nmah1424.xml

nmah1424.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-06

Today was a nice day for me having used a newly minted
security pass to enter the WTC and meeting successfully
with representatives of the Port Authority of NY & NJ
on a very exciting environmental project. I have been a
government administrator for 30 years and having reached a
significant level of management felt proud as I left the
building. The meeting was on the 62nd floor. The day was
September 10, 2001. The meeting ended at 5 PM.
The next day two of us were on an early train
to Newark, NJ for a meeting. As we always did we were
watching the construction of the new train station near
the Newark Airport. My traveling companion, gazing upward
into the very beautiful morning sky said, "Hey look at that
cloud above the WTC, it looks like its attached".
We saw the first smoke.
Moments later an announcement on the train that the PATH was
closed....most people mumbled because their transportation
to work was going to be interrupted. As we entered the
Newark train station people were saying that a plane had
struck the WTC...no one gave it much thought thinking that
it was an errant pipercub or something. As we walked out
of the station to our meeting location still there was no
panic. As we entered the office building, all hell broke out
...secretarys were crying...office workers were trying to
call out or check the internet for information. The
situation was unfolding outside our window but we couldn't
see it.
After the second plane hit and the buildings crumbled...
our Newark building was evacuated.
Now the train station and the neighboring bus station were
closed...there were no cars to rent in the area. We had
environmental chain of command responsibilities but could
not reach our liaisons due to cell phone failure.
Finally the trains started to move in our direction. When
we returned to our home office we were met by state police
in roit gear and our building was closed due to a bomb
threat. We were able to re-establish our contacts and
perform our duties but not without many moments of not being
in control. The feeling of being a captain without a ship in
a vital situation is devastating. The feeling of
helplessness, overwhelming. The high alert we prepared for.
The sense of helplessness concerning folks we had met with
the day before was wrenching. Fortunately all of them
survived the devastation and on this anniversary can still
enjoy their families. My heart goes out and my prayers are
with to all the people I may have seen on the 10th who did
not return home on the 11th.

Yes and we still fly
it daily with a spot light on it at night.