'A little alarming,' 'justified' - NYC nuclear bomb PSA divides Times Square

Record ID: 1680829

  • Title: 'A little alarming,' 'justified' - NYC nuclear bomb PSA divides Times Square
  • Date: 13th July 2022
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 13, 2022) (REUTERS) WIDE OF TIMES SQUARE PEDESTRIANS NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT (NYPD) OFFICER SPEAKING TO PEDESTRIANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL, ADITY CHOUDHURY, SAYING: "I feel like it's always important to inform the people of incoming danger. And I think if there is a set plan that they were going to
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2022 20:04
  • Keywords: Eric Adams New York City PSA Times Square bomb shelter nuclear attack
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK + LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN
  • City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK + LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES / UNKNOWN
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,United States
  • Reuters ID: LVA002159813072022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: New York City's emergency management office on Wednesday (July 13) defended its decision to produce a public service announcement advising residents how to survive a nuclear attack.
    The animated ad from the New York City Emergency Management Department lays out three steps New Yorkers should follow if "the big one has hit."
    The video runs under two minutes and has registered more than 485,000 views on YouTube since its release Monday.
    Opinion was divided in Times Square over its release.
    "So I think this message is a little alarming," said Lauren Hurwitz, a New York realtor. "Quite frankly, there's so many other things going on to worry about. And if I have to find cover somewhere, I definitely will."
    "I think there is definitely justified reason for" the ad, said Matt Devine, a sales worker at a New York tech startup. "Just as a precautionary measure more than anything else."
    The goal of the campaign is to inform the public on ways to stay safe if nuclear weapons were pointed in New York's direction, a department spokesperson told Reuters.
    "There is no direct threat to the city but we felt it was important that we addressed this topic," said Allison Pennisi, head of public information for NYC Emergency Management.
    The video instructs viewers to seek shelter inside a building away from windows, stay inside to reduce exposure to radioactive dust and follow media for official updates.
    "We know these are very sensitive topics to discuss but it’s important that New Yorkers are informed and know that the City plans for natural and manmade emergencies," Pennisi said.
    The video was released as worries mount about the use of nuclear weapons after the West's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Last week a former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, warned that it would be "absurd" to punish a country such as Russia that had expansive nuclear capabilities.
    Russian officials have also warned the United States and other countries that oppose the Ukrainian invasion to avoid any actions that would risk nuclear war.
    At a press conference on Tuesday, New York Mayor Eric Adams applauded the emergency management department for being proactive in preparing New Yorkers for disaster, saying the war in Ukraine made that mission particularly relevant. He denied the idea that the public service announcement was "alarmist."
    (Production by: Soren Larson and Dan Fastenberg)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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