The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced it would launch a full technical investigation into what caused the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021.

The risks that come with having an ineffective lockdown plan became painfully evident following the events at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. While the people inside the building were ushered to safety, the building itself was breached and overrun resulting in theft, building damage, injury and even death. It was clear that while the notification side of an emergency plan can be useful, its effectiveness only goes so far if it is not working in tandem with other physical security measures.