Final answer:
All high rises in NOVA typically have ground-level exits as an emergency feature for safety, while practices like locked stairwell doors have been discarded due to past tragic outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In emergency response, all occupied high rises in Northern Virginia (NOVA) typically feature ground-level exits. This feature is mandated as a safety measure to ensure that occupants have a direct and unobstructed path of egress during an emergency. The significance of ground-level exits was highlighted following historical tragedies where locked stairwell doors led to catastrophic outcomes. Emergency exits and evacuation procedures are crucial in modern building design to prevent similar incidents.
While elevators may seem like a quick evacuation method, they are usually not used in emergencies due to the risk of power failure, mechanical malfunction, and their potential to expose occupants to smoke or fire as they travel through the building. Fireproof roofs are also important but are not related specifically to the evacuation process. Lastly, while locked stairwell doors were used in the past to prevent theft, this practice is now recognized as dangerous and has been largely abandoned in favor of open stairwells that facilitate evacuation.