Chaotic scene of devastation unfolds on national television

By DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer

Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Last modified at 8:53 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2001
© 2001 - The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

NEW YORK {AP}— A chaotic scene of devastation unfolded on national television Tuesday with cameras catching a plane crashing into the World Trade Center and the subsequent collapse of both of the towers.

Television networks began live coverage of a morning of terrorism at the time the first plane hit the New York City landmark. With cameras trained on the smoking skyscraper, television caught the second plane crashing into the other tower, footage replayed several times.

As the terror spread, CNN showed a split-screen view of the smoking World Trade Center and also the Pentagon, where smoke billowed from another plane crash.

Reports spread as fast as television could detail them — planes grounded across the country, the White House evacuated, planes unaccounted for — while commentators tried to keep calm.

"This is the most serious attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor," said NBC's Tom Brokaw.

A producer from CNN, Rose Arce, reported people jumping from the World Trade Center and described the chaos gripping lower Manhattan.

Cameras then caught the collapse of both of the twin towers, showing white smoke billowing throughout the streets of lower Manhattan. A shaken Ashleigh Banfield reporting on MSNBC described debris showering around.

"I've never seen anything like this," a breathless and sobbing Banfield said. "This whole place looks like a war zone. When the cloud came out I could feel the force of it."

Fox News Channel ran a continuous crawl of news bulletins summarizing the series of events.

C-SPAN took phone calls from shaken citizens. One caller from California said: "This is a sign to America: We think we are the strongest country and they hit us; they knew where to hit us."

Other television networks suspended normal programming. The ESPN sports networks showed ABC News reports, VH1 showed CBS News programming, TNT showed CNN coverage. News networks dispensed with commercials for continuous coverage.

The shopping networks QVC and ShopNBC network went dark, saying the tragedy had forced them to suspend programming.

"We share with our customers and employees, our sadness as well as our thoughts and prayers," ShopNBC said in a message.

Office of Emergency Preparedness: Situation Report #7

September 15, 2001 1200 Eastern

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SITUATION REPORT #7

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND
TERRORIST ATTACKS:
NEW YORK CITY, NY: WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWERS WASHINGTON, DC: THE PENTAGON: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUMMERSET COUNTY, PA: AIR PLANE CRASH
SITUATION REPORT #7

