Northeast News
Oct. 2, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — City Hall will close for several hours Friday, Oct. 3, because of its annual fire drill.

City officials announced that City Hall, 414 E. 12th St., will hold a fire drill sometime between 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, Oct. 3. The City’s 311 Call Center, which is located in City Hall, will also be closed for a brief period during the drill and will reopen no later than 1 p.m.

Residents may still contact 311 online at kcmo.gov/311 or by using the 311 mobile app

The following intersections also will be closed for a brief period sometime between 9 a.m. and noon: 11th and Oak Streets, 11th and Cherry Streets, 12th and Oak Streets, and 12th and Locust Streets. The Kansas City Fire Department will participate in the training exercise and KCPD will be on hand to direct traffic to make the drill as realistic as possible. Total closure time at these four intersections should be less than one hour.

Kristin Danner, one of the city’s assistant corporate safety managers, said the annual fire drill helps provide City Hall staff with the opportunity to practice the steps they would take in a real emergency.  The fire drill will not only help prepare city employees for an actual fire or emergency, it will also ask employees to consider how they would securely evacuate City Hall visitors during such an event.

“By practicing these procedures, they become better prepared to assist our citizens during a real emergency event,” Danner said. “The drill also allows us to test all of the components of our emergency egress system including alarms, exits and shelter areas.”

Danner and the rest of the City’s Corporate Safety and Risk Management Division also hope the drill will reveal opportunities to enhance employee and public safety. An executive team comprising members from the city’s General Services, Fire and Police departments planned the drill. Planning included integrating internal emergency text messaging and educational components to help City Hall’s more than 600 employees safely evacuate. The team also has developed contingency plans to help city employees and customers who may not be able to descend the 29-story City Hall’s stairs on their own. The city appreciates the public’s patience during this important safety exercise.