By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A coalition of downtown St. Louis businesses and residents is unveiling a new emergency preparedness system.
The "D-Step" program will allow first responders to talk with downtown occupants via two new radio frequencies.
The idea is to warn office workers and building residents of hazardous situations and give instructions while crews are responding.
St. Louis police Lieutenant Anthony Russo says the goal is to ensure continuity after a disaster.
"It's pretty much a national statistic that approximately 60 percent of businesses after a disaster never reopen," Russo said. "It's key to the city that we get things up and running and get back to normal operations."
The voluntary program, which costs participants $100 dollars per year, also includes funding for defibrillators for medical emergencies.