The number of elevator emergencies in New York City surged 82 percent to 11,362 through May, up from 6,233 over the first five months in 2009.

The number of people in those elevators needing to be rescued by firefighters jumped 46 percent to 14,467, up from 9,885.

A city Housing Authority official attributed the overall city jump, in part, to new reporting requirements that now include false alarms. The increase is also due to the city’s installation of new safety devices that keep doors from opening unless the car is within 2 inches of the floor landing, said authority spokeswoman Sheila Stainback.

(Source: NY Post)