Living On The Eastside, Should We Wear A Mask?

So it is a little over a day since the giant steam pipe explosion over here in Manhattan. I live about a half mile from the Con Ed Catastrophe that killed one person from cardiac arrest and injured many others. Even tonight, Third Avenue is blocked off from 34th St. up to the site with tons of various equipment and trucks brought in for the cleanup.

Cops are wearing masks in and around the area, but relatively few citizens don the attire that can block the poisonous effects of asbestos. You would think if it is good enough for the police, it might be as well for the residents of the area, so what gives?

City officials including the mayor say there is no asbestos in the air, so why the masks? Just a precaution perhaps? If thats the case, where's my mask?