|
|
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
|
| |
March
2006
Volume
10 - Number 2 |
|
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 was a gorgeous fall day.
I remember walking to work that morning and thinking how clear blue the sky
was and what a great day it would be to play hooky from work. Most likely,
as I was boarding the metro train to go to work in downtown Washington, DC
the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York. I arrived at
work and struck by the eerie calm in the office. There was no one hurrying
to make an early morning meeting or getting a last minute deadline met.
In fact, there was no one in the office that I could see at all. I
walked over to a colleague’s desk to inquire where everyone was that morning.
I walked past the president’s office and the entire office was huddled around
the television in her office. Someone mentioned that a plane had hit
one of the buildings in New York. At that moment, I chuckled and thought
what idiotic person would fly their plane into a building. With this
gorgeous weather, how could they miss seeing a hundred-story building?
I logged on to the Internet to read more about this developing story in New
York. I noticed a breaking news story that another plane had hit the
other tower. I went back to the television and the news broke off to
a speech by the President, who was at a school down in Florida; the camera
caught an aid whispering into his ear, the President made a brief statement
on the situation, and whisked off onto Air Force One. At that moment,
everyone in the office knew something was not right. I returned to my
office and tried to call my mother at work to see what she knew. I
was unable to make a connection because all circuits were busy. I tried
my cell phone and was able to reach her and let her know that I was safe.
That was the last call I was able to make out of the city that day.
Reports and rumors began swirling around the city about a car bomb near the
State Department, the metro system shutting down, and an explosion at the
Pentagon. The news media confirmed the attack on the Pentagon and suddenly
the fire alarm in the building went off. We evacuated the building
and learned that the city was evacuating due to concerns of terrorism.
With the metro system shut down, I had to catch a ride with a colleague.
We spent the next few hours just trying to get out of the city, with all
sorts of law enforcement and emergency vehicles racing around the city.
I spent the rest of that day and the next few days glued to the television
following news updates and listening to F-16’s fly low over the area providing
security. I like many other Americans felt the need to do something,
to make a difference. In November, I made the decision to join the
local Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad to help when the next disaster struck.
This was a decision that changed my life inexorably. I have now been
with the squad for over four years. I have made life long friends,
had experiences of a lifetime, and met my future wife. Out of the darkness
of that day in September 2001 came a light that will shine on my life forever.
|