Latest news with #Otis
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
How Leading Elevator Companies Respond When the Power Goes Out
When the power went out around noon on April 28, Otis mechanic Julio César was conducting an inspection in a Madrid office building. The generator turned on, and he continued working. He thought it was a local issue. Then the building's maintenance manager informed him of the magnitude of the event: All power, and nearly all cellphone service, was out across Spain and Portugal. They didn't know it at the time, but the outage would last about 10 hours – and up to 16 hours in some areas. Julio César immediately completed his inspection and went to check the other units on his route to make sure no one was trapped. He prioritized nursing homes and the smaller buildings that he knew did not have backup generators. 'I went to the places first where I knew there might be more vulnerable people,' he said. Julio César is just one of hundreds of Otis field colleagues in Spain and Portugal who rallied to support people stranded in elevators when the power went out – and later, when power was restored, worked to get elevators back up and running. Their response was immediate and thorough: In the hours following the historic outage, mechanics worked with public authorities to visit every unit on their routes to ensure there were no entrapments, and rescuing people who were. OTISLINE customer service teams provided immediate support to those who were connected. Then, when power was restored, they set to work getting all elevators back up and running. Consider these figures: Spain has the most elevators per resident in the European Union, with almost 1.3 million elevators total, according to the Spanish Elevator Federation. They estimate that 10,000 entrapped passengers were freed on April 28. Here's what happens at Otis when the power goes out: Going above their normal call to help others Otis mechanics freed people trapped in elevators that were not their responsibility – elevators that are not part of the Otis service portfolio. Xavier, an Otis salesman who used to be a mechanic, freed two women in their 90s in the minutes after the blackout started. One mechanic walked more than 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) to help as many trapped passengers as possible. Colleagues who were not scheduled to work went to the offices to see how they could help. Those who were working voluntarily worked another shift when transit issues meant some second-shift workers didn't make it into the office or call center. Mechanics accompanied firefighters to perform rescues. Some Otis colleagues took people with mobility issues into their homes. When the power came back By April 29, once entrapments were addressed and power was restored, Otis experts turned quickly to making sure all Otis units were back online and working. This too required a round-the-clock response from field colleagues. Some mechanics had accumulated more than 25 calls by 9 a.m. Service was again augmented by extending shifts, and tapping people on their scheduled day off who showed up at the call centers, aware of the workload. It wasn't until late on April 30 that the crisis was over. Otis had zero calls on hold. 'Through their actions and professionalism, our colleagues in Spain and Portugal exemplified the core values of our company and demonstrated how to put our mission into action,' said Enrique Miñarro Viseras, President of Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. 'Thank you for your resilience, teamwork and unwavering focus on our customers and passengers. Your skills were in high demand and your empathy was evident as you navigated complex situations, provided reassurances and supported everyone affected. We are so proud of all you have done.' Preparing for next time In Spain and Portugal, the power outage lasted approximately 10 hours and up to 16 hours in some locations. Nuno Correia, a field supervisor in Portugal with 35 years of Otis experience, said he had never experienced anything like this. 'I only remember a two-hour power outage in Lisbon 20 years ago, but never a time when communications were down,' Correia said. After the initial nervousness of trying to restore communications, his technicians prioritized helping the factories they service, which were operating at full capacity at the time of the blackout. While Otis has crisis preparedness plans in place for events like this, each one provides opportunities to learn and improve for the next time, with a focus on the Otis value of safety, and dedication to Otis' mission to be a world-class, customer-centric, service-oriented company. What to do if you're stuck in an elevator Importantly, when an elevator stops working, because of a power cut or other reason, passengers are safe inside of the elevator cabin. If communications systems are working, they will have access to an emergency call center. However, if the telecommunications network fails before the signal is activated, passengers must wait in the cabin until an emergency release system is activated, power is restored, or a technician arrives to rescue them. Some elevators are equipped with an emergency lighting system designed to last at least 1 hour. This emergency lighting is activated automatically as soon as the power supply fails. Depending upon local regulations, elevators may also have an external alarm bell, designed to alert building occupants of an entrapment. In some countries, Otis businesses are certified to the ISO 22301 standard, which assesses the quality of a company's processes for providing emergency assistance in the event of a blackout. In addition, post-blackout, Otis has received numerous calls from customers inquiring about products designed to reduce the risk of entrapments in a power cut, including a battery-powered emergency release system, and elevators capable of running on battery and solar power in the event of a power disruption. These Gen2 Switch elevators are currently available in Spain and Portugal. Customers with them reported gratitude that they mitigated the effects of the power outage on their buildings. About Otis Otis is the world's leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company. We move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide, the industry's largest Service portfolio. Headquarters in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Otis Worldwide Corporation
