Security and Safety in Los Angeles High Rise Buildings After 9/11

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles and the Office of the City Attorney, Rocky Delgadillo, asked RAND to provide a study on the threats to and possible responses from the owners and managers of Los Angeles high-rise buildings in the aftermath of 9/11. The city attorney’s office was also interested in potential public policy changes or programs that government might undertake to improve the security and safety of occupants of high-rise buildings in Los Angeles. This documented briefing identifies generic threats and exemplary practices in Los Angeles and elsewhere (selecting Chicago as an example), discusses potential actions after an event, and suggests potential preparations that local government and the private sector might want to consider. Recommendations for Los Angeles include reviewing evacuation plans and exercising them frequently, conducting and regularly updating vulnerability and threat assessments, establishing protocols and realistic drills for response, educating tenants about their responsibilities, and taking advantage of both low-technology and high-technology security measures.