BACKGROUND
At approximately 0845 hours Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, September 11, a commercial airplane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. At that time, the severity of the incident, the numbers of people involved, and the reason for the crash were all unknown. Shortly after 0900 hours, a second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center.
Around 1000 hours, reports came in that another commercial plane hit the Pentagon, in Washington, DC, and a fourth commercial plane was downed in Somerset County, PA, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
Shortly after 1000 hours the south tower of the World Center collapsed. Within the next half-hour, the northern tower of the World Trade Center also collapsed.
At approximately 1730 hours a third tower in the World Trade Center complex, Building #7, also collapsed.
Wednesday evening, September 12, another building within the World Trade Center Complex collapsed. No additional casualties are expected due to this. However, it may make recovery more difficult.
In New York City the Department of Health has determined that there has not been any damage to any New York City hospital.
1
PERSONNEL
New York City
There has been no change reported from the NYC MST.
There are three Management Support Teams (MSTs) established in the New York City region. The main MST is at LaGuardia, it is supported by satellite MSTs at Chelsea Pier and Stewart ANGB.
DMAT
There continues to be five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) on site in the New York City area. Personnel from DMATs have been deployed to downtown New York City: one at Chelsea Pier, and one at Borough Municipal Community College.
As of 1600 hours today, there are currently 525 personnel deployed to the NYC area in support of the operational response. 104 have been deployed to operational sites within NYC (36 to LaGuardia (LGA); 20 to College; 31 to Chelsea; 7 to the Armory; 6 VMAT; and 2 to the Medical Examiner’s office).
There are 162 currently staged in New York City at the LGA Marriott. And there are 252 currently staged at Stewart ANGB.
In addition, DMAT has establish a forward treatment area about 1 block from the World Trade Center.
A total of ten burn nurses have been deployed to provide staffing relief for 32 critical patients at the NY Burn Center.
DMORT
The Disaster Portable Morgue Unit (DPMU) has been set up at the LaGuardia airport. A plan is currently being establishing for staffing of the DPMU.
Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) personnel are deployed to the City Medical Examiner’s Office, to the Family Assistance Center at the Armory, and to LaGuardia airport. The temporary morgue at Hanger 7 is operational but has not yet received any remains.
Forty-four DMORT personnel are currently providing 24-hour support to the city Medical Examiner. Their duties are: 6 data entry, 10 morgue clean-up, 3 photo/scanning, 2 supervisors, and 2 liaison officers, for a total of 22 personnel per shift. Operations are currently described as “slow”. Operations at the Medical Examiner’s office are expected to increase.
Fifteen DMORT personnel are currently involved providing support from 0800 to 2000 daily at the Family Assistance Center located at 68 Lexington Avenue (24th & Lexington). DMORT personnel are currently conducting limited family interviews, collecting records, and answering phones.
2
The Medical Examiner’s office requested personnel and supplies to support the collection of DNA from family members of the World Trade Center victims. DNA collection will take place at the 7th Regiment Armory at 62 Park Avenue, Room 107. They have requested 14 personnel (6 nurses, 1 nursing supervisor) to two 12-hour shifts. Supplies requested and received include:
Individually wrapped Q-tips 12,000
White #10 Envelopes 12,000
Brown Lunch Bags 40,000
Modeling Clay
DMORT family assistance personnel are on site at the ACS Building; 29 1st Street in New York.
USNS Comfort
The 250-bed USNS Comfort, arrived at Pier 92 late yesterday afternoon, September 14. It is currently being used as a DMAT and DMORT personnel rest facility.
The tasking for the Comfort remains the same. The desire of the City was reconfirmed to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as of September 13.
USNS Comfort security: the United States Coast Guard will provide security for the USNS Comfort in the harbor; the United States Marine Corps will provide security on-board; New York City local law enforcement will provide security on the pier.
Unless helicopters are deck-qualified, they will have to land on the pier and patients transported by ground from pier to USNS Comfort.
The Commissioned Corps Readiness Force (CCRF) has provided for back-fill for the Navy Medical hospital, in Bethesda, MD, for medical staff that have been deployed to New York City. The backfill includes 26 nurses and nine physicians and 1 pharmacist. In addition, the CCRF has on stand-by: four mental health specialists, three pharmacists to support National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Tactical Advisory Response Unit, and four pharmacists to backfill National Naval Medical Center.
VMAT
Veterinary Medical Assistance Team-1 (VMAT-1), staffed by nine trained veterinary personnel, is operating at the recovery site. They are tending to the cadaveric locating dogs on site assisting with the search and recovery mission. There are approximately 40 dogs on site.
VMAT personnel have been requested to provide veterinary support to rescue animals at two incidents. In addition, VMAT personnel have provided foot and leg treatments to rescue dogs. Also, dogs have been treated for eye problems and have been decontaminated after coming off the rubble pile.
3
4
NMRT-E
The National Medical Response Team-Weapons of Mass Destruction- EAST (NMRT-E) has arrived at Stewart ANGB. This team is a specialized response force sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service that is designed to provide medical care following a nuclear, biological, and/or chemical incident. They are specially trained to work towards decontamination of sites, and can provide medical care in contaminated areas if needed.
Mental Health
Brian Flynn, Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is assessing the requirements for mental health support in NYC. Two mental health personnel are deployed to provide consultative services to the City of New York in order to better coordinate local mental health resources.
The Surgeon General’s office has identified personnel qualified and able to tend to mental health needs, if requested.
Pennsylvania
There has been no change since SITREP 6.
At 0815 Thursday, September 13, after receiving authorization from Secretary Thompson, Gary Moore discussed an interagency agreement with the FBI for DMORT deployment to the Pennsylvania plane crash site. Within hours, the temporary morgue and DMORT personnel were en route. This is the first time that a DMORT will be assisting in this capacity with an FBI investigation.
There are four family assistance personnel deployed to the Pennsylvania crash site. They are conducting anti-mortem interviews and briefings with families of the victims.
The temporary morgue unit from Kenyon, Texas, is on location at the Friedens Armory in Somerset County, PA. A Management Support Team (MST) of 13 people is on location in Pennsylvania and is operating a command center. DMORT Region III with 35 members has been redeployed from Washington, DC, to Pennsylvania, and is receiving and processing remains.
Washington, DC
There has been no change since SITREP 6.
In Washington, DC, we are not anticipating a mission request from FEMA. The Pentagon has indicated, as of approximately 1300 ET September 12, that it will administer to all medical and mortuary needs arising from the disaster on its grounds.
The National Disaster Medical System is a program of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office of Emergency Preparedness, RADM Robert Knouss, M.D., Director. Telephone 1-301-443-1167.
Situation Reports (SITREPs) are available from the NDMS website http://ndms.dhhs.gov

Doug Brisson and Glenn Snodgrass

Brisson, Doug and Glenn Snodgrass
http://old.911digitalarchive.org/crr/images/CRRDB/data/documents/4676.htm

Brisson, Doug and Glenn Snodgrass
http://old.911digitalarchive.org/crr/images/CRRDB/data/documents/4677.htm

Two new names added to my list of 114 photographers whose work at the Pentagon is established in the record. This is a red-letter day indeed!