Associated Press
a day ago
- Science
- Associated Press
Otis STEM Program Propels Student Alum to an International Scholarship
Pannawish Tanthawichian was a participating high school student in the Otis Made to Move Communities™ challenge in 2022-23. Now he's leaving his home in Thailand with a scholarship to study computer science at University of Toronto in Canada, and he credits his experience with Otis for helping him get there. His pursuit of an education in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field exemplifies one of the core objectives of the Made to Move Communities program – to inspire a lifelong interest in STEM, and advance STEM and leadership skills to help build the next generation of talent. Tanthawichian's team from Kamnoetvidya Science (KVIS) Academy won the Otis Asia-Pacific region competition in the Made to Move Communities challenge with their design of a computer program that forecasts floods in Thailand. The solution was personal for him – his grandparents' home in Phuket was damaged by floods. In his application to the University of Toronto, Tanthawichian highlighted his experience with the Made to Move Communities program, describing the skills learned and developed through the program. The university accepted him and awarded him the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship. Tanthawichian will attend the University of Toronto starting this fall. 'I'm really thankful for the opportunities made possible by taking part in the MTMC challenge,' Tanthawichian said. About the Made to Move Communities program Launched in 2020, the Made to Move Communities program engages young minds to explore real-world mobility challenges and develop innovative solutions with the potential to create more connected communities and improve mobility for all. This initiative brings together students, educators, and Otis colleagues as mentors with the purpose of advancing STEM and leadership skills to help build the next generation of talent, ensuring future workforce readiness, and sustaining innovation. Each year, the program focuses on a different theme that aligns with global priorities, such as sustainability, accessibility or technology. This year's theme challenged students to incorporate AI into their inclusive mobility solution. The program encourages students to think critically and creatively, applying STEM principles to address mobility-related issues. Through workshops, mentorship, and collaboration, participants gain valuable insights and skills that prepare them for future careers while making a positive impact on society. Each participating school receives a grant at the conclusion of the program to support ongoing STEM education in their schools. To learn more about the Made to Move Communities program, visit Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Otis Worldwide Corporation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Traveling or flying with a pet? Here's what you need to know before you go
We Americans love our pets — so much so that in 2024, we spent $150.6 billion on them. About half of us have a dog, and more than a third have a cat. I've had a dog most of my life, but I never considered traveling with one until early 2024 when my husband, Otis, asked whether I wanted to spend the summer in Massachusetts. That was a no-brainer. 'Absolutely!' I replied. I wanted to see where he had spent his summers growing up, meet his best friend, eat 'lobstah' and check New England off my bucket list. Then, reality struck. What would we do with Josie? More from Alessi: Retiring Palm Beach County teacher reflects on cellphones, testing frenzies, tardies and more Josie, a Morkie (Maltese/Yorkshire terrier mix), has lived with me since 2018, when my niece Hillary had her second baby and said, 'Aunt Janet, I can't take care of two kids and a dog. Would you like Josie?' I'd been dogless for six years, so that, too, was a no-brainer. When I drove to Naples to meet Josie, she (Josie, not Hillary) wouldn't stop barking and leaping from one piece of furniture to another. I'm pretty tranquil, so her crazy energy concerned me. Thankfully, I brought her home anyway. After figuring out my doggie door, she burst through it like a bat out of hell to run laps around my fenced-in backyard. She only stopped long enough to dart into my house for water. Then, she bolted out to continue chasing an imaginary mechanical rabbit around what she was claiming to be her personal racetrack. Seven years later, Josie still has that crazy puppy energy, but when she wears herself out, she squeezes between me and the armrest of my couch. When I recline, she sprawls out on top of me and rests her head on my chest while gazing up at me with big, brown eyes that exude love and devotion. If I dare take a break from patting her head or rubbing her tummy, she squirms and whimpers. How could I leave her for two months? Short answer: I couldn't. But, wouldn't traveling with her be complicated? Yes! Yet, after doing so last summer, I can tell you it is so worth it — as long as you're sedated. Here are five lessons I learned: Since Josie would have been stressed without me for the two months we'd be gone, boarding wasn't really an option. Still, I researched it. In Palm Beach County, prices range from $44 to $66 per day, with additional fees for bedtime biscuits, story time, and personal playtime. We would have spent at least $3,000 for Josie's stay! Driving would have been the least expensive way to travel, but a 3,000-mile, 44-hour round trip was out of the question. A previous near head-on collision had given me PTSD. Since driving wasn't an option, we looked into flying. Delta — which charges $95 per pet per flight — was our best