9-11 Responders Show Their True Valor

A supplement by the editors of & JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MAGAZINE

Copyright 2002 by PennWell Corporation

Contents 9 EMS Untold: The World Trade Center Disaster The first 24 hours of EMS response on Sept. 11 By Lisa Dionne 10 Fire Personnel in Memoriam A remembrance of firefighters lost in the line of duty 26 Live to Tell 25 eyewitness accounts of the Sept. 11 EMS response Interviews by Lisa Dionne & A.J. Heightman 27 Glenn Asaeda, MD, FDNY EMS 27 Jennifer Beckham, Flushing Medical Center 28 Scott Beloten, Maimonides Hospital Ambulance Dept. 32 Rene Davila, FDNY EMS 36 Jack Delaney, New York Presbyterian Hospital 38 Tamara Drummond, NYU Downtown Hospital EMS Dept. 39 Louis Garcia, St. Vincent’s Manhattan 40 Zachary Goldfarb, FDNY EMS 46 Jerry Z. Gombo, FDNY EMS 49 Cosmo Jackson, MetroCare Ambulance 50 Al Kim, MetroCare Ambulance 50 Walter Kowalczyk, FDNY EMS 53 Juana Lomi, NYU Downtown Hospital EMS Dept. 55 Alexander Loutsky, FDNY EMS 57 Orlando Martinez, FDNY EMS 59 Robert A. McCracken, FDNY EMS 63 Amy Monroe, FDNY EMS 64 Jonathan Moritz, FDNY EMS 65 Ernestina Nyquist, St. Vincent’s Manhattan 66 Janice Olszewski, FDNY EMS 67 John Peruggia, FDNY 57 Frank Puma, FDNY EMS 69 Ben Shelton, St. Vincent’s Manhattan 69 Charlie Wells, FDNY EMS 71 Robert Wick, Flushing Hospital Medical Center 72 EMS Personnel in Memoriam Those who made the ultimate sacrifice, not for family or friends, but for strangers By Keri Losavio Unsung Heroes 74 Responders who tended their home fronts kept the New York 9-1-1 system running smoothly By Blaine Dionne After the Fall 76 How local, state & federal responders searched for survivors amid the rubble By Nancy J. Rigg About the Cover From the Ashes Top: FDNY EMT Moussa Diaz renders care to a severely 82 burned female patient on Sept. 11 near the World Trade Center complex. FDNY resurrects its apparatus fleet Photo Jennifer S. Altman By Bob Vaccaro Bottom: After the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, an FDNY engine transports an extra complement of firefighters to Ground Zero. A Little Help from Friends Photo Willie Cirone 89 Emergency manufacturers donate money, This Page equipment & apparatus to New York agencies Ground Troops: FDNY firefighters prepare for fire battle By Jeff Berend following the World Trade Center collapses. Photo Doug Kanter Testaments 96 Reflections on Sept. 11, plus stories of hope Complete Rescue System

The JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER EMERITUS SKED-EVAC JAMES O. PAGE TRIPOD PUBLISHER/GENERAL MANAGER Jeff Berend AND [email protected] EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lisa Dionne SKEDCO 4:1 [email protected] EDITOR A.J. Heightman HAUL [email protected] DEPUTY EDITOR Michelle Garrido SYSTEM [email protected] SENIOR EDITOR Keri Losavio [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jed Henson [email protected] The Sked-Evac ASSISTANT EDITOR Blaine Dionne [email protected] Rescue/Entry Tripod EDITORIAL SECRETARY Laurie Colvin • Adjusts from 6' to 10' EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT • Available with the Skedco 4:1 Phone 800/266-5367 rope rescue/retrieval system Fax 760/930-9567 • 3 anchors at head OPERATIONS/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tim Francis PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Lisa M. Griffis • Head, anchors and legs SENIOR DESIGNER Jason Pelc are interconnected with ADVERTISING MANAGER Lisa Tucker, EMT EXHIBITS MANAGER Tiffany Freeman 1/2 inch stainless steel CLASSIFIED/ONLINE SALES Christy Freeman bolts for greater ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT strength - much Phone 800/266-5367 Fax 760/431-8194 more PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE EXECUTIVE PUBLISHING The Sked Basic Rescue System Phone 410/893-8003 Fax 410/893-8004 • For confined space, water, vertical rope, military, SALES DIRECTOR Mike Gribbin cave and many other rescues [email protected] • Can bring an immobilized 6' ACCOUNT MANAGERS JEMS 180 lb. patient through NATIONAL Cheryl Kaufman [email protected] an 11" x 15" hole 781/383-3556 • Comes in military EAST & SOUTH Kim Routzahn [email protected] and civilian colors 410/893-8003 • Excellent ACCOUNT MANAGERS FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE for water rescue NATIONAL Sheri Collins [email protected] 760/804-6658 VIDEO MIDWEST & NEW ENGLAND Mike Kleeblatt FREE [email protected] 847/913-8304 The Oregon Spine Splint SUBSCRIBER SERVICES MANAGER Kevin Flanagan • The only vest-type immobilizer that FULFILLMENT ASSISTANT Christine Erickson MARKETING DIRECTOR Debbie Murray meets all established criteria for PRODUCT PROMOTIONS MANAGER Lynn Papenhausen immobilizing seated patients WEB COORDINATOR Janene Long-Forman CONTINUING EDUCATION PLANNER Nicole Chetaud • Allows access to anterior torso for WEB DESIGNER John Fattahi diagnosis and treatment INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE Leah Craig SR. CREDIT MANAGER Kathie Fritsch • Does not inhibit breathing IS COORDINATOR Arron Morgan • Retracts shoulders for clavical frac- www.jems.com; www.firerescuemag.com

tures JEMS, Journal of Emergency Medical Services (ISSN 0197-2510), and FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE (ISSN 1094- 0529) are published monthly by Jems Communications, 1947 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 200, Carlsbad, CA • Same as long board when used with 92008; 760/431-9797 (fed. ID #13-935377). COPYRIGHT 2002 Jems Communications. No material may be reproduced or uploaded on computer network services without the expressed permission of the pub- the Sked Stretcher - Much more lisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jems Communications, P.O. Box 469012, Escondido, CA 92046. Claims of nonreceipt or damaged issues must be filed within three months of cover date. For more information and a complete line of rescue products call: Periodicals postage paid at Carlsbad, Calif., and at additional mailing offices. Canada Post International Mail Product (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 1247948 (JEMS) and No. 1247921 (FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE). JEMS and FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE are printed in the United States.

Skedco, Inc. 800-770-SKED (7533)

ddddddddddddddddddddTˆ cddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ‡Pdddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddAˆc cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS c‡8ddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr cUdddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddv QdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc tddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddI xdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc Uddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS ctdddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆ cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr ‡8dddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddI QdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc Uddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc xdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddv cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰ tddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Qdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc xddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰ cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv c†9dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI xddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv Qdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰c tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆc xddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr c‡8ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv cxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI QddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc xddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv c†9dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰c tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI xddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰c cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv Qddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd †Rdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddTˆc cddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd c‡Pddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆ cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS ‡8dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Qddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc †9ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰c cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv Qddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI xdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddS cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv Qddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰ tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI xdddddddddddddddddddddddddrc Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQdddddddddddddddddddddddS ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆ cxdddddddddddddddddddddddr ‡8dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI QdddddddddddddddddddddSc Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc †9ddddddddddddddddddd@‰c ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxdddddddddddddddddddr cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv ddddddddddddddddddSc tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Qdddddddddddddddddrc Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc †9dddddddddddddddS ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxdddddddddddddd@‰ cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv Qdddddddddddddrc tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI xddddddddddddS Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQdddddddddd@‰ ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆ cxddddddddddrc ‡8dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI QddddddddS Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc †9dddddddr ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxddddddSc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv Qdddd@‰c tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI xddddr Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc cQddSc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cxd@‰c cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv @‰ tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆc c‡8ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆ ‡8dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddeddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddeQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddde†9dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰edddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddecxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrcedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddfQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddfxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddfcQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddAˆc c‡8dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddScfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddfcxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrcfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddgQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSgdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddgxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrgdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddgcQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddScgdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddgcxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrcgdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddShdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddh†9dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI Uddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰hdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhcxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddvc ctddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrchdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddheQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddIc cUdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddShedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhexddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddv tddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrhedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhecQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddI UdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSchedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhecxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrchedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhfQddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddShfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhfxddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrhfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhfcQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSchfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddhfc†9ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰chfdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd †9dddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddd@‰ dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd †9dddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddd@‰ dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddddd dddddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddddddd ddddddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddddddd dddddddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddddd dddddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddddd ddddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd c†9ddddddddddd ddddddddddd@‰c dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddddd dddddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddddd ddddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddddd ddddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddddd dddddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddddddd dddddddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddddddd ddddddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddddd ddddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddddd dddddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd †9dddddd dddddd@‰ dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddddd ddddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddddd dddddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddddd dddddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdddd ddddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cxdddd ddddrc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Qddd dddS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd xddd dddr dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd cQdd ddSc dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

