"When All Else Fails!": Escaping quickly to the safety of the ground during high rise emergencies. (A Television Documentary)

Following the events of 9/11, high rise workers and residents now realize that rescue during emergencies may not be quick. The fire or damage that traps them high above the street also prevents fire-rescue teams from reaching them. A new documentary examines alternative means of escape and poses the question, "Could lives have been saved?"

"When All Else Fails!": Escaping quickly to the safety of the ground during high rise emergencies. (PRWEB) November 5, 2002

For Immediate Release
Contact (302) 753-9620

(Wilmington, DE -- November 5, 2002) -- America in her innocence believed she was invincible. But on September 11, 2001, we all learned that she was not, and we now know that each of us is responsible for our own safety.

Filmmakers -- and former firefighters -- Amy Steelman-Angeli and Lou Angeli are currently developing a new broadcast documentary entitled, "When All Else Fails!", a compelling report dealing with escape from high rise buildings during catastrophic emergencies. After spending 16 days at Ground Zero documenting the devastation, the couple returned to their home in Delaware and pledged to research every alternative escape method available to high rise occupants and firefighters alike. They've found that there are dozens.

"These are devices that were available long before 9/11," says co producer Lou Angeli, who has been developing television programming dealing with fire-rescue since 1981.

"Many of these great escapes had been demonstrated to New York fire officials following the 1993 terrorist bombing at the WTC," Lou notes. Unfortuntely, none are mandated by firefighting's watchdog, the National Fire Protection Association."Without the private agency's recommendation,' he adds, 'building owners and fire administrators are not required to include them in their own high rise evacuation plans."

The producers have spent several years documenting the development of various escape devices, including the Baker Life Chute, a nylon meshed escape tube; the Best Rescue Recoverall, a personal cable descent system; and the MSH-2000, a rescue elevator that climbs along a pre installed exterior track. The Angelis note that these devices, as well as others, had all been demonstrated to ranking FDNY officials long before the events of September 11, 2001.

Could these unique means of egress have saved lives during the tragedy at the World Trade Center? "That's what this documentary investigates', says Amy, who personally demonstrates many of the escape devices on camera. "We search for alternate means of escape and demonstrate how they're best used during high rise emergencies," She adds. "In the end, we ask the program viewers to decide which escape system they'd feel most comfortable using."

The program is currently in production and segments will be previewed at the National Association of Television Programming Executives (New Orleans) in January. The final program will be made available to domestic and international broadcasters.

An important production note: The producers continue to seek input from other manufacturers and distributors of high rise escape systems. The production team is also committed to interviewing firefighting officials, building owners and occupants. Interested parties are invited to contact the producers using the information posted below.
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Other documentaries produced by Amy and Lou include: "Bound By Courage", "Angels of Mercy", "Inside The Fire" and "Boise Hot Shots"

website: http://www.boundbycourage.com
(302) 753-9620

"When All Else Fails" is a working title only and is not intended to infringe on any existing trademark or copyright. Produced in association with Flirting With Disaster and 9th Street Films, Inc.