4676 Doug Brisson and Glenn Snodgrass

This picture itself is a endearing, hoary old chestnut long known to me, with its firetruck's little melted backside manfully squirting its stream upward. Service personnel are clumped according to uniform and status. We even can see the silly triage lady who had duck tape wrapped around her short sleeve shirt chatting with the runner in shorts and a red tee shirt---the one with the absolutely humongous arms. What, does he dead lift 450 people at once?

The way the fire truck is situated, it appears to be sitting right in the middle of the doorway between the two trees, although one of them is already down in the Hillery Smith Garrison image that has all the fire coming out the windows. So, go figure.

I've never seen the image attributed to these two names before, and how an image can be attributed to two people at once is a neat trick, but I'm not going to argue. I'll do a brief due diligence on Google but that's it. I have so many loose ends around here I think I could go crazy.


Brisson, Doug and Glenn Snodgrass
http://old.911digitalarchive.org/crr/images/CRRDB/data/documents/4678.htm

After September 11, 2001 — How are our kids coping?

CHAPPAQUA SCHOOLS, Fall 2001

Our community and schools come together in time of need.

More than two months after Sept. 11, our community and schools are still trying to absorb what happened to our country on that fateful, fall day, in a month of so many new beginnings and promises of things to come for our own students. In the weeks that have passed, many of us have come together to do what we can to ease the pain for those directly affected by the World Trade Center attack and for all Americans.

And like their teachers and parents, many students are exhibiting a new thirst for knowledge about foreign affairs and the events that led up to our new war. “This time in our history is an educable moment that we must all learn from,” said former U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett speaking on NBC’s Today Show.

In Chappaqua schools, as in schools across our land, students are asking many
questions. “What does this mean for our country?” “What is patriotism?” “What is good and what constitutes evil?”

Taking over this fall as the new Superintendent of the Chappaqua Schools, Dr. James Donovan recognized, “this year will forever be different than any school year we have ever experienced.” Speaking to parents, he said, “I want to thank so many of you for your wishes of encouragement and thanks for our staff’s efforts during the past two months. They have
approached difficult topics in a very sensitive, age-appropriate manner. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated staff who truly keep our children’s interests at heart.”

In response to the tragedy our students and staff have joined together in many inspiring ways. Here is a look at a few:

At Roaring Brook, a school-wide “Children-to-Children”
Walk-A-Thon organized by the school’s student organization and PTA reached out to the community for sponsors and raised $58,000 for the Red Cross Relief Fund — the highest
amount of money raised by any elementary school in Westchester, according to Red Cross officials.

“We wanted to do something for the children who lost their parents,” said Rachel Libowitz, 9, a fourth-grader. “It was so sad when the towers came down.” Principal Mark Soss said the idea for the Walk-A-Thon was born a few weeks ago when parents, teachers and administrators discussed how to make Halloween more meaningful for students this year. So on Oct. 31st, instead of coming to school in traditional costumes, students were asked to wear patriotic colors and get sponsors for the Walk-A-Thon, which took place on the school field. “We wanted students to feel a sense of empowerment... that they were doing something
to help others,” said Soss, who thanked the many Chappaqua parents, staff and local corporations who supported the students’ efforts.

On Nov. 5, the school held a special assembly where students handed over the check to Katherine Cintron, director of philanthropy for the American Red Cross in Westchester County who thanked the students. “You students are terrific,” said Cintron. “Do you know what you have done?”

Roaring Brook’s “Children Helping Children” Walk-a-Thon

Roaring Brook students dressed in red, white and blue, who participated in the school’s “Children Helping Children” Walk-A-Thon on Halloween raised $58,000 from sponsors who donated the money to students who walked around the school field in shifts all day. The school held two spirited K-5 assemblies — one to kick off the walk — and the other to present the $58,000 check At Greeley High School, a school-wide Forum discussion was held on Oct. 25th to help students learn more about the history and politics of Afghanistan and the region where our new war is taking place.

