story6218.xml

story6218.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I was a NYC Detective on September 11, 2001. I had worked very late the evening before and my husband had let me sleep while he got the kids ready for school. He had turned on the tv and saw that a plane had struck the Trade Center. He ran up the stairs to wake me up. Both myself and my husband were both Police Officers in the First Precinct and that is where we met. I sat on my couch watching . I watched in complete horror as the towers fell, and then the phone rang it was my office. We had been mobilized into Manhattan. I ran upstairs and threw clothes on and jumped into my tenants car with him. He is presently a Police Officer at the First Precinct. We began our treck into the city. As we crossed the Verrazano Bridge the pure shock set in, all i could see was smoke but no Towers. When we got to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel we showed our ID cards and were let into the tunnel. About a quarter of the way into the tunnel we ran into heavy smoke inside and were completely unable to see in front of us or behind us. Matt proceded to drive slowly hoping not to hit the side walls or another vehicle. We finally made it through the tunnel and when we exited at the other side i just couldnt believe my eyes. I had worked in this Precinct for 7 years, i had met my husband there and I knew the area like the back of my hand, but i just couldnt fathom what i was seeing. We stood on West Street in soot and papers that were up to my ankles. Papers and debris were hanging from trees, building windows were completely shattered and the whole city was blanketed in a hugh layer of dust and soot. I began to cry knowing that this was total devistation. We proceeded to walk up toward the WTC and as we got closer we could see the hugh steel just standing out of the rubble of where the WTC buildings had once stood. We saw an engine from a plane just sitting a few blocks from the site. I stood there in complete silence just looking at the carnage ahead of me. A construction worker walked up to me and gave me a respirator for my mouth and a pair of goggles for my eyes. I was already caked in dust in just minutes. I wasnt in uniform that day but i was wearing a NYPD wind breaker. I was trying to compose myself as to this horror. I saw my neighbor who had just finished the Fire Academy and this was his first call. I hugged him and told him "If this is your first call, then you better quit for something safer." We both hugged and laughed. We walked up the rubble and stood in a bucket brigade passing buckets from one to another. I was totally numb and the tears just ran down my face. As we were standing there a very loud roar started and everyone started running and screaming. Seven World Trade Center was collapsing. I ran as fast as my legs would take me. I watched as the building disappeared from the skyline. I sat on the ground and prayed to God. A Fireman walked up to me and kneeled in front of me, he put his hand in his pocket and handed me a piece of hard candy. My mouth was so dry and caked with dirt. I just remember looking at him as i took the piece of candy and put it into my mouth. He helped me back to my feet and we all walked back to begin passing buckets again. Pieces of peoples lives were being passed by in these buckets and if i spotted a picture or something i would put it in my pocket until i could turn it in. You could hear a pin drop as we all stood cop,fireman,red cross, volunteers all lined up to help out. At some times the rubble would become unstable and they would sound a horn and yell for everyone to RUN. We would all run but as soon as it was ok we were all back again standing in line passing buckets again. It was one of the Scariest days not only of my life but of my entire Police Career. After many hours and early into the morning we were told to go home as they brought in re enforcements. We were taken to an area where a fireman was standing on a small ladder with a firehose and one at a time we were completely hosed down. I could feel the soot caking up in my hair and on my body almost like cement. We drove home in silence. I couldnt wait to get home just to kiss my two children and let them know how much i loved them. I sat up the rest of the morning watching on tv what was going on, i couldnt take my eyes off of it. I had to be back in the city in another few hours. They put us on 12 hours shifts, 12 hours at the site and 12 hours off. I dont think that i will ever be able to forget this day as long as i am alive.....After many months working at Ground Zero I retired on February 28, 2001. I was one of the LUCKY ONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!