New York City Fire Department Performing Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drills Today - Stuck Passengers Will Be Rescued By Lowered Cable, Not A Bucket

Don't be worried if you see what appears to be rescue operations being undertaken at the Roosevelt Island Tram today. According to this advisory from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised on Wednesday, July 13th, the FDNY will be performing practice drills on one Tram cabin from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please note regular Tram service will not be interrupted during that time frame.

More information on NYPD Tram Rescue Drills available from these previous posts.

With the old Tram, a bucket was sent to rescue people in the event that the cabin could not make it's way back to a Tram Station as shown in this You Tube Video.

You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drill

With the current Tram, I am advised that there are so many back up systems that the Tram will always be able to make it's way back to one of the Tram Stations. However, in the very unlikely event that the Tram does get stuck, passengers will be lowered  by cable as demonstrated in this You Tube Video of a Portland Oregon Tram Rescue Drill.

You Tube video of Portland Oregon Tram Rescue Drill

UPDATE 1:30 PM - Here's a video of the FDNY performing Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drills earlier today by being lowered from the Tram Cabin to a boat in the East River.

You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Tram Rescue Drill

UPDATE 4:45 PM - Jonathan Hoo shares this photo of the Tram Rescue Drill and Tweets:

Looks like just a drill on the Roosevelt Island tram. You can see someone descending to the boat in this pic.

 Image From Jonathan Hoo via Twitpic