Principal Kathy Mason said she was pleased with how interested the students are in learning more about what led to the terrorist attacks. At the Forum, the entire school population of 1,100 students assembled in the gym to hear a panel discussion led by four of Greeley’s social studies teachers: Steven Houser spoke on the history of terrorism; Mark Jagels, on Islam; Mary Devane talked about Kashmir (disputed region between India and Pakistan) and Stephen Walker discussed the present challenges facing our country since Sept. 11th. After the teachers spoke, students broke into smaller discussion groups led by student Forum leaders who raised questions that explored how our country can keep its freedoms in a society threaten by terrorism. “How long should we be able to detain suspects we think may have terrorist ties, but who have yet to commit a crime?” “Many students are waking up and appreciating our freedoms,” said junior Forum Leader Matt Goldshore. “Students want to learn as much as they can about America’s new war in Afghanistan,” said Greeley history
teacher Stephen Walker, a former U.S. diplomat who uses what is going on in today’s headlines to teach students in his American History class and foreign policy elective classes.

“History is more relevant to them than ever before.” At Greeley’s new LIFE alternative school, where students start the day in a 40-minute “community” dialogue session, what happened on Sept. 11th., took up several days with students sharing emotions of sadness, fear and uncertainty.

However, after several days, the students agreed they didn’t want to talk about terrorism anymore. “They wanted to talk about school related things like how they were being graded, and what teachers were going to tell their parents at conferences,” said teacher Susan Peters. “They wanted to move on.” But there are some changes. Peters, who was scheduled to teach students a semester of forensic science, is spending more time teaching students about bioterriorism and bacteria, topics taken from headlines that have peaked students’
interests in science, since the Anthrax scare.

Moved by the magnitude of the disaster, Greeley students too, pitched in to do what they could to raise funds to help victims and relatives of those who died. Inspired by Jennifer
Simon, a new biology teacher at Greeley, who lost both her father and brother at the World Trade Center, Greeley students made ribbons and sold them in the cafeteria. “I want to thank everyone at Greeley for their kindness and support which is helping me get through each day,” said Simon, who has returned to work and to her students.

On New Castle Community Day, many organizations pitched in, including the Greeley Football Team which raised $8,000 for the Rotary Club, which donated the money to the
World Trade Center Disaster Relief Fund.

At Bell Middle School students are writing and creating poems and pieces of sculpture that are helping students cope with the disaster by expressing themselves in many creative
ways. “We’re not pushing them to talk about it, but if they feel the need to relate their feelings in their school work, we’re encouraging that,” said Bell English teacher Sara
Golfinopoulos, who is a working with students on a unit on bullying in literature. “Students are naturally drawing comparisons between "bad” or “evil” characters in fiction and Osama bin Laden, who they characterize as the “bully of bullies.” In one of her student’s biographical poems that hangs on the wall, a student asks,“Where do I live?” “I live in a world of uncertainty now.”

Moved by the plight of Greeley science teacher Jennifer Simon whose father and brother were killed in the World Trade Center, students raised funds to go to the Simon family.
Pictured here: Greeley students sold homemade ribbon pins and flags in the Greeley cafeteria. Also, at the Nov. 10th Powder Puff game, proceeds from the concession stand were
also donated to the fund.

A Wall of Remembrance
Greeley music teacher Maureen Callan stops by the cafeteria to read the messages, like “America will Prevail” written from the heart by students and staff days after Sept. 11th.

Adam Mayblum 's descent from Tower 1, floor 87

A remarkable and chilling detailed account of survivor Adam Mayblum 's descent from Tower 1, floor 87, can be read here.

9/20/01

(Source unknown; found left in office copy machine)

One Survivor's Story... THE PRICE WE PAY

My name is Adam Mayblum. I am alive today. I am committing this to "paper" so I never forget. SO WE NEVER FORGET. I am sure that this is one of thousands of stories that will emerge over the next several days and weeks.

I arrived as usual a little before 8am. My office was on the 87th floor of 1 World Trade Center, AKA, Tower 1, AKA: the North Tower. Most of my associates were in by 8:30am. We were standing around, joking around, eating breakfast, checking emails, and getting set for the day when the first plane hit just a few stories above us. I must stress that we did not know that it was a plane. The building lurched violently and shook as if it was an earthquake. People screamed. I watched out my window as the building seemed to move 10 to 20 feet in each direction. It rumbled and shook long enough for me to get my wits about myself and grab a co-worker and seek shelter under a doorway. Light fixtures and parts of the ceiling collapsed. The kitchen was destroyed. We were certain that it was a bomb. We looked out the windows. Reams of paper were flying everywhere, like ticker tape parade. I looked down at the street. I could see people in Battery Park City looking up. Smoke started billowing in through the holes in the ceiling.

