After the 1993 bombing of New York City's World Trade Center, emergency management officials worked with business professionals in and around the center, preparing them for future disasters.

Eight years later, three UNT researchers are studying the effectiveness of those efforts. They traveled to New York in September to study the interactions between business and emergency managers in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

David McEntire and Robie Robinson, assistant professors of public administration, and Rich Weber, training coordinator in emergency management, all of UNT's emergency management program, will explore evacuation measures and will look at businesses' abilities to thrive after the disaster. A grant from the National Science Foundation will fund their research.

"Obviously, we're saddened by this event," McEntire says. "Unfortunately, trends indicate more of this in the future. We really need to start taking steps now and respond better to things that take us by surprise."

He says the team will see what emergency plans the businesses had in place and how employers and employees responded. He hopes to find that every business had done something to prepare for disaster.

"This did not only affect businesses inside the trade center," McEntire says. "Other businesses that have buildings nearby were damaged or destroyed. Usually, about 30 percent of all businesses will close or go under after a disaster."

Over the summer, McEntire and Weber also worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to conduct terrorism training seminars in Arkansas and Oklahoma for government officials, public health organizations and firefighters. The one-day seminars discussed terrorism and how to deal with it. A mock attack allowed participants to identify response priorities and functions in a non-threatening situation.

BY JENNY McCORMACK paiswri1@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Governor reappoints Ray, Pettit, Craft as UNT regents
• Gateway Center to open for Homecoming
• Former Club at College Inn settles in to new home
• Meningitis, flu vaccinations available to UNT community Oct. 18
• Mean Green nickname, eagle mascot longtime traditions
• U.S. breast cancer screening messages not always effective for Mexican-born women
• Faculty Senate kicks off new academic year
• Hispanic Heritage Month continues through Oct. 15
• Helping students make wise alcohol choices
• UNT researchers to study businesses after tragedies
• Hurley hosts retreat for leaders of urban universities
• Professor serves as UNT ambassador to Bolivia

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