Factors associated with high-rise evacuation: qualitative results from the World Trade Center Evacuation Study.
BACKGROUND
Due to the fact that most high-rise structures (i.e., >75 feet high, or eight to ten stories) are constructed with extensive and redundant fire safety features, current fire safety procedures typically only involve limited evacuation during minor to moderate fire emergencies. Therefore, full-scale evacuation of high-rise buildings is highly unusual and consequently, little is known about how readily and rapidly high-rise structures can be evacuated fully. Factors that either facilitate or inhibit the evacuation process remain under-studied.


OBJECTIVE
This paper presents results from the qualitative phase of the World Trade Center Evacuation Study, a three-year, five-phase study designed to improve our understanding of the individual, organizational, and environmental factors that helped or hindered evacuation from the World Trade Center (WTC) Towers 1 and 2, on 11 September 2001.


METHODS
Qualitative data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus groups involving WTC evacuees were collected and analyzed.


RESULTS
On the individual level, factors that affected evacuation included perception of risk (formed largely by sensory cues), preparedness training, degree of familiarity with the building, physical condition, health status, and footwear. Individual behavior also was affected by group behavior and leadership. At the organizational level, evacuation was affected by worksite preparedness planning, including the training and education of building occupants, and risk communication. The environmental conditions affecting evacuation included smoke, flames, debris, general condition and degree of crowdedness on staircases, and communication infrastructure systems (e.g., public address, landline, cellular and fire warden's telephones).


CONCLUSIONS
Various factors at the individual, organizational, and environmental levels were identified that affected evacuation. Interventions that address the barriers to evacuation may improve the full-scale evacuation of other high-rise buildings under extreme conditions. Further studies should focus on the development and evaluation of targeted interventions, including model emergency preparedness planning for high-rise occupancies.
Gershon
Robyn R M
RR
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York 10032, USA. rg405@columbia.edu
Qureshi
Kristine A
KA
Rubin
Marcie S
MS
Raveis
Victoria H
VH
D003142:Communication; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005107:Explosions; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005390:Fires; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009519:New York City; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000379:methods*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*