Tribune staff report
Published September 27, 2006, 5:53 AM CDT

Several thousand workers will be evacuated from downtown Chicago office buildings today and Thursday in more drills intended to help the city respond to emergencies.

Around 9:30 this morning, about 1,800 people will clear out of 111 W. Monroe St. and head to a nearby meeting point, according to the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

Then around 2 p.m., about 50 people will be evacuated from 190 N. LaSalle St.

The drills are not expected to cause significant traffic problems downtown, but the OEMC is prepared to respond to disruptions that arise, a release from the department said.

Drills will also be held about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, when 400 workers will be evacuated from 311 W. Monroe St.; and at 2 p.m., when 300 people will depart 200 W. Monroe St., the OEMC said.

Earlier this month, a rush-hour evacuation drill of four West Loop office buildings emptied 3,000 workers from their cubicles.

(source)