September 11 Digital Archive

story6225.xml

Title

story6225.xml

Source

born-digital

Media Type

story

Created by Author

yes

Described by Author

no

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.

Citation

“story6225.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 10, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/5309.