{"id":4063,"date":"2026-07-09T13:08:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4063"},"modified":"2026-07-09T13:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:08:18","slug":"hundreds-remain-displaced-by-evacuation-order-from-troubled-midtown-nyc-high-rise-over-24-hours-later-naked-and-afraid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4063","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds remain displaced by evacuation order from troubled Midtown NYC high-rise over 24 hours later: ‘Naked and afraid’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Hundreds of people remained under evacuation orders Wednesday more than 24 hours after they were forced to flee over fears a Midtown high-rise would collapse \u2014 including hotel guests completely caught off guard.<\/p>\n

Read more Exclusive | Developer of buckling NYC building facing $376M claims for \u2018life-threatening\u2019 shortcuts at celeb enclave<\/a><\/p>\n

Cris Stennett, 47, a public health researcher, said she learned about the evacuation early Tuesday as she stepped from her hotel room\u2019s shower and heard firefighters pounding on her hotel room door.<\/p>\n

The firefighters gave \u201clike 30 seconds\u201d to get out, forcing Stennett to leave behind her ID and several other necessities, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was naked and afraid, afraid and naked. I mean, I still had stuff on my body,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was definitely not a pleasant experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

The multi-block evacuation order that scrambled Stennett and others from the area near the afflicted high-rise at 235 E. 42nd St. narrowed a day later, but several buildings stayed off-limits \u2014 leaving scores of travelers, workers and business owners in limbo.<\/p>\n

Four buildings \u2014 815 Second Ave., 225 E. 43rd St., 231 E. 43rd St., and 235 E. 43rd St. \u2014 remained under a full vacate order, city officials said.<\/p>\n

The ground-floor restaurant at 217 E. 43rd St. \u2014 Yakiniku Toraji \u2014 was under a partial vacate order, according to officials.<\/p>\n

The city kept East 42nd and 43rd streets between Second and Third Avenue blocked to vehicles, but let local residents, workers and visitors return, so long as they weren\u2019t going to the four buildings still under an evacuation order.<\/p>\n

Read more Alabama teen accused of stabbing mom Samantha Baker to death, severely wounding dad Lance ID\u2019d as couple\u2019s eldest son<\/a><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the latest on the evacuated Midtown building in danger of a \u2018localized collapse\u2019: <\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Crews work to prop up Midtown NYC high-rise that suddenly buckled \u2014 as cause remains a mystery<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • NYC Pfizer building developer tries to downplay collapse risk \u2014 insists high-rise buckling is a \u2018freak accident\u2019<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Buckling building in Midtown NYC will face partial demolition \u2014 but even stabilizing it beforehand will be highly risky: experts<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • NYC buildings commissioner confident buckling Midtown building is \u2018stabilizing\u2019 after emergency work<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Massive \u2018frozen zone\u2019 around buckling Midtown NYC building leaves hundreds out on street \u2014 with no idea when they can return<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \n