Office Workers Prep for Terror Attack

Aug. 3, 2004 -- The heightened terror alerts in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Newark, N.J., have caused many people to ask what they can do to protect themselves in case of an attack.

Security has been tightened in the three cities and specifically at the five financial centers that have been named as potential targets: the Citigroup Center building in midtown Manhattan, the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan, the Prudential Financial Incorporated's headquarters in Newark, N.J., the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Security teams have installed extra strong barriers outside some buildings, including the one that houses the NYSE, which are intended to stop a speeding truck rigged as a car bomb.

In front of Citigroup's building, heavy planters line the streets so vehicles can't drive up on the sidewalk. The company also reinforced its giant support columns to help keep the building standing in the event of a truck bomb. But these measures can only go so far.

What can the office workers to do protect themselves?

Parachute, Glide or Slide to Safety

One businessman told ABC News' Good Morning America he is taking matters into his own hands.

"Why not protect myself on my own?" asked Jonathan Elkoubi. He bought a parachute that he can use in an emergency, to jump from his 37-floor Manhattan office. "Just a matter of protection," said Elkoubi.

So what does peace of mind like this cost? Prices range from $900 to $1,500, and the chute can be used in any kind of catastrophe.

Parachute maker Lionel Uzzan sells the device for high-rise occupants. "In order to use these, you need to be at the 10th floor and up," said Uzzan.

The new terror warnings are giving a boost to his business. Last month he sold two parachutes — this week, he's sold 20.

Another device can be used to rescue office workers by hooking them up to a cable and lowering them to the street. There is also a tube that can be placed next to a building in case of fire. Workers would crawl into the tube and slide to safety.