c†9d d@‰c dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Mosby Qddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd †9 @‰ dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddS ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddH‰ TEL: (503) 639-2119 FAX: (503) 639-4538 www.skedco.com †Rdddddddddddddddddddddddddddd WWW.ALLISONTRANSMISSION.COM

THINK OF THE NEW ALLISON AUTOMATIC EVS AS A FASTER WAY TO GET TO WORK.

An Allison automatic transmission is the most time-saving component in your vehicle’s drive line. And the new Allison Automatic EVS (Emergency Vehicle Series) raises truck and driver performance to a new level. Especially engineered for emergency vehicles, the EVS accommodates higher horsepower engines to deliver more torque to the wheels. This, combined with Allison Automatic full-power, fully automatic shifts, means faster acceleration for shorter trip times. No clutch to press and no manual shifting lever reduces driver distraction and stress. On scene, precise vehicle positioning is accomplished with just subtle presses on the accelerator. The new EVS also offers electronic controls that can be programmed to inhibit vehicle movement during the use of auxiliary equipment, for added safety. And all this superior performance is backed up with a five-year standard warranty. No other transmission contributes so much to getting your job done faster and better. Specify the Allison Automatic EVS on your next truck purchase.

™ TM Trademark of Allison Transmission Division of General Motors Corporation. If it’s not Allison, it’s not Automatic. The people of Pierce and Medtec are saddened by the tragic events that struck America on September 11.

We dedicate this space to the firefighters, police officers and emergency crews who lost their lives trying to save the innocent victims.

And we pray for all those directly affected by this horrific tragedy— including the thousands of men and women involved with the rescue efforts. God bless America. I was getting a foot up on the day’s operation as usual. I got a rundown on my way into work from our emergency medical dispatch, which dispatches the ambulance. They briefed me on how the evening went. In addition, I got a briefing from the resource coordination center [RCC] on the previous night’s activities, a tour count and the type of chief coverage that I was going to have that day. The third briefing I got was from my overnight chief. I got to the office early, as usual. It was a beautiful morning. —Jerry Z. Gombo, assistant chief of EMS operations, FDNY EMS

We were getting our breakfast at 8:45. We were at the counter; we usually order BLTs. They were making it, and we heard a 911 rumble. The building we were in—the Woolworth Building—shook. Debbie, the girl [who works at the deli] looks at Pu and me, “Shouldn’t you guys go outside and check what’s going on?” I told her, “If they need us they’ll call us.” —Orlando Martinez, EMT, FDNY EMS

Me and Bonnie, [my partner], went to our bagel place. We’re like, “We’re just gonna have an easy day. We’re not gonna buff any jobs. Let’s just go do what we’re supposed to do, and that’s it.” We’re sitting by this little old man’s house 9 who always yells at us when we run our engine. Another BLS unit comes over, 52 Edward. We’re talking with them, and I’m like, “Turn off the engine.” Sure enough, the little old man comes out … screaming at us. —Jennifer Beckham, EMT, Flushing Hospital Medical Center