I believe that there were 13 of us. We did not panic. I can only assume that we thought that the worst was over. The building was standing and we were shaken but alive. We checked the halls. The smoke was thick and white and did not smell like I imagined smoke should smell. Not like your BBQ or your fireplace or even a bonfire. The phones were working. My wife had taken our 9 month old son for his check up. I called my nanny at home and told here to page my wife, tell her that a bomb went off, I was ok, and on my way out. I grabbed my laptop. Took off my t-shirt and ripped it into 3 pieces. Soaked it in water. Gave 2 pieces to my friends. Tied my piece around my face to act as an air filter. And we all started moving to the staircase. One of my dearest friends said that he was staying until the police or firemen came to get him. In the halls there were tiny fires and sparks. The ceiling had collapsed in the men's bathroom. It was gone along with anyone who may have been in there. We did not go in to look.

We missed the staircase on the first run and had to double back. Once in the staircase we picked up fire extinguishers just in case. On the 85th floor a brave associate of mine and I headed back up to our office to drag out my partner who stayed behind. There was no air, just white smoke. We made the rounds through the office calling his name. No response. He must have succumbed to the smoke. We left defeated in our efforts and made our way back to the stairwell. We proceeded to the 78th floor where we had to change over to a different stairwell. 78 is the main junction to switch to the upper floors. I expected to see more people. There were some 50 to 60 more. Not enough. Wires and fires all over the place. Smoke too. A brave man was fighting a fire with the emergency hose. I stopped with two friends to make sure that everyone from our office was accounted for. We ushered them and confused people into the stairwell. In retrospect, I recall seeing Harry, my head trader, doing the same several yards behind me. I am only 35. I have known him for over 14 years.

I headed into the stairwell with 2 friends. We were moving down very orderly in Stair Case A. Very slowly. No panic. At least not overt panic. My legs could not stop shaking. My heart was pounding. Some nervous jokes and laughter. I made a crack about ruining a brand new pair of Merrells. Even still, they were right, my feet felt great. We all laughed. We checked our cell phones. Surprisingly, there was a very good signal, but the Sprint network was jammed. I heard that the Blackberry 2 way email devices worked perfectly. On the phones, 1 out of 20 dial attempts got through. I knew I could not reach my wife so I called my parents. I told them what happened and that we were all okay and on the way down. Soon, my sister in law reached me. I told her we were fine and moving down. I believe that was about the 65th floor. We were bored and nervous. I called my friend Angel in San Francisco. I knew he would be watching. He was amazed I was on the phone. He told me to get out that there was another plane on its way. I did not know what he was talking about. By now the second plane had struck Tower 2. We were so deep into the middle of our building that we did not hear or feel anything. We had no idea what was really going on. We kept making way for wounded to go down ahead of us. Not many of them, just a few. No one seemed seriously wounded. Just some cuts and scrapes.

Everyone cooperated. Everyone was a hero yesterday. No questions asked. I had co-workers in another office on the 77th floor. I tried dozens of times to get them on their cell phones or office lines. It was futile. Later I found that they were alive. One of the many miracles on a day of tragedy. On the 53rd floor we came across a very heavyset man sitting on the stairs. I asked if he needed help or was he just resting. He needed help. I knew I would have trouble carrying him because I have a very bad back. But my friend and I offered anyway. We told him he could lean on us. He hesitated, I don't know why. I said do you want to come or do you want us to send help for you. He chose help. I told him he was on the 53rd floor in Stairwell A and that's what I would tell the rescue workers. He said okay and we left. On the 44th floor my phone rang again. It was my parents. They were hysterical. I said relax, I'm fine. My father said to get out, there is a third plane coming. I still did not understand. I was kind of angry. What did my parents think? Like I needed some other reason to get going? I couldn't move the thousand people in front of me any faster. I know they love me, but no one inside understood what the situation really was. My parents did.

Starting around this floor the firemen, the policemen, WTC K-9 units without the dogs, anyone with a badge, started coming up as we were heading down. I stopped a lot of them and told them about the man on 53 and my friend on 87. I later felt terrible about this. They headed up to find those people and met death instead. On the 33rd floor I spoke with a man who somehow knew most of the details. He said 2 small planes hit the building. Now we all started talking about which terrorist group it was. Was it an internal organization or an external one? The overwhelming but uninformed opinion was Islamic Fanatics. Regardless, we now knew that it was not a bomb and there were potentially more planes coming. We understood. On the 3rd floor the lights went out and we heard and felt this rumbling coming towards us from above. I thought the staircase was collapsing upon itself. It was 10 am now and that was Tower 2 collapsing next door. We did not know that. Someone had a flashlight. We passed it forward and left the stairwell and headed down a dark and cramped corridor to an exit. We could not see at all. I recommended that everyone place a hand on the shoulder of the person in front of them and call out if they hit an obstacle so others would know to avoid it. They did. It worked perfectly. We reached another stairwell and saw a female officer emerge soaking wet and covered in soot. She said we could not go that way it was blocked. Go up to 4 and use the other exit. Just as we started up she said it was ok to go down instead. There was water everywhere. I called out for hands on shoulders again and she said that was a great idea. She stayed behind instructing people to do that. I do not know what happened to her.

