The Tribune Review recently reported that Pittsburgh officials received a $580,000 grant from Homeland Security in 2007. The money was paid to Michael Baker Corporation to plan a mass evacuation of downtown Pittsburgh in the wake of 9/11, yet here we are in 2011 and there's still no plan. A draft was issued to the city about 8 months ago but little further information is available as the city sits in limbo. Comparatively, the city of Philadelphia started drafting a plan covering evacuation of the entire city in April 2007 and was able to implement it in April of 2008. Why does our city seem to continuously fall short of meeting it's responsibilities to citizens?
Philly's plan was in response to a 2006 report which identified gaps in the area's emergency preparedness system. Pittsburgh's impetus was the gridlock and mass confusion following the evacuation of downtown while flight 93 was still in the air in 2001.
Philadelphia: Less than 2 years from identifying need to putting a system in place
Pittsburgh: Ten years and counting, from time need was identified and still no system
Philadelphia has approximately 5 times the population of Pittsburgh and more than twice the land area of our city. That makes their plan somewhat more complex in that it must: cover more area; move more people; requires greater resources to design and implement; and must account for more contingencies than plans covering smaller, less populous areas.
Philadelphia: about 1.5 million people over 135 square miles
Pittsburgh: just over 300,000 people in an area roughly 55 square miles
One of the most disturbing differences between the two plans is that Philadelphia's covers the entire city while Pittsburgh's plan will only adress evacuation of the downtown area. City government maintains that we do have an evacuation plan but in reality the plan addresses only when to evacuate buildings, not how to facilitate an evacuation.
Other cities large and small have detailed plans in place yet this is not a priority for our city leaders despite the fact that Pittsburgh has been the target of a few of the plots foiled since 9/11. Aspects of most plans include things like designated routes for pedestrian, public transit and vehicle traffic to prevent gridlock and improve safety as well as special provisions for the most at-risk of the population, such as how to evacuate hospitals, move the disabled and assist the elderly. Our plan is to stay inside unless city officials tell you to leave but once they do, then you're on your own.
Pittsburgh has already been targeted by terrorists and had a fairly close call with flight 93. Although it's highly unlikely that warfare will ever take place in our streets, natural and man-made disasters are a very real threat and much more likely to occur. A detailed emergency plan needs to be in place and there's no excuse for putting it off any longer.
Philly's plan was in response to a 2006 report which identified gaps in the area's emergency preparedness system. Pittsburgh's impetus was the gridlock and mass confusion following the evacuation of downtown while flight 93 was still in the air in 2001.
Philadelphia: Less than 2 years from identifying need to putting a system in place
Pittsburgh: Ten years and counting, from time need was identified and still no system
Philadelphia has approximately 5 times the population of Pittsburgh and more than twice the land area of our city. That makes their plan somewhat more complex in that it must: cover more area; move more people; requires greater resources to design and implement; and must account for more contingencies than plans covering smaller, less populous areas.
Philadelphia: about 1.5 million people over 135 square miles
Pittsburgh: just over 300,000 people in an area roughly 55 square miles
One of the most disturbing differences between the two plans is that Philadelphia's covers the entire city while Pittsburgh's plan will only adress evacuation of the downtown area. City government maintains that we do have an evacuation plan but in reality the plan addresses only when to evacuate buildings, not how to facilitate an evacuation.
Other cities large and small have detailed plans in place yet this is not a priority for our city leaders despite the fact that Pittsburgh has been the target of a few of the plots foiled since 9/11. Aspects of most plans include things like designated routes for pedestrian, public transit and vehicle traffic to prevent gridlock and improve safety as well as special provisions for the most at-risk of the population, such as how to evacuate hospitals, move the disabled and assist the elderly. Our plan is to stay inside unless city officials tell you to leave but once they do, then you're on your own.
Pittsburgh has already been targeted by terrorists and had a fairly close call with flight 93. Although it's highly unlikely that warfare will ever take place in our streets, natural and man-made disasters are a very real threat and much more likely to occur. A detailed emergency plan needs to be in place and there's no excuse for putting it off any longer.
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