If disaster hits NY "hide under desk" [1950s advice same as today's]

Yahoo! News ^ | Fri Jul 11,10:46 AM ET | Mark Egan - Reuters

[yonif]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - In the 1950s Americans were told to hide under tables if a nuclear bomb went off -- an infamous warning that became the butt of endless jokes. Now amid a high terror alert, New York is giving its residents the same advice.

On Thursday New York published its new household preparedness manual, telling residents what to do in case of any number of disasters, ranging from earthquakes (news - web sites), floods, tornadoes, terrorist attacks, collapsing buildings, chemical spills to dirty bombs.

According to a statement released by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office, the scant 16-page booklet was the culmination of coordination by 20 government, private and nonprofit entities.

The first such city blueprint since the 1960s -- the height of the Cold War when Americans lived in fear of nuclear attack by the Soviet Union -- is aimed squarely at telling New Yorkers what to do in case of another attack like September 11, when hijacked planes levelled the World Trade Centre.

Ten pages into the document, the city offers one quarter of one page of pithy advice on what to do.

"If you are in a building collapse or explosion, get out as quickly and calmly as possibly," it suggests, before adding, "If you can't get out of the building, get under a sturdy table or desk."

New Yorkers who believe hiding under a table might help them if their office skyscraper collapsed in a terrorist attack are encouraged to try all sorts of other tips.

What to do if exposed to radiation? Well, it depends on where you are. If you're outside, the city suggests you go inside. And if the event happens inside, going outdoors might be a good idea.

POWDERY SUBSTANCE AND DOG POOP

The document also offers a full page of "Thoughts on Terrorism." Among them, "Do not spread rumours" and the classic, known to airline travellers around the world, "Do not accept packages from strangers."

More terrorism thoughts include such pearls as being wary of packages or letters covered in a "powdery substance." And, getting even more specific on suspicious packages, it demands you should, "PUT IT DOWN -- preferably on a stable surface."

The city also notes that disasters and terrorist attacks can be stressful and cause emotional distress. That being the case, the authors of the report suggest that talking to friends and family can be "good medicine." Oh, and don't forget a healthy diet, daily exercise "and get plenty of sleep."

Called "Ready New York: A Household Preparedness Guide," Bloomberg said in a statement, "All New Yorkers should take advantage of this invaluable information resource."

With that in mind, the city has made the report available in city offices, libraries, community centres and has printed up 572,000 paper copies. On the Internet at www.nyc.gov it can be downloaded in seven languages -- English, Spanish, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Russian and Arabic.

The mayor's office could not say what the cost of producing and printing the guide was but said the city's share of the cost had been privately underwritten.

The how-to guide doesn't just offer advice for two-legged New Yorkers but also for pets. In the case of a disaster it tells pet owners how to assemble a "Pet Survival Kit."

Among the seven items suggested for the survival kits, "Plastic bags for pickup." After all, even when buildings are collapsing and bombs are exploding around you, it's still polite to pick up your own dog's dirt.

The latest document is reminiscent of the 1950s, when the government advised school children to hide under desks if the enemy dropped a nuclear bomb.

Earlier this year, many Americans rushed out to buy duct tape when authorities said taping up windows and doors might be a good idea in the case of an attack such as a dirty bomb.

[yonif]

Anyone have a copy of this booklet that can add more information?

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The former President disembarks from his airplane after a trip back to Arkansas. Although the hoopla is less now that he is out of office, Clinton still occasionally finds himself greeted by military personnel. This is one such occasion.

He climbs down the stairs, carrying two huge pigs, one under each arm. He gets to the bottom, and nods his head in return to the soldier's salute. "Son, what do you think about these?" he says. "Nice pigs, SIR!" comes the reply. Clinton gets mildly miffed and lectures, "I'll have you know these aren't just pigs but the finest of Arkansas Razorbacks. Top notch. I got one for Hillary, and one for Chelsea. What do you think about that?"

"Nice trade, SIR!

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[finnman69]

Among the seven items suggested for the survival kits, "Plastic bags for pickup." After all, even when buildings are collapsing and bombs are exploding around you, it's still polite to pick up your own dog's dirt.

More likely you could use the plastic bags to either bury your dead dog in or use it to drink dog soup out of.

[Paul Atreides]

I can just imagine Bubba practicing "duck and cover" drills with his interns.

Hillary won't have to hide. Ol' Crusty will withstand anything.

[Cicero]

You can bet that if a dirty bomb goes off in New York, Mayor Bloomberg will send out the cops to enforce the no-smoking and the pooper-scooper laws. After all, we have to get our priorities right.

[Bon mots]

Actually, in Manhattan, hiding a parachute and gas mask under your desk might be better... taking statistical data into consideration. (The gas mask not really base on statistical data but on other realistic threats.)

[princess leah]

If I worked in a high rise building in NYC, I'd have purchased a nice long bungy cord and/or other materials suitable for jumping! (do they sell parachutes?)

[Prodigal Son]

hiding a parachute and gas mask under your desk might be better...

That's not just an idle thought either. An emergency bag can be put together in a small rucksack (the type you might wear while bicycling) and could help a lot if a 9/11 type attack hit your building.

Some items that are cheap but useful:

• Dust masks- cheap, handy
• small crowbar- for prying stuck doors or smashing things, also makes a good weapon
• liter bottle of water- for drinking or eye flushing
• roll of 550 cord- loads of uses
• bicycle helmet or hard hat- head protection from falling debris
• flashlight
• small first aid kit or strips of cloth and duct tape
• Goggles
• sharp knife or leatherman
• pair of work gloves

If you want to get more high speed

• either a gas mask or painter's respirator
• SCUBA pony bottle- has a few minutes of air, could be enough to get you down a smoke filled corridor or a couple flights of stairs

All that would fit in a small ruck. You could keep it under your desk. If something happened, you could just grab it and go. The items (except the gas mask and pony bottle) are totally ordinary items that you could use around the house if you found you no longer had a need for the kit.

[mewzilla]

I think this may be a link to the booklet at their preparedness office in NYC.

[lelio]

Does anyone have a link to the parody disaster warning images that someone made? One of them was "In case a wall falls on you, use flashlight to beam it up"

[qam1]

If a disaster hits??????

3 already hit, George Pataki, Joe Bruno and Mike Bloomberg.

Screw the table, I am hiding out in New Jersey