story2215.xml

story2215.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

Following was an email I sent to my friends and family as an account of what I witnessed on that day:

I live four blocks east of the World Trade Center and was awakened today by the sound of a massive explosion followed by what seemed like hundreds of people screaming. I rushed to my window to see if I could see what happened. Although I could see the reflection of people running down the street, I could not ascertain what had happened. At first I was thinking there had been a major car crash or something.

When it finally occurred to me to turn on the TV, I was shocked to see the smoldering World Trade Center. Then, minutes later, as I heard the motor overhead, I witnessed the second plane crash into the tower not really believing what I was experiencing while simultaneously watching this horrible event unfold on TV.

I tried to call my Aunt who works near Grand Central but the line was busy. I must have been in shock because all I could think to do was get dressed and run outside to take pictures. As I tried to dress, phone call after phone call from my family started coming through. These calls, thankfully, kept me from being outside when the first tower collapsed.

What I heard is almost indescribable. The ground and building rumbled, the sound indistinguishable as an explosion or crash and the easily identifiable sound of screams. This time I ran to the window and threw it open to look down the street. What I saw was what I can only describe as an avalanche of ash and smoke barreling down the street and people running to stay ahead of it.

When I saw this ball of ash rolling toward me I slammed down the window and ran to the opposite side of my apartment and hid below the kitchen counter. For the first time in my life I was actually terrified ? I thought sure that the force of the debris was going to blow out the windows.

Within a minute, my building and street were engulfed in a thick cloud of white smoke. Fortunately I remained safe. After a few seconds I realized that some of my windows were open and I rushed to close them when I became aware that smoke was streaming in the apartment. Needless to say, I chose not to venture outside.

Still concerned about my safety and wanting to know whether it was best to stay in my apartment or attempt to evacuate, I went to my lobby in search of information. I assumed it would be safer to take the stairs but found the stairwell filled with debris that was still falling. I took the elevator to the lobby and found it filled with dust and ash and the street in front of my building covered in rubble. I saw people walking by that were completely dusted in ash from head to toe.

I returned to my apartment after determining that it was the safest place to stay only to have the entire incident repeated by the collapse of the second tower. The only difference this time was that the cloud of smoke was pitch black. And again I saw rubble fall from the sky when 7 WTC finally fell this evening. I could even make out what looked to be a take out menu floating down to the street. I have been without power since 7 WTC fell, which I think was about 5:30 pm, it's 11 pm now.

I attempted to leave to stay with my Aunt on the Upper West Side, but by the time I got through to transit to find out what forms of transportation were available and gather some things it had gotten dark. There were no trains running for blocks and night had fallen.

When I got outside, the air was still so thick with dust I could barely breath. No one was outside save a few police officers and a few others trying to leave. With the power out it was darker than any other night in recent memory. The cops available were more angry than helpful as I inquired about the best route out of the neighborhood. I abandoned the attempt to leave after walking just two blocks.

I am currently safe at home typing this note on my trusty battery powered Powerbook with modem while listening to streaming coverage from ABC. I have about an hour of battery life left. I am illuminated by candlelight...a gift from a friend.

As I have commented to you all many times since I have lived in downtown Manhattan, it had been a most incredible experience to live in the shadow of the World Trade Center. I often looked up to it for encouragement as I made my way up the street to get to work, and I used to relish the private moments I was able to enjoy there on a quite Sunday morning.

I'll never be able to do this again...

I was able to evacuate the area the next morning where I along with other "urban refugees" dragged a suitcase and my cat out of lower Manhattan, out of the "war zone" ... Coincidentally, the lease on my apartment was up 9/30, but it took another full month before I was able to arrange for the move out of the neighborhood. I currently reside in Harlem.