Donate $25 for two DVDs of the Cryptome collection of files from June 1996 to the present Natsios Young Architects 8 January 2010. Add four photos of OEM taken 2 January 2010:

13 January 2006. A. writes:

I actually worked at the NYC OEM until very recently.

In your story you have most of it right but get confused in the captions. There are two buildings shown in the photos of Cadman plaza -- one 3-story building under construction with green exterior wrap showing, and another tan two-story building with rounded windows. In several of your photos, you suggest the latter is the current OEM headquarters. It is not. I don't know what that building is, but OEM staff currently work in the brick two-story building on the water located under the Brooklyn Bridge [11 Water Street], which is about eight blocks away.

13 January 2006

Birdseyes from http://www.local.live.com.

Street-level photos by Cryptome (11 Water Street, 10 October 2005; Cadman Plaza, 12 January 2006).

The New York Police Department recently caused a ruckus by opposing the design of the Freedom Tower to be erected on the site of WTC because the structure would be within a hundred feet of a major thorougfare. At considerable cost the design was revised to move the structure further from the thoroughfare and beef up its base.

New York City's Office of Emergency Management was destroyed by the 9/11 attack due to it location in the World Trade Center. The location was criticized for its susceptibility to collateral destruction in a high profile target. Thereafter OEM's new locations were kept secret.

Present OEM structures and the new OEM facility are much closer to public thorougfares than the "high-risk" original location of Freedom Tower would have been. Two of its new locations in Brooklyn have been identified in official journals, job advertisements and online forums. And news articles and official publications have described the location of the new headquarters for OEM in Brooklyn.

One OEM structure at 11 Water Street, Brooklyn, is adjacent to city streets and directly below the approach ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge and thus attackable from the roadway and walkway above. Another OEM structure on Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, is within 30 feet of a major highway and adjacent to city streets. The new OEM building, nearby this second structure is within 60 feet of this highway and adjacent to city streets and parks. [See corrective note from A above.]

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/enb2002/20021016/not2.html

New York City (Kings County) - The New York City Office of Emergency Management, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed New York City Office of Emergency Management Headquarters, will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. The action involves the demolition of existing structure, and construction of new office and operations center for New York City Office of Emergency Management. The proposed structure consists of five stories above grade plus the cellar, comprising a total of approximately 108,000 square feet of floor area. The proposed facility will operate 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, with up to 60 employees per shift on site at any time. Staffing levels would increase to 100-125 persons during emergency conditions, and up to 300 persons under extreme emergency conditions. Approximately 40 accessory parking spaces will be provided in an at-grade lot, and vehicular access to the site will be from Cadman Plaza East. The project is located at 165 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY (Block 85, Lot 6).

Contact: Henry Jackson, 11 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, phone: (718) 422-4600 fax: (718) 422-4661 e-mail: hjackson@oem.nyc.gov

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5840&page=3

Swanke Hayden Connell Architects

NYC Office of Emergency Management
New York, NY

http://www.shca.com/portfolio/defaul...e=Architecture

SHCA has been retained by the New York City Department of Design and Construction to provide architectural and interior design services for New York City's new Office of Emergency Management Headquarters. The facility, which will replace the former headquarters destroyed on September 11, 2001, will be located at Cadman Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn. Formerly the site of the American Red Cross building, the location places O.E.M. prominently at the northern terminus of Brooklyn's Civic Center. The project scope calls for a re-clad, gut renovation and addition to an existing 3 story building. The program, of approximately 65,000 square feet, includes a new 100 person Emergency Operations Center, Watch Command, General Office space and a Press and Conference Center. The building will be supported by state of the art A/V and IT systems as well as redundant electro-mechanical systems. Completion is scheduled for October 2005 [now months behind].

After Cryptome's OEM visit, an incident occurred on the Brooklyn Bridge involving a gang of unmarked vehicles (photos below). An encased apparatus was taken from the Jersey-plated auto; couldn't see what it was. After a few minutes the plaincothes packed up and left. Security forces in the area are reported to run these displays to keep the public spooked and appreciative, rush hour a favorite showtime.

NYC Office of Emergency Management Birdseye

11 Water Street Under the Brooklyn Bridge, Looking North

11 Water Street Looking South

Cadman Plaza Looking North. Present OEM at center right, new OEM at lower right before renovation of former Red Cross building. The walkway across the Brooklyn Bridge is between the traffic lanes. Mayor Bloomberg walked from OEM along this wlakway during recent transit strike.

Cadman Plaza Looking South

11 Water Street Looking Northwest

11 Water Street Looking West

11 Water Street Looking Southwest

Cadman Plaza Looking Southeast. Present OEM in foreground, new OEM in background

Cadman Plaza, Present OEM

Cadman Plaza, Present OEM

Cadman Plaza, Present OEM

Cadman Plaza, Present OEM

Cadman Plaza, Present OEM

Cadman Plaza, New OEM at left, Present OEM at right

Cadman Plaza, New OEM, Looking West

Cadman Plaza, New OEM, Looking Northeast

Cadman Plaza, New OEM, Looking Southeast

Brooklyn Bridge Incident 12 January 2006

The yellow truck at front looks like a Department of Highways repair vehicle. Could be the driver spotted a suspicious object on the roadway, or reported a stalled vehicle which triggered a call for hazard-testing apparatus.

A device in the NY DEP-6537-plated vehicle, with what appears to be an aerial suction-cupped to the windshield.