We emerged into an enormous room. It was light but filled with smoke. I commented to a friend that it must be under construction. Then we realized where we were. It was the second floor. The one that overlooks the lobby. We were ushered out into the courtyard, the one where the fountain used to be. My first thought was of a TV movie I saw once about nuclear winter and fallout. I could not understand where all of the debris came from. There was at least five inches of this gray pasty dusty drywall soot on the ground as well as a thickness of it in the air. Twisted steel and wires. I heard there were bodies and body parts as well, but I did not look. It was bad enough. We hid under the remaining overhangs and moved out to the street. We were told to keep walking towards Houston Street. The odd thing is that there were very few rescue workers around. Less than five. They all must have been trapped under the debris when Tower 2 fell. We did not know that and could not understand where all of that debris came from.

It was just my friend Kern and I now. We were hugging but sad. We felt certain that most of our friends ahead of us died and we knew no one behind us. We came upon a post office several blocks away. We stopped and looked up. Our building, exactly where our office is (was), was engulfed in flame and smoke. A postal worker said that Tower 2 had fallen down. I looked again and sure enough it was gone. My heart was racing. We kept trying to call our families. I could not get in touch with my wife. Finally I got through to my parents. Relieved is not the word to explain their feelings. They got through to my wife, thank God and let her know I was alive. We sat down. A girl on a bike offered us some water. Just as she took the cap off her bottle we heard a rumble. We looked up and our building, Tower 1, collapsed. I did not note the time but I am told it was 10:30am. We had been out less than 15 minutes. We were mourning our lost friends, particularly the one who stayed in the office as we were now sure that he had perished.

We started walking towards Union Square. I was going to Beth Israel Medical Center to be looked at. We stopped to hear the President speaking on the radio. My phone rang. It was my wife. I think I fell to my knees crying when I heard her voice. Then she told me the most incredible thing. My partner who had stayed behind called her. He was alive and well. I guess we just lost him in the commotion. We started jumping and hugging and shouting. I told my wife that my brother had arranged for a hotel in midtown. He can be very resourceful in that way. I told her I would call her from there. My brother and I managed to get a gypsy cab to take us home to Westchester instead. I cried on my son and held my wife until I fell asleep. As it turns out my partner, the one I thought had stayed behind was behind us with Harry Ramos, our head trader. This is now second hand information. They came upon Victor, the heavyset man on the 53rd floor. They helped him. He could barely move. My partner bravely/stupidly tested the elevator on the 52nd floor. He rode it down to the sky lobby on 44. The doors opened, it was fine. He rode it back up and got Harry and Victor. I don't yet know if anyone else joined them. Once on 44 they made their way back into the stairwell. Someplace around the 39th to 36th floors they felt the same rumble I felt on the 3rd floor. It was 10am and Tower 2 was coming down. They had about 30 minutes to get out. Victor said he could no longer move. They offered to have him lean on them. He said he couldn't do it. My partner hollered at him to sit on his butt and schooch down the steps. He said he was not capable of doing it. Harry told my partner to go ahead of them. Harry once had a heart attack and was worried about this man's heart. It was his nature to be this way. He was/is one of the kindest people I know. He would not leave a man behind. My partner went ahead and made it out. He said he was out maybe 10 minutes before the building came down. This means that Harry had maybe 25 minutes to move Victor 36 floors. I guess they moved 1 floor every 1.5 minutes. Just a guess. This means Harry was around the 20th floor when the building collapsed. As of now 12 of 13 people are accounted for. As of 6pm yesterday his wife had not heard from him. I fear that Harry is lost. However, a short while ago I heard that he may be alive. Apparently there is a web site with survivors' names on it and his name appears there.Unfortunately, Ramos is not an uncommon name in New York. Pray for him and all those like him.

With regards to the firemen heading upstairs, I realize that they were going up anyway. But, it hurts to know that I may have made them move quicker to find my friend. Rationally, I know this is not true and that I am not the responsible one. The responsible ones are in hiding somewhere on this planet and damn them for making me feel like this. But they should know that they failed in terrorizing us. We were calm. Those men and women that went up were heroes in the face of it all. They must have known what was going on and they did their jobs. Ordinary people were heroes too. Today the images that people around the world equate with power and democracy are gone but "America" is not an image it is a concept. That concept is only strengthened by our pulling together as a team. If you want to kill us, leave us alone because we will do it by ourselves. If you want to make us stronger, attack and we unite. This is the ultimate failure of terrorism against The United States and the ultimate price we pay to be free, to decide where we want to work, what we want to eat, and when and where we want to go on vacation. The very moment the first plane was hijacked, democracy won.