choice. But flying with a pet also meant more expenses: a vet fee (for a health certificate and sedatives) and an airline-approved pet carrier (soft-sided, ventilated, leak-proof, and 18 by 11 by 11 inches) — which I purchased from Amazon for $46. I also had to buy a dog bed in Massachusetts. Josie stayed for free at the house we rented, but we took several short trips. One hotel didn't charge for her, one charged $100, and another $125. The hotels had a weight limit (for Josie, not us), barking restrictions (again, for Josie), and legal paperwork with too much small print to read — placing the financial burden on us should one of us leave fleas behind or destroy property. And if anyone complained about barking, we could be asked to leave and would not receive a refund. As we signed on the dotted lines, we begged Josie not to make us regret bringing her. Once we decided on flying, the real fun began. Delta allows 20-pound-or-under pets to fly under the seat in front of their person. Fortunately, Josie had been dieting for a year and weighed 18 pounds. Before purchasing airline tickets, I called Delta to reserve a spot for Josie, as they limit the number of dogs per flight. My greatest fear was that Josie wouldn't let us stuff her into her carrier. So, Otis began Operation-Acclimate-Josie-to-Her-Kennel-by-Putting-Her-Favorite-Treat (Popcorn)-In-It on a daily basis. My second greatest fear was that she wasn't — as stipulated — 'small enough to fit comfortably' in her carrier and didn't have 'the ability to move around without touching or sticking out from the sides.' I wondered whether they cared that at 6-foot-2, I don't fit comfortably in my seat, can't move around, and stick my legs out when I can. In case Josie didn't cooperate, or Delta said she was too smooshed and wouldn't let her fly, we came up with Plan B. After dropping us off at the airport, my stepson would circle around waiting for a thumbs-up text. If need be, he'd take custody of Josie until he could hand her off to my daughter, who — with a baby and two dogs of her own — would be less than thrilled. At the airport, we took Josie to the Special Service Counter, where an agent made sure she and her kennel met Delta's requirements, and I paid the fee. This was also where Josie demonstrated her best problem-solving skills by nudging the zipper open in a thankfully-thwarted attempted escape. With Zipper Security in place, we passed inspection. We were so thrilled and relieved that we forgot to send a thumbs-up text. My stepson is still circling the airport. At home, I walk Josie a few times a week for exercise, but she mostly takes care of her business in my backyard. With no doggie door and fenced-in yard at our place in Massachusetts, I was in charge of her potty breaks. I made a shocking discovery. Josie goes. A lot. Translation: I needed a lot more poop bags than I packed. For future trips with Josie, before booking a hotel, I'll check out its surrounding area. When we stayed in Boston for a few days, we had to walk three blocks to get to a grassy area. Three blocks probably seemed like 3 miles to poor Josie, who'd been holding it for hours in our hotel room. Something else we didn't anticipate? Finding ticks on all three of us after a hike. We responded the only way we could. We researched Lyme disease, freaked out, and bought tick spray. Oh, and removed the ticks. On the first leg of our journey, Otis carried Josie in her carrier. But, for our return flight, Josie and I were on our own. I soon learned that carrying 18 pounds of a squirming fur baby while pulling a suitcase isn't easy, so I now have wheels for her carrier for future trips. At security, I felt like a single mom with a squirming infant — except my 'baby' had four legs and a tail, and the rules seemed to change every five minutes. 'Take her out of the kennel. Don't take her out. Put her on a leash but hold her. Put her down. Don't take her through the scanner with you.' Oy vey. Josie may be a Florida girl, but I'd never taken her to the beach. Her reaction to her first ocean encounter in Brant Rock was priceless: Barked at the waves. Sampled the salt water. Swore off salt water. For life. We often went on long walks along the ocean, and others almost always stopped to talk to us because of Josie. She also befriended our next door neighbors' dog Bentley, even though he was four times her size. Josie never had any idea where we were going in our rental car, but she always wanted to go. If begging didn't work, she tried reverse psychology. To try to trick us into taking her, she'd lie in bed and pretend she didn't care if we left without her. But, when we tried double reverse psychology and feigned that we didn't care that she didn't care, she let us know there would be consequences to pay if we left her behind. This was her vacation, too, darn it! In the evenings, most of our neighbors sat in rockers on their front porch. We were happy to adopt this lifestyle and enjoyed watching Josie go nuts because we wouldn't let her out of our screened-in porch to chase the bunnies hopping around our front yard. My husband's BFF offered to keep Josie when we went on overnighters, but the truth is we would've missed her. We'd learned that we enjoyed traveling with her. Because our kids were grown when Otis and I married in 2020, his kids don't think of me as their stepmom, and mine don't think of him as their stepdad. This trip was the first time he and I felt as if we were co-parents. At the end of our trip, my husband — who had only owned big dogs — said, 'For a small dog, Josie's not bad. She's not yappy, and when I talk to her, she looks me in the eye.' In March, he stayed with her for a week while I visited my son in Georgia. When I returned, Josie made sure I noticed that she was snuggling next to him, not me. A couple of days later, Traitor Josie — as I started calling her — must have forgiven me because, once again, she's a mama's girl. Despite the challenges, traveling with Josie made our trip unforgettable. And she was so good that on both flights, the person whose seat she was under didn't even know she was there. She will definitely be coming with us on our next adventure. After all, she's part of our family. Janet Meckstroth Alessi is a frequent contributor to Accent. She can be reached at jlmalessi@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Traveling with a pet? Here's what you need to know before you go
