We Want Media

So I was wondering about the escape pod idea I’ve seen in the news quite a few times already, and whether something like that could actually work.

The pod would not only be used in the event of a terrorist attack, but of any other emergency such as fire. And while at its core, the idea isn’t all that bad, I don’t think something like that could ever work, or at least work the way its inventor presented it.

With its almost futuristic feel, like something out of star wars, the pods themselves can only fit thirty people in each cabin which means some people would have to be left behind and wait for the pods to evacuate everyone else, and then come back for them.

They claim they can evacuate about 150 people in “8 minute cycle developments,” but when considering the circumstances people waiting for the pods would be under, even 30 seconds is an eternity…imagine 8 minutes! And I agree with the city’s concerns of total chaos, when figuring out who would be the lucky thirty to get into the pod, and who would just sit and wait—risking their lives.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I agree that more security measures need to be taken, and people should have more options than “stairs” in case of an emergency, but perhaps the solution lies not in having only one escape system, but multiple systems. If there would be one on each side of the building, it would be giving people more options, and more hope. Instead of 150 people evacuated in 8 minutes, it could be anywhere from 450-600 people saved. And while I understand it’s a lot easier said than done, especially when considering what something like this would cost, if the city of New York is truly interested in its residents’ well-being, this is certainly not such a far-fetched idea.