Patrick D. O'Toole Story

Contributed by: Patrick D. O'Toole

Contributor's location on 9/11: Working In WTC # 1 on the 23rd Floor For Empire Blue Cross

Contributed on: July 29, 2002

The September 11 Digital Archive,



My Story is as Follows
I was working that morning in WTC # 1 on the 23rd floor when the 1st plane hit, like everyone on our floor I was taken by what was first the Crash of the plane & then the Explosion it sent Through the Building. At that time I did not know it was a plane that caused the explosion so I had no fear because I felt the explosion was above us and new we had to get out. My first reaction was to make sure no one panicked being one of the fire wardens of the floor I made sure everyone got off the floor in an orderly fashion. There were some people who sat at their desk waiting for word on what to do however I assured them that the best thing to do was to get out. Some women was on the floor praying as I picked her up I told her the best thing to do would be to pray in the Stairs going down, I also had to stop the Stock delivery Guy from trying to get his stock wagon out through the doors. That was mainly it. I went around the floor 1 more time & checked both bathrooms to make sure I was the last one on that floor. Then I made my descend down to the lobby which is when I came across a man on the 20th floor who was having a asthmatic attack he didn’t want to move. The Fireman asked if 2 men could volunteer to carry this man down so I volunteered as one of those Men. We carried him to the Lobby were he then said he can walk on his own then the other man left so he used my shoulder to lean on as we went through the lobby to get outside. It was then when he dropped his pump that a cop came over to help that I asked the Cop what happened he then told me that someone flew a plane into WTC 1 and just 10 minutes ago someone just did it to WTC # 2 also. So as I was in the staircase another plane hit tower 2. Now as I was leaving the trade center through borders bookstore a daily news photographer took a picture of me with the man I carried down. & I didn’t know this picture was available in a gallery at 420 east 9th street with other pictures of that day until a friend of mine noticed it in a store by the trade center in March of 2002. Now Because of this picture I was able to find out who the man was because on that day I just brought him to a ambulance on Broadway and they took care of him and I just went home by the way of the Brooklyn Bridge. The man works for the same company as me, I didn’t know him I just came down and saw someone and helped him. His name is William Garrido I called him in April and he was pleased to here from me and very grateful of me for helping him that day. Getting back to that day I also want to say that as I was quarter way going over the bridge that Tower 2 collapsed and by the time I arrived to the Brooklyn side of the Bridge the other building was history too. My first thing was to go to my wife’s job so she knew I was Ok I had no way of getting in touch with her other wise. She was so happy to see me and we both went home to get our kids who were in school at the time and to assure or families that I was OK.


Cite as: Patrick D. O'Toole, Image #502, The September 11 Digital Archive, 29 July 2002, .

250 Images--The Missing Person's Fliers From September 11th, 2001

Louis Nevaer Photo by Ronald J Colleran, Buffalo News
Nevaer graduated from Cornell University with a degree in economics in 1984.

Bronston Jones

Jones is a stand-up comedian, and a television producer and director. His only credits as a photographer relate to his work after 9/11 concerning the missing persons posters.

Deconstructing the phony elements from within the narrative of the U.S. government-sponsored fraud known as "the day 19 Muslim terrorists flew large Boeings into buildings, is simple once you know where to look. In an entirely bogus work of fiction undertaken by second-rate operatives, you simply have to look absolutely everywhere.

One much publicized detail of the narrative consisted of Kinko's-photocopied missing-person's fliers that went up all over Manhattan in the days after September 11th. I've collected 250 images here of those displays.

A panoramic set of four zoom-able images depicting the Lexington Avenue Armory exterior lined with posters and fliers---but not at a resolution high enough to make out names. This was the original display.






SSG Raul Echevarria, NYARNG, Image #1493


A close second to the Armory, in terms of original storyboard legitimacy, was the display erected at Saint Vincent's Hospital.

Saint Vincent's Hospital

But Park Avenue South?

Park Avenue South?

Gary Taustine, Image # 2223 Still missing on November 22nd 2001, corner of East 26th and Park Avenue South.

More bad use of crafting materials.




Long line of missing person fliers outside NYU's Greenberg Hall.

NYU Medical Center Wall photographed by Bronston Jones

"The outside of the New York University Medical Center became wallpapered in 'missing' fliers as families converged on the hospital seeking information about their loved ones.

