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uh perhaps a first
Dec. 7th, 2014 11:54 amThis may be the first instance of a terror attack at a fandom convention.
Thousands of people were evacuated and 19 people were hospitalized when a convention was disrupted during an intentional chlorine gas leak at the Hyatt hotel in suburban Rosemont early Sunday morning, authorities said.
Nineteen people were transported to nearby hospitals after complaining of nausea, dizziness and other medical problems, according to the statement. All people inside the building were temporarily evacuated and sheltered at nearby facilities, including the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Investigators located the source of the odor on a stairwell of the ninth floor, the statement said. The manner by which the substance, which was consistent with powdered chlorine, was released “suggests an intentional act,” according to the statement. Police are investigating the incident as a criminal matter.
Lord knows I've dispensed plenty of snark towards furries in the past but I don't wish a chlorine gas attack on anybody. I'm hoping this is some kind of stupid accident rather than a deliberate attempt at harm, but we'll see how the investigation plays out.
This is where a convention staff's evacuation plan really comes into play. AWA had one and we got everybody out during our little fire time at the show last Sept. MFF seems to have good people on its crew; from what I understand the evac went smoothly, and we're talking about a few thousand people here, no small number.
I hope everybody recovers and they find whoever's responsible. I hope this never happens again, and I also hope that con organizers realize they need a plan in case it does. The world being what it is, it probably will.
Thousands of people were evacuated and 19 people were hospitalized when a convention was disrupted during an intentional chlorine gas leak at the Hyatt hotel in suburban Rosemont early Sunday morning, authorities said.
Nineteen people were transported to nearby hospitals after complaining of nausea, dizziness and other medical problems, according to the statement. All people inside the building were temporarily evacuated and sheltered at nearby facilities, including the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Investigators located the source of the odor on a stairwell of the ninth floor, the statement said. The manner by which the substance, which was consistent with powdered chlorine, was released “suggests an intentional act,” according to the statement. Police are investigating the incident as a criminal matter.
Lord knows I've dispensed plenty of snark towards furries in the past but I don't wish a chlorine gas attack on anybody. I'm hoping this is some kind of stupid accident rather than a deliberate attempt at harm, but we'll see how the investigation plays out.
This is where a convention staff's evacuation plan really comes into play. AWA had one and we got everybody out during our little fire time at the show last Sept. MFF seems to have good people on its crew; from what I understand the evac went smoothly, and we're talking about a few thousand people here, no small number.
I hope everybody recovers and they find whoever's responsible. I hope this never happens again, and I also hope that con organizers realize they need a plan in case it does. The world being what it is, it probably will.
