story6225.xml
Title
story6225.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-12
911DA Story: Story
I work for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) in Kansas City, Mo. Sept. 11, 2001 was a special day for me -it marked my one year anniversary with FEMA. I remember thinking that as I drove to work that Tue. morning (it was a clear day in the Midwest as it was in NYC and Washington, DC).
I learned of the first plane from a colleague at about 8 am CST; didn't know it was an airliner and presumed it was a light plane that hit by accident. By the time I got to a TV, the 2nd plan had alrady hit. We were conducting training in house that day and it continued. A cell phone went off sometime around 9-9:30. The guy who answered it told us that the WTC had collapesed. We went back to the TV and learned of the attack on the Pentagon (also reports of a bomb outside the State Dept. that later proved false).
I remember thinking that we were under attack ala Dec. 7 and that the series of attacks was akin to a Veitnam Tet Offensive redux. I am in the reserves and was thinking I might get called up (I wasn't).
FEMA went on immediate 24/7 operations and I was on nights for two evenings (Tue. and Wed.). I drove home looking up at the sky knowing only military planes were in the air and wondering what all this would mean for me and my family and the nation. I felt different in a way I've not experienced before. My wife was at home when I arrived. We hugged and spoke a bit. Out son was almost 18 months and playing in the house w/the TV on. We were glad we didn't have to explain it to him but know we will someday.
I learned of the first plane from a colleague at about 8 am CST; didn't know it was an airliner and presumed it was a light plane that hit by accident. By the time I got to a TV, the 2nd plan had alrady hit. We were conducting training in house that day and it continued. A cell phone went off sometime around 9-9:30. The guy who answered it told us that the WTC had collapesed. We went back to the TV and learned of the attack on the Pentagon (also reports of a bomb outside the State Dept. that later proved false).
I remember thinking that we were under attack ala Dec. 7 and that the series of attacks was akin to a Veitnam Tet Offensive redux. I am in the reserves and was thinking I might get called up (I wasn't).
FEMA went on immediate 24/7 operations and I was on nights for two evenings (Tue. and Wed.). I drove home looking up at the sky knowing only military planes were in the air and wondering what all this would mean for me and my family and the nation. I felt different in a way I've not experienced before. My wife was at home when I arrived. We hugged and spoke a bit. Out son was almost 18 months and playing in the house w/the TV on. We were glad we didn't have to explain it to him but know we will someday.
Collection
Citation
“story6225.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 10, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/5309.