"Family members were given a list of hospitals across the city which had admitted victims on September 11. Each of these hospitals was covered in fliers as family members moved from one to the next."

Eventually, the theme became completely corrupted. As in the Wall of Prayers and the Mural of Hope displays.

Wall of Prayers/ Mural of Hope

Paul Elgert, Image #891 Wall of Prayers, Bellevue Hospital, 27th St. and First Ave. NYC.

Swarming Locusts Cover News Vans

Times Square Subway station.

"Times Square Subway Station", photographed by Bronston Jones

"The subway station at 42 Street, beneath Times Square, became a haunting memorial.

"Because many subway lines intersect here, families hoped that the busy flow of pedestrians would alert as many people as possible that they were looking for any information about their loved ones. Busy commuters would take the time to stop and look at the faces of their missing neighbors."

Michael Jones, Image #1875




13 images likely of co-conspiring family members. The last image has a display noted as "Missing Persons Wall," lest there be any confusion.

Photos of Actual Family Members

"Praying at the Armory Wall" photographed by Bronston Jones

"The Armory on Lexington Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets housed the initial Family Assistance Center. As families waited in line to officially report their loved one missing, the walls of the Armory and adjacent buildings became covered in fliers. After a couple weeks the Family Center was moved from the Armory, but the fliers remained.

"New Yorkers and visitors alike began visiting the Armory Wall to pay their respects to the victims and to share in the pain. Orange County, CA Sheriff Chaplain Harley Broviak shares a prayer with two women along the wall on the side of the Armory. Sights such as this weren't uncommon throughout the city."

Ken Diaz near First Avenue hospitals, looking for his cousin.




The Smithsonian Museum trots this unnamed man out in a photograph taken by Donald Lokuta for some vicsim reassurance. He may be Elferis's uncle, in which case we can call him at 917-449-5219. Otherwise, we can reach his mother at 718-888-3319.
Elferis Family Foundation
P.O Box 560426
College Point NY 11356-0426
Phone Numbers:
Tel: 718-359-9926
Fa: 212-333-8949
Email Address: brian@elferisfamilyfoundation.com
Organization Officers:
President: Robert Elferis
Vice President: Anthony Moreno
2nd Vice President: Rick King
Secretary: Elizabeth Wild
Treasurer: Brian McLoughltin
Sgt. of Arms: Joseph Elferis






15 images showing the unlikely choice of attaching paper fliers to various types of fencing.

Fences

Missing Posters Pasted onto Advertising, Often Bus Stop Shelters

Only two images to be found showing missing person's posters down at the Wall Street area.

Wall Street

Phone Booths

Absurdities

The "Please Find My Daddy" Ploy

Union Square

Washington Square Park

wtc_1 Image by Simon Jones

terror 92


terror 91

terror 90


Why were so many of the names seen in this montage below begin with the letter P. Since it isn't clear from looking at the illustration if this is an original assemblage, or if it represents a remounting for historical preservation.


pt54 Peter Turnley

pt25 Peter Turnley

Olga Maryschuk, Image #199, Sept. 17, 2001. Schoolgirls on the SW corner of 14th St. and Avenue A, NYC.

Anonymous, Image #1850

911_37

The original missing persons fliers line the wall of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, located at Liberty St. next to Ladder 10.

Fire Department Displays

Give Blood

Arlington Virgina

Myrna Jacobs, Image #2624 A display in Las Vegas with Mardi Gras beads adornment.
United Airlines Flight 175 Passenger List


An exhibit at the McGreggor Grill in 2005.

An exhibit at the McGreggor Grill in 2005.



"America Weeps" photograph by Bronston Jones

"In the days after September 11 the city became covered in missing person fliers. Soon it rained---the ink began to run, the colors began to fade, and the paper began to tear. Bronston saw this flier on his first day in New York.

"This photograph of the flag 'crying' as an unidentifiable young man's face washes away has become a compelling symbol of America's grief. Many visitors to the exhibit have compared this image to Arlington's 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.' The man in the flier has come to represent all we lost.

"As much as this image represents grief and mourning, this flier has also come to represent hope. Each of the fliers was a sign of hope. Each of the families hoped with all their heart that someone would recognize the face in the picture as someone they saw on the street. This family's hope was realized-- they found their son.

"About a week after this photograph was taken, the young man was found alive and well. Because of the difficulties communicating in and out of the city, his family could not contact their son.. After a week with no word, his father traveled to New York to report him missing. Days later, a reporter ran his picture in the newspaper, a policeman recognized him on the street, and they contacted his father. Their hopes were realized.

"This is the only flier in this exhibit where this is the case."