story1322.xml
Title
story1322.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-08-20
911DA Story: Story
September 11, 2001
By: Donna R. Berkes
Phoenix, AZ
I was visiting my son, Chris who lives on Long Island, for my first trip to NY and having a great vacation. I had been to the WTC almost daily during my 10 days in NY.
On 9-11, Chris left his place shortly before I did. I was on the subway on my way to finish my visit at the Holocaust Museum when it stopped one stop before the WTC. No one can understand anything being said over the speakers in the subway. Finally, everyone started getting off. Walking out onto the street, I heard that a plane had flown into the WTC. I thought ?what a horrific accident, a pilot flying a small plane has made a terrible mistake?. So, I kept walking south toward Battery Park and the museum.
Somewhere along the way, I learned that another plane had flown into the other tower. Obviously, this was not an accident! I continued walking south trying to get to Chris? building (1 Financial Center?across the street from the north tower) to make sure he was safe. I didn?t know if he was in the subway stop at the WTC, in the mall getting a bagel, walking across the bridge between the WTC and the Financial Center (where they later found bodies) or already at his desk.
People had their car radios on and I learned that two more planes were missing. Sometime after this, I heard a plane overhead. I ducked trying to see which way to run. By the time I heard the next plane, I looked up and saw that it was one of our fighter planes, patrolling the NY skies.
Then I heard screaming and someone saying one of the towers was falling down. Was it falling down on Chris? building? Had he gotten out of his building and was he helping hurt people at the WTC site? I decided to walk west to see if I could see the street where his building was located. Maybe he would be running up that street.
There was so much smoke, ash and pulverized concrete blowing. Although I was not in the hurricane wind, it was still blowing. The particles were beating into my legs. Why did I choose this day to wear a dress? I couldn?t breath. It must be chemical warfare because I had never smelled this before. I put a tissue over my mouth and nose.
People were running by covered in ash/concrete particles, bleeding and screaming. What should I do? The other building fell. Emergency vehicles were everywhere. They were evacuating people out of their homes. Some had their pets with them.
Where was Chris? meeting? Had he told me? Needless to say, my cell phone was not working so I could not call him. Finally, I found a working pay phone and got a call out to my Mother in Texas to let them know I was okay. Was I okay? I wasn?t bleeding, so I must be okay.
At some point I learned what happened to the other planes.
The buses were being used for rescue workers. The cabs were all gone. Where do NY cabs go, there are millions of them? The subway was closed. The train stations were closed. How will I get back to Long Island? What to do? So, I sat down on the sidewalk.
I decided I should go back to Penn Station. Surely there would be a police officer who could tell me where the YMCA was or a church where I could stay the night. How will Chris know I?m okay? Is he okay?
I couldn?t breathe. After hours of walking, a bar where I could get a coke and a bottle of water. So good. Keep walking.
Finally, the station. They had just reopened the Long Island Rail Road. No schedule. I got on one, not going to New Hyde Park, but at least going to LI. It was packed with people, smelled terrible, no air. How did any people survive the train rides during WWII? It was about an hour before the train started moving. Oh, I recognize the name of this station. I?ll get off here. Maybe I can get a cab to NHP. Wait, there?s no station, just rows of tracks and platforms. Where?s the street, so I can get a cab? Thankfully, they?re announcing a train to NHP and I jump on it. Get to Chris? apartment. Thank God, his car is gone. He would not have driven to work in downtown Manhattan, so his meeting must have been out of the office.
Called Mother and learned that Chris had called them shortly after I did. He was in a meeting in Brooklyn. Everyone knew we were safe, except me.
The horrible sights, the horrible smell, the horrible fear of losing Chris, my best friend. I will never be the same again. My ticket to the WTC observation deck will not be used.
I will never again be the person I was on September 10, 2001.
By: Donna R. Berkes
Phoenix, AZ
I was visiting my son, Chris who lives on Long Island, for my first trip to NY and having a great vacation. I had been to the WTC almost daily during my 10 days in NY.
On 9-11, Chris left his place shortly before I did. I was on the subway on my way to finish my visit at the Holocaust Museum when it stopped one stop before the WTC. No one can understand anything being said over the speakers in the subway. Finally, everyone started getting off. Walking out onto the street, I heard that a plane had flown into the WTC. I thought ?what a horrific accident, a pilot flying a small plane has made a terrible mistake?. So, I kept walking south toward Battery Park and the museum.
Somewhere along the way, I learned that another plane had flown into the other tower. Obviously, this was not an accident! I continued walking south trying to get to Chris? building (1 Financial Center?across the street from the north tower) to make sure he was safe. I didn?t know if he was in the subway stop at the WTC, in the mall getting a bagel, walking across the bridge between the WTC and the Financial Center (where they later found bodies) or already at his desk.
People had their car radios on and I learned that two more planes were missing. Sometime after this, I heard a plane overhead. I ducked trying to see which way to run. By the time I heard the next plane, I looked up and saw that it was one of our fighter planes, patrolling the NY skies.
Then I heard screaming and someone saying one of the towers was falling down. Was it falling down on Chris? building? Had he gotten out of his building and was he helping hurt people at the WTC site? I decided to walk west to see if I could see the street where his building was located. Maybe he would be running up that street.
There was so much smoke, ash and pulverized concrete blowing. Although I was not in the hurricane wind, it was still blowing. The particles were beating into my legs. Why did I choose this day to wear a dress? I couldn?t breath. It must be chemical warfare because I had never smelled this before. I put a tissue over my mouth and nose.
People were running by covered in ash/concrete particles, bleeding and screaming. What should I do? The other building fell. Emergency vehicles were everywhere. They were evacuating people out of their homes. Some had their pets with them.
Where was Chris? meeting? Had he told me? Needless to say, my cell phone was not working so I could not call him. Finally, I found a working pay phone and got a call out to my Mother in Texas to let them know I was okay. Was I okay? I wasn?t bleeding, so I must be okay.
At some point I learned what happened to the other planes.
The buses were being used for rescue workers. The cabs were all gone. Where do NY cabs go, there are millions of them? The subway was closed. The train stations were closed. How will I get back to Long Island? What to do? So, I sat down on the sidewalk.
I decided I should go back to Penn Station. Surely there would be a police officer who could tell me where the YMCA was or a church where I could stay the night. How will Chris know I?m okay? Is he okay?
I couldn?t breathe. After hours of walking, a bar where I could get a coke and a bottle of water. So good. Keep walking.
Finally, the station. They had just reopened the Long Island Rail Road. No schedule. I got on one, not going to New Hyde Park, but at least going to LI. It was packed with people, smelled terrible, no air. How did any people survive the train rides during WWII? It was about an hour before the train started moving. Oh, I recognize the name of this station. I?ll get off here. Maybe I can get a cab to NHP. Wait, there?s no station, just rows of tracks and platforms. Where?s the street, so I can get a cab? Thankfully, they?re announcing a train to NHP and I jump on it. Get to Chris? apartment. Thank God, his car is gone. He would not have driven to work in downtown Manhattan, so his meeting must have been out of the office.
Called Mother and learned that Chris had called them shortly after I did. He was in a meeting in Brooklyn. Everyone knew we were safe, except me.
The horrible sights, the horrible smell, the horrible fear of losing Chris, my best friend. I will never be the same again. My ticket to the WTC observation deck will not be used.
I will never again be the person I was on September 10, 2001.
Collection
Citation
“story1322.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 6, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/3597.