story1106.xml

story1106.xml

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2002-08-19

As a volunteer ambulance service, our squad signed on shift at the time of the attacks to cover the EMS shortage in Brooklyn South. Shortly afterward, we were notified by the FDNY Resource Control Center (RCC) to respond to the World Trade Center. Our fastest route took us through the Prospest Expressway to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Midway into the tube, we screeched to a hault. Powder and debris poured into the tunnel from the Manhattan side. We thought an explosive device was detonated. We scrambled in reverse to vacate the tunnel as quickly as possible. As we egressed, we noticed civilians walking out of the debris. Realizing the tunnel was still intact, we stopped and assisted in the evacuation of the tube. In all we got over 60 people to safety before being place on medical stanby awaiting victims. No victims were received in the 14 hours we waited.

Mario Cabrera, Administrative Director
Brooklyn College EMergency Medical Squad