Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

U.N. Conducts Fire Drill

Aired June 23, 2002 - 17:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Like everyone else in New York, workers at the United Nations watched in horror as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center burned and eventually collapsed on September 11. U.N. officials realized it could have easily been their building on that infamous day. CNN's Richard Roth shows us how the world body is preparing itself for the worst.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A typically quiet Sunday morning on New York's East Side. But that will change because of what's happening at the headquarters of the United Nations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From (UNINTELLIGIBLE) control, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) control, be advised, just got a call from a staff member reporting she heard what she thinks is an explosion, and she's smelling smoke.

ROTH: It's the first ever full simulated fire drill at the U.N.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) so don't take it off. Don't take it off. Leave it alone (ph).

ROTH: It's the fire department with the highest clearance of all security agencies in New York to gain access to U.N. grounds, which, in effect, is international territory.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty-six.

ROTH (on camera): The drill includes a fire that would have erupted here on the 26th floor of the Secretariat Tower at the United Nations. Theatrical smoke used in this case, but for the real deal, it would be quite a different story.

MICHAEL MCCANN, CHIEF OF U.N. SECURITY: This is an old building. The sprinkler system does not exist above the basement floors. We had difficulties with the public address system that have been corrected.

ROTH (voice-over): But without September 11, this drill probably does not occur.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The main idea is to save as many lives as we possibly can. And we only can do that by being prepared for whatever might come down the pike. ROTH: The U.N. has been on terrorist wish lists before.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels like the other Ground Zero here, or another potential. I don't want to -- knock on wood, but, yeah.

ROTH: Watching firemen enter the skyscraper lobby and go upstairs is a reminder of last summer's nightmare.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, they'll still do the same, and we're trying to observe all conditions that might be an indication of something more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turn it back on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) see if they can isolate it and give us (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ROTH: Drilling on a Sunday does not replicate workweek conditions, but both the U.N. and the fire department seem pleased with the results. Coming soon, another round of evacuation tests.

Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com