Shame at the Statehouse

See this editorial by that title in the Des Moines Register. It begins:

It's appalling that safety devices bought for Capitol stairwells to allow evacuation of physically disabled people were never installed.

That failure was discovered after a fire alarm sounded Wednesday, and state Rep. Mark Kuhn, who is using a wheelchair following a farm accident, was stranded.

It's clear that facilities managers need to come up with a workable evacuation plan for the 150-year-old Capitol. But it's also critical that other institutions and businesses around the state review their own emergency plans. Iowa is graced by picturesque courthouses and other aging gems that present a challenge should a fire, tornado or other threat prompt the need to evacuate.