The Echelon building disaster in February proved without a doubt that being prepared is key to surviving a crisis. Now more and more companies are trying to prepare their employees on what to do when tragedy hits home in the workplace.
Tuesday afternoon, dozens of State Farm Employees were forced to evacuate their Northwest Austin office building. They weren't told why they had to leave -- just that they needed to get out immediately.
As they rushed to the parking lot, they were greeted by chaos, screams and emergency vehicles, including a helicopter. For some, the experience left them shaken.
"It's funny because I knew it was a drill, but coming into it my heart was racing," said Kim Van Ryswik, State Farm employee. "I can't imagine when the real thing actually happens how you react to that."
As quickly as it began, the drill was over. State Farm, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and other emergency personnel had been planning this crisis simulation for months. They say what happened at the Echelon building highlights the importance of being able to handle almost any kind of emergency.
"Because of the training that they had done in that building, the employees were very responsive and were able to evacuate quickly," said Julie Jansen, State Farm's emergency coordinator.
The Jollyville Fire Department was also on hand to teach employees how to use fire extinguishers, and Williamson County EMS showed how to do basic first aid that could be performed before an ambulance arrived.
Emergency personnel say they expect to see more companies hold these kind of elaborate simulation drills in the future.
"I think it's good to be prepared -- not crazy prepared -- but to be prepared," said Lt. Mike Gleason, Williamson County Sheriff's Office. "It's the age we live in and the Echelon really strikes home when everybody says never here not to us, well it proves them wrong."
