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Monday, August 28, 2006
CHICAGO — City officials plan to conduct a voluntary evacuation drill for part of downtown to better prepare for emergencies, Mayor Richard Daley announced Monday.
Daley said the Sept. 7 drill was planned in conjunction with National Preparedness Month, but he released few other details.
An e-mail obtained by The Associated Press addressed to tenants in an affected building indicated the drill involves four properties at the intersection two main downtown thoroughfares _ Monroe Street and Wacker Drive _ including the building that houses the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
The note from Equity Office Properties Trust, a building owner and manager, said tenants can choose whether to participate in the 4 p.m. drill.
Participating employees are asked to go outside, then follow the instructions of"emergency teams"routing them to an assessment area on Des Plaines Avenue _ about five blocks west.
The exercise will be recorded and placed on DVD for future training, said Cortez Trotter, chief emergency officer for Chicago.
It was not immediately clear how many employees work in the area targeted for evacuation, but the buildings are high-rises.
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On the Net:
Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication:http://www.alertchicago.com
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