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific, an unusual first for 2025
Alvin's formation marks the end of an unusual drought of tropical activity in the Northern Hemisphere. In mid-May, forecasters noted that multiple storms, often in the western North Pacific, usually had formed by this point in the year. The oddity didn't stop the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from predicting an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. More: See projected path, spaghetti models of Alvin (While all is quiet at the moment in the Atlantic, forecasters are keeping an eye on several weather systems ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.) It is possible Alvin may strengthen further into a hurricane, AccuWeather said. The storm is expected to begin to lose wind intensity as it moves northward toward Mexico into the weekend and moves over cooler waters and an area of increased wind shear, which acts to tear storms apart. Alvin marks an early start to the eastern Pacific season. The average date for the first tropical storm of that season is June 10, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some rain, clouds may reach US southwest Alvin "may still wander far enough to the north along the west coast of Mexico to allow some moisture in the form of clouds and downpours to reach parts of Texas or New Mexico as early as this weekend," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. Eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes seldom have any major impact on the U.S. "While many eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes move west-northwest and eventually fizzle in the open ocean, some do strike land, as we saw in 2023 with the remnant of Hurricane Hilary in the Desert Southwest and with Category 5 Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico," noted meteorologist Sara Tonks in an online forecast. Map shows Alvin's projected storm path This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Below-average season expected in eastern Pacific The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a seasonal hurricane forecast released May 22, said that a below-average eastern Pacific hurricane season is most likely. An average season sees 15 named storms. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, two weeks earlier than the Atlantic hurricane season.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific, marking an unusual first for 2025
Tropical Storm Alvin forms in the Pacific, marking an unusual first for 2025 Alvin's formation marks the end of an unusual drought of tropical activity in the Northern Hemisphere. Show Caption Hide Caption NOAA predicts at least three hurricanes this season NOAA predicts the three major hurricanes in the 2025 hurricane season. Tropical Storm Alvin formed in the the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday, May 29, becoming the first named storm anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere this year. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say the storm poses no direct threat to the United States, but it could bring locally heavy rain and gusty winds near the west-central Mexico coastline late week into the weekend. Alvin's formation marks the end of an unusual drought of tropical activity in the Northern Hemisphere. In mid-May, forecasters noted that multiple storms, often in the western North Pacific, usually had formed by this point in the year. The oddity didn't stop the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from predicting an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. More: See projected path, spaghetti models of Alvin (While all is quiet at the moment in the Atlantic, forecasters are keeping an eye on several weather systems ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.) It is possible Alvin may strengthen further into a hurricane, AccuWeather said. The storm is expected to begin to lose wind intensity as it moves northward toward Mexico into the weekend and moves over cooler waters and an area of increased wind shear, which acts to tear storms apart. As of 11 a.m. EDT, Thursday May 29, the center of Alvin was located about 670 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Alvin was moving to the northwest at 10 mph. Its maximum sustained winds were 40 mph. Alvin marks an early start to the eastern Pacific season. The average date for the first tropical storm of that season is June 10, according to the National Hurricane Center. Some rain, clouds may reach US southwest Alvin "may still wander far enough to the north along the west coast of Mexico to allow some moisture in the form of clouds and downpours to reach parts of Texas or New Mexico as early as this weekend," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. Eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes seldom have any major impact on the U.S. "While many eastern Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes move west-northwest and eventually fizzle in the open ocean, some do strike land, as we saw in 2023 with the remnant of Hurricane Hilary in the Desert Southwest and with Category 5 Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico," noted meteorologist Sara Tonks in an online forecast. Map shows Alvin's projected storm path This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Below-average season expected in eastern Pacific The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a seasonal hurricane forecast released May 22, said that a below-average eastern Pacific hurricane season is most likely. An average season sees 15 named storms. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially began on May 15, two weeks earlier than the Atlantic hurricane season.
