings today, a fire
alarm/evacuation was announced ending the library board presentation before
completion of questions.
Light flashing in council chambers, announcement that there was a fire in
the building, evacuate and do not use the elevators.
a well attended council hearing was evacuated. There was one little
glitch...while city hall employees knew that it was fire prevention week and
there would be a drill (what I was told later by 2 offices), visitors to
city hall treated it as a real emergency. I can't take steps (joints,
vision, asthma) and slowly crawled down 3 flights of stairs...blocking those
behind me. It wasn't until I reached the mezzanine area that some one
(yellow jackets)saw the problem and kindly offered assistance (there's also
a handrail gap on the mezzanine level). By the time I reached the street
level, I needed asthma Rx. It was kinda scary. I was literally, the last
one out of city hall on the 4th st. side.
And, all the way down, I smelled something burning...turned out it was
strong, burned microwave popcorn("oh yeah, that happens all the time").
Okay, think there's a problem here. Drills are vital...but if staff is
noticed, shouldn't people entering building be noticed (on both the 4th st.
and 5th st. LRT entryways)? Why did it take 2-1/2floors before someone
noticed I was causing a backup and why wasn't I told at that point it was a
drill and not to hurry? What if it had been a real emergency...how do you
assist disabled people out of the building? At least announce at the
beginning of public meetings, that there is a possibility of a fire drill.
I went back and left a request for the mayor to call me...the buck stops
there (that was at 11:45). No one was in his office except the
receptionist...in fact, it was hard finding anyone in the offices after the
drill. It being 11:30, looks like everyone went to lunch. Was still in the
building at 12:20 and still didn't see too much action. And the library
board presentation was not reconvened, nor a notice on the door (no one in
councilmember reception area either, except for 4 individuals obviously
waiting for appointments or assistance...they finally left(after I told them
about "drill").
A little FEMA, a little homeland security?
Best wishes,
cheryl Luger
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