ny b14 nist fdr- project 8- topics of interest and interview info 527

8/14/2019 NY B14 NIST Fdr- Project 8- Topics of Interest and Interview Info 527

1/4

Confidential and Pre-decisional DocumentProject #8Topics of Interest

Command, Control, an d Operations:Incident Comm and System & Incident Command Posts:When were Command Posts setup an d what staff operated the CPsLocations of Comm and PostsInteragency operations with FDNY, NYPD, PAPD, PANYNJ, OEM , etc.Interagency commun icationsCom mand com munications with FDNY, NYPD, PAPD, PANY NJ, & OEM, etc.If Command Posts were moved, why were they move and to whereProblems experienced at the comm and postSuccesses at Command PostsComm and and Control of Emergency Responders:Access control at the inciden tAccountability and location of emergency respondersAssignment of personnel at the incidentStaging of personnel and equipmentEmergency Responders movement an d operations:Did emergency responders report to comm and post (Assigned, volunteered , freelance)Means of building entryEmergency responder locations in or around the towers (what floor, what Command Post)Emergency responder movement: up and/or dow n in the towers (Stairs, Elevators)Identify stairsIdentify elevator (s)Physiological impact or effects of operating in a high-rise buildingSituational awareness issues fo r emergency respondersEmergency responder paths an d methods to exit the towersEquipment and Operations of Emergency Responders:Equipment allocationEquipm ent carried an d usedMost im portant equipment usedLeast important equipment usedSearch and rescue activitiesTypes of aid to building occupantsTypes of aid to other emergency respondersProblems and hazards identified by emergency respondersPositive benefits identified by emergency respondersFire fighting activities and locationsWhat was used for fire fighting (hoselines, fire extinguishers, etc.)Other types of emergency response operations at the incident


2/4

Confidential an d Pre-decisional Document

Communications:

Communications Equipment:Types of equipm ent used [radio (handie-talkie, portable repeater, etc.), telephone , cellphone, bull horn, runner, blackberry Internet, com puter Internet, etc.]Communications issues related to equipment malfunctions or loss (damage, loss ofelectrical power, batteries, etc.)C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Problems:Communications issues related to systems overloadCommunications issues related to know ledge and/or training

Bui lding Occup ants andEgress:Locations of building occupantsHow m any occupants at a given location needing assistanceCon ditions in the building at the location of occupantsRequest fo r assistance from the building occupantsEgress options and means of egressEgress flow in stairways (obstacles to flow)Problems with counter flow of emergency respondersUse of elevators fo r egress

Building Condit ions:Building damageSmokeFireRunning water, broken pipesJe t fuelBlocked stairwaysBlocked hallwaysBroken elevatorsLocked doorsJammed doorsBroken windowsFallen ceiling panels, w allboa rd, lights, wires, etc.Loss of electricityLoss of sprinklers and w ater pressure, locations of operating sprinklersCondition of alarm systems, working or not workingFunction of emergen cy lighting, working or not working


3/4

NIST W orld Trade Center InvestigationProject #8, Fire Service Techno logies and GuidelinesNIST Interview Information

The inform ation in this document applies only to the NIST po rtion of your interview.The collapse of New York City's World Trade Center structures on September 11, 2001, was theworst building disaster in recorded history. Thousands w ere killed a nd injured, including thedeaths of over 400 fire and emergency responders. In response to the WTC tragedy, the NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting a federa lly mand ated investigationinto the collapse. NIST is a non-regulatory agency within the U.S. Department of Com merceand is conducting this investigation u nder the autho rity of the National C onstruction SafetyTeam Act (P.L 107-231). The inves tigation is strictly one of fact-finding. No part of the NISTInvestigation report can be used in any suit or action for damages. You are being asked tovoluntarily participate in this investigation.You r cooperation with the investigation involves participating in a 2 - 4 hour personal interviewwith a representative of the NIST investigation staff. The purpo se of the interview is to gatherinformation about your experiences on September 11, 2001, including inform ation related toegress, evacuation and rescue; b uilding con ditions; function of communications; dispatch ofemergency responders; functions of incident comm and; command decision making processes;and inter-department operations.Benefi ts: While there may be no benefit to you individually, the WTC investigation is aimed atgathering information to help improve building an d fire codes, standards, an d practices. Theinvestigation also seeks to im prove the way that building professionals (e.g., fac ility ow ners,contractors, architects, engineers), emergency responders, and regulatory authorities prepare forand respond to future disasters. Ultimately, the goal of this investigation is to improve publicsafety.Risks: Because the interview involves the recollection o f a traumatic experience, you mayexperience emotional discomfort. Our investigation staff is trained in the interview process andwill be able to help you address any discomfort you may encounter. Mo reover, you may chooseto stop the interview process at any time. Declining to participate or stopping the interview doesno t affect any of your rights. Finally, a list of free counseling services will be provided to allparticipants.Confidential i ty: Pursuant to an agreement betw een NIST, New York C ity (NYC), and the 9-11Commission, the following people m ay be present at your interview in addition to yourself andthe interviewer, who m ay be a NIS T em ployee or a NIST contractor: up to two NIST observers,one 9-11 Commission observer, one NIST attorney, one attorney from the Office of NYC LawDepartment and one attorney from FDNY or NYPD as appropriate, and on e attorneyrepresenting you, who may in certain instances be the NYC attorney. Absent your consent or acourt order, NIST w ill not disclose you r name or other iden tifying information (except that, if


4/4

you are/were a high-ranking officer, your rank or position may be disclosed in a final report tothe extent necessary to fulfill NIST's mandate). NIS T will oppose any subpoena or other requestfor disclosure of any notes or other doc umentation or memorialization of the interviews.Voluntary: Your participation is voluntary. If you choose not to be interviewed, NIST will nottake any further steps to interview you. You may c hoose not to answer any question, and youmay c hoose to withdraw all of your answers at any time during the interview or at the end of theinterview. You may take a short break or stop the questions at any time. Any o f these actionswill not result in a loss of any benef its to which you are otherwise entitled.Information: If you would like more information about this investigation, please feel free toconsult our web site at http://wtc.nist.gov. If you would like to speak with someone about theinvestigation, please contact NIST through the NYC Law Department.

Documents 2 12/12/03 6:03 PM