WTC site damage assessment map, Sept 21, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

cause disproportionate adverse impacts to minority or low-income populations. In the long-term, the entire community, including minority and low-income populations, would benefit from redevelopment, repair and restoration of the WTC. To assist with post­ disaster recovery, FEMA has implemented a Community Awareness Program that is performing outreach efforts throughout the five boroughs designed eligible for disaster assistance.

FEMA has not directly or indirectly used criteria, methods, or practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin during the preparation of this document. AU reference material used to describe the existing environment and to evaluate potential environmental impacts are commonly available reference sources and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

3.6.7 Executive Order 13045 Protection of Children

A growing body of scientific knowledge demonstrates that children may suffer disproportionately fi-om environmental health risks and safety risks. These risks arise because children’s neurological, immuniological, digestive, and other systems are still developing; children eat more food, drink more fluids, and breathe more air in proportion to their body weight than adults; children’s size and weight may diminish their protection from standard safety features; and children’s behavior patterns may make them more susceptible to accidents because they are less able to protect themselves. Therefore, to the extent permitted by law and appropriate, and consistent with the agency’s mission, each Federal agency:

• Shall make it a high priority to identify and assess environmental health risks and safety risks that may disproportionately affect children; and • Shall ensure that its policies, programs, activities, and standards address disproportionate risks to children that result from environmental health risks or safety risks.

In the aftermath of the WTC disaster and in recognition of concerns for children’s physical and mental health, many contingencies went into effect. Affected students also included college and day care center. Schools in the immediate vicinity of the World Trade Center site were closed altogether for several days longer than New York City public schools located elsewhere in the city. For schools that could not be reopened due to safety concerns or due to their use for rescue and recovery activities, schools reopened in alternate locations. To accommodate the sudden enlargemer? of the number of students, teachers and administrative staffs in a single building, replacement schools often shifted their schedules. The NYC Board of Education in coordination with agencies and stakeholders,, including NYC Department of Health, school administrators and parents, made decisions on the school re-openings. A list of schools within 1 mile of the WTC site is provided by Table 3-10 and discussed in Section 3.6.3.10. Hospitals that provide service to the lower Manhattan area are discussed in Section 3.6.3.1.

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