Otis Seattle Rises to Challenge of Earthquake; Advanced Planning and Preparation are the Keys.

Business/Technology Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2001

Otis Elevator Company's emergency response plan was put through a grueling test as Seattle and other major metropolitan areas of the Northwest region of the country were rocked by a major earthquake. But Otis' advanced planning paid off for it's customers in Seattle and throughout the region, affording company field mechanics and engineers the ability to respond quickly to the emergency, freeing trapped elevator passengers and getting equipment running without delay. Otis is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX).

In Seattle, Otis' 24-hour OTISLINE(R), a call center for customers and Otis service mechanics, was fully operational when the earthquake struck. OTISLINE employees immediately began receiving emergency calls from customers, and service mechanics were dispatched to free passengers trapped in elevators because of power outages or malfunctioning equipment even as the national news media began reporting the event.

As emergency calls poured into OTISLINE, Otis service supervisors began prioritizing the deployment of resources to ensure trapped passengers were released quickly and safely. Then Otis service mechanics, and mechanics from the company's Vertical Transportation Services (VTS) unit, went building by building on their normal service routes to check for unreported entrapments starting in the most critical locations.

The Otis and VTS service mechanics were in constant contact with each other, ensuring resources were applied to the most urgent situations. Off duty personnel and Otis Construction mechanics immediately called in to offer additional assistance.

"This was a great team effort, involving every level of our organization," said Otis Regional Vice President, Randy Wilcox. "We're always prepared for situations like this, and have in place the full-range of resources required to address serious public safety issues like elevator entrapments, power outages and equipment failure. The way we responded in Seattle is the same way you'll see Otis react to a crisis anywhere in the world."

"Passengers were trapped for a maximum of twenty minutes because our service mechanics didn't need to be told what to do - they know the drill," said Doug Johnson, Otis' VTS general manager. "Our people responded fast and with teamwork, and their number one priority was the safety of our passengers."

Johnson said Otis crews from San Francisco, California and Portland, Oregon also were called to lend assistance in Seattle and are still there. In all numerous Otis equipped buildings suffered damage that caused disruption of elevator service.

"This was a potentially life-threatening situation, that Otis handled with efficiency and professionalism," said Ray Moncini, Otis' vice president and senior area executive for North America. "We knew we had the tools and skills in place to deal with an emergency situation, we had just been fortunate enough not to have to test them. I'm proud of this success and have confidence that we will be more than ready to contend with the next emergency we face."

Otis Elevator, with headquarters in Farmington, Connecticut, is the world's largest company manufacturing, installing and servicing elevators, escalators, moving walkways and shuttle systems. Otis has more than 60,000 employees and revenues exceeding $6 billion. Otis products are installed in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.