story8444.xml
Title
story8444.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-10-16
911DA Story: Story
I had the day off from work since I returned from the Dominican Republic on the 10th. I slept through the first plane crash, but was very quickly awakened by the endless stream of fire engines heading toward the Brooklyn Bridge.
Sirens are a part of the landscape in NYC, but these were different. They just kept on coming. NY1, the local cable news channel would know whats happening, but I was not prepared for what I saw. Smoke billowing from one of the WTC towers.
I quickly threw on some jeans and a shirt and ran out to our patio that had a view of the towers. Holy cow!
In a panic, I finished dressing, grabbed my camera, and made my way up four flights to the roof, where I found a small group of fellow tennants had already gathered. No one said a word to me as I joined them. The second plane had just hit seconds before. One of guys on the roof was crying, talking on a cell phone and taking pictures all at the same time. It turns out he worked on the100th floor of tower 1 and was running late for work.
I remained on the roof for the next few hours. Taking pictures of both collapses. The smoke, dust and paper debris eventually filled the sky over Brooklyn. The radio had all of our attention, reporting on the strikes in DC and Pennsylvania. Raising fears that we were in for more at any moment.
Paper from the countless destroyed offices, the edges charred and curled like old pirate maps, began reigning down on us as F16's added to the surrealness of the morning sky.
All these lives destroyed before my eyes.
For what?
I have spent countless hours trying to figure out what the terrorists will get out of killing these innocent people.
They are stupid and selfish and I wish to god that I could get my hands on them.
God help us.
Sirens are a part of the landscape in NYC, but these were different. They just kept on coming. NY1, the local cable news channel would know whats happening, but I was not prepared for what I saw. Smoke billowing from one of the WTC towers.
I quickly threw on some jeans and a shirt and ran out to our patio that had a view of the towers. Holy cow!
In a panic, I finished dressing, grabbed my camera, and made my way up four flights to the roof, where I found a small group of fellow tennants had already gathered. No one said a word to me as I joined them. The second plane had just hit seconds before. One of guys on the roof was crying, talking on a cell phone and taking pictures all at the same time. It turns out he worked on the100th floor of tower 1 and was running late for work.
I remained on the roof for the next few hours. Taking pictures of both collapses. The smoke, dust and paper debris eventually filled the sky over Brooklyn. The radio had all of our attention, reporting on the strikes in DC and Pennsylvania. Raising fears that we were in for more at any moment.
Paper from the countless destroyed offices, the edges charred and curled like old pirate maps, began reigning down on us as F16's added to the surrealness of the morning sky.
All these lives destroyed before my eyes.
For what?
I have spent countless hours trying to figure out what the terrorists will get out of killing these innocent people.
They are stupid and selfish and I wish to god that I could get my hands on them.
God help us.
Collection
Citation
“story8444.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 1, 2026, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/14120.