World Trade Center environmental data report, 2001-2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Supporters of a Nationwide Health Tracking Network, advocate involving a network of local, state, and federal public health agencies in tracking the trends of priority chronic diseases and relevant environmental factors in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. This, they say, will help create an early warning system to monitor immediate health crises, such as heavy metal and pesticide poisonings, that can trigger action against hazards. It would also be vital as baseline data in any future terrorist incident.

Recommendation: Start a tracking system as soon as possible after a terrorist attack. (6)

(1) Better preparedness on evacuation plans.

Even though cities have evacuation plans, they’re not enforced adequately.

New York City, for example, didn’t even contemplate any kind of evacuation plan, not having updated its disaster plan in more than 10 years.

Recommendation: Cities should update evacuation plans and make them enforceable; train ftre marshals.

(8) Improve the way buildings are designed and constructed.

Fire fighters and their advocates have long been concerned about building materials because of their tendency to make for imusually toxic fires.

But is the construction industry revising how it builds—and how high it builds—especially in likely targets? To make for a safer post 9/11 built environment, construction planners need to investigate safer materials, and designs that facilitate easier evacuation in emergencies.

Recommendation: From an environmental health perspective, designers ought to also look at construction materials for their durability and well as elimination of toxic products and processes.

(9) Manage an abundance of volunteers—and donations.

Localities need to learn to manage volimteers as they converge upon the scene. Dodie Gill of Arlington County, Va. suggests finding constructive ways to accept people’s donations of time and resources. When it comes to food, “Thank them, and once they’ve left, dispose of it quickly.”

“As in other disasters. New York saw a tremendous influx of resources after the disaster. Some of these resources were needed, while others were a burden on the system.” Notes Tricia Wachtendorf in her presentation, “A changing risk environment: Lessons Learned from the 9/11 World Trade Center Disaster.”

(10) Make way for better partnerships

Robert Martin, former EPA ombudsman faults the EPA for failing to consult with the New York community on places hardest hit from a public health standpoint.

When it comes to research, the public and research community could benefit in the future if a more formal process were developed to guide the reactive and proactive steps that researchers

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