nmah695.xml

nmah695.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-30

I worked for the fery from NJ. As Operations Manager, I was notified immediately when the first plane hit. I was on the next boat out to the World Finanacial Center. (Across 12th street from the towers.) I stayed there coordinating the boats the entire time. I heard a call come out on my handheld marine radio, "GETOUTGETOUT!!!, IT'S COMMIN DOWN, THE F'N THING IS COMING DOWN!" We were so close to the financial center that we couldn't see the towers, and didn't know wether or not they were tumbling our way. We just stood there looking up at the side of the mercantile exchange building to see if they were coming over the top at us.
When the first tower collapsed the cloud came right up to the terminal, but the wind blew it back before it came over us. When the second (North) tower fell, the cloud did envelope us. Like everyone else, there was nothing to do about it, it was everywhere. After the second tower fell, no one else was coming to the ferry. They all headed North. I worked my way over to Pier 11 where the evacuation continued.
I coordinated that effort for a few hours. I really don't remember exactly what else I did that day, but I ran emergency services and gov't workers around the rest of the day and night. Everyone kept looking for the injured, but it became apparent very early on that either you were okay, or dead. It was pretty grim. I didn't stop until about 11am the next day. Frankly, I couldn't have slept if I wanted to.
While on Pier 11 that day, a US Marshal told me that there was SERIN on the planes. I didn't know what it was, but he said that, "If it got you, it's over. Within 36 hours, we could all be dead." (Thus my problem sleeping that night.) I later spoke to one of the executives from the company who had been working with OEM, and the Feds, and he confirmed that there was indeed SERIN on the planes, and that indeed, "By dinner tomorrow night, we could all be dead."
I went into the office, and called my sons Daniel & Joseph, I told them that I love them, and always would. I did not mention the situation, but told them that I loved them over & over and how proud I am of them, until I was satisfied they KNEW IT. I then called my brother and asked him to look after them. Then I went back to work shuttling people around until about 11 am.

I no longer work for that ferry from NJ. Facing my mortality twice that day kind of altered my approach to life, and how I was willing to live it. Life's too short for what I was doing there. I now run my own business. i am not getting rich, but getting by. At least now I am proud of what I do every day. I am with the woman I love doing a job I love. As it should be.

The New Yorkers. That was the most organized fire drill I ever saw in my life. Only it was for real. NYers kept their cool, and became one huge compassionate village, even if only for a while. It was a thing of true beauty.

Every day. I was never a flag waver, in fact I had a long list of things I didn't like about our Gov't, but after the 11th, the priority came to the surface. It's still THE BEST THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN! Yeah it can get better, but it could be a HELL of a lot worse.