Hundreds of people remained under evacuation orders Wednesday, more than 24 hours after they were forced to flee a Midtown Manhattan high-rise over fears it could collapse. The emergency evacuation on Tuesday morning caught many residents and hotel guests completely off guard.

Cris Stennett, 47, a public health researcher, described being told to evacuate her hotel room with only 30 seconds' notice, leaving behind essential items. "I was naked and afraid, afraid and naked," she said, recounting the abrupt nature of the evacuation.

While the multi-block evacuation order near 235 E. 42nd Street was narrowed on Wednesday, four buildings—815 Second Ave., 225 E. 43rd St., 231 E. 43rd St., and 235 E. 43rd St.—remained under a full vacate order. A ground-floor restaurant at 217 E. 43rd St. was under a partial order. City officials kept East 42nd and 43rd streets between Second and Third Avenue blocked to vehicles, but allowed local residents and workers to return if they were not accessing the buildings still under evacuation orders.

The situation left travelers, workers, and business owners in limbo. Shawn Williams, 59, a retired corrections officer, had to make two trips from Harlem to retrieve her pain medication from a doctor's office in an affected building before a trip to Connecticut. "I came yesterday and I couldn’t get in," she said. "So, I change my appointment for today and now they are closed." Williams expressed frustration over paying for parking multiple times for nothing and stated she would have to go to the emergency room for her medication to avoid withdrawal.

Minas Galitsis, 47, the general manager at The Casual Greek Restaurant on the corner of 44th Street and Second Avenue, had to close his eatery on Tuesday due to the evacuation. Though he was able to reopen the next day, he lamented the lost business. "Thankfully nobody got hurt, but somebody’s gotta be held accountable," Galitsis said. "No one’s taking accountability for all the businesses that had to close."

The building at 235 E. 42nd Street is reportedly experiencing issues with two support beams on the 21st and 22nd floors beginning to buckle.