We were at an intersection by the Brooklyn Bridge. Me and my partner, Eric, were talking small talk. And I noticed—the World Trade Center was right in our view—a plane going down. It was flying low, and I interrupted him, “Eric, look at that! Look how low that plane is! It’s gonna hit. It’s gonna hit!” A few seconds later, it exploded. We just shook. Quickly I took my radio, and I thought, “I have one shot to get it right,” because the radios are terrible down here. You always have to repeat yourself, or they put us out with no response and stuff. I said, “01 Charlie for the priority.” “01 Charlie, go.” “01 Charlie. We have just witnessed a plane hit the World Trade Center.” —Alexander Loutsky, EMT, FDNY EMS PHOTOS L TO R: MARKPHOTOS L TO IDE, ED SAWICKI, WILLIE CIRONE The untold story of EMS response to the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11

By Lisa Dionne

Within an hour of the Trade Center attacks, 23 EMS supervisors had been dispatched, along with 29 ALS units and 58 BLS units. Eight hours later, 31 EMS supervisors had been dispatched and were working with approximately 400 on scene EMS personnel, including 47 ALS units (28 from voluntary hospitals) and 98 BLS units (23 from voluntary hospitals). PHOTO JENNIFER S. ALTMAN S. JENNIFER PHOTO

FDNY FDNY FDNY Leadership Battalion 1 Battalion 2

Ronald William Peter J. Mychal Paul Matthew Faustino William Bucca Feehan Ganci Jr. Judge Mitchell Ryan Apostol Jr. McGovern 47 71 54 68 46 54 55 49 Fire Marshal First Deputy Chief of Chaplain Lieutenant Battalion Chief Firefighter Battalion Chief Commissioner Department Few know that the entirety of EMS that day? How did they survive the crash- response in lower Manhattan began with es, the collapses and the emotional and one EMT’s call to dispatch at 0848 HRS on physical tolls the event required of them? ADDRESSES & Sept. 11. It’s one of myriad stories we’ve What were those first 12 to 24 hours like? ACRONYMS not yet heard about the role of EMS in our Time and again, EMS providers from nation’s greatest hour of need. FDNY, hospitals and private services alike 1 World Trade Center The day those twin beauties fell to the expressed a collective sentiment best North Tower=1 World Trade earth, editors at JEMS and FIRERESCUE articulated by FDNY EMT Eric Ramos in a 2 World Trade Center received more phone calls and e-mails note to us, “Thank you for coming to hear South Tower=2 World Trade 7 World Trade Center than our office has experienced in years. us. We were forgotten, and you have come 7 World Trade=home to Particularly stressful were conflicting to recognize New York’s best.” OEM reports as to the fate of our personal and We’ll tell you right now: We didn’t talk to professional friends in New York City. everyone. We didn’t get every story and Citywide: The FDNY EMS Several of us could be no other place than every detail. No one got every story or frequency used for MCIs, here—on the phone, watching TV, listening every detail. Likely, no one ever will. special events, etc. to the radio, corresponding online. Therefore, we apologize now to those we LSU: Logistical Support Units—vehicles that carry It wasn’t long before folks began asking inadvertently offend by unintentional supplemental EMS supplies us about the role EMS played in New York omission. We submit this story as the and are positioned on scene that fateful day. Truth be told, we didn’t beginning of an EMS archive of Sept. 11. at an MCI; three were know the EMS story for a long, long time. In the next 60 pages, we provide the dispatched within the first Like many of you, we found ourselves matte and frame for the stunning land- hour of the attacks. incapacitated with grief for the lost souls— scape that was EMS response on Sept. 11. MERV: Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle—a special from FDNY firefighters to NYPD and Port Then we let the EMS responders paint the EMS vehicle used to Authority police to courageous civilian and image for you themselves, in largely unedit- process multiple patients at undocumented “other” responding per- ed transcriptions from the deeply moving once; can also be used as a sonnel—all of them innocents. and honest interviews they provided. mobile surgical unit; two Yet sometime about the 20th reference You’ll meet an EMT who went from were dispatched within the to “heroic emergency workers,” our mission applying hair gel on the drive to the Trade first hour of the attacks. OEM: Mayor’s Office of became clear. We were frustrated as gener- Center to struggling painfully with her own Emergency Management; ic credit was given to “emergency workers” mortality in the aftermath. You’ll meet a formerly housed on the 43rd by our well-intentioned media peers who paramedic mother of two who—after floor of 7 World Trade don’t understand the valuable role of EMS transporting patients to Beth Israel Center; also the location of (paramedics, EMTs) in the emergency serv- Hospital following the collapse of 2 World the Emergency Operations ices triad. Witness this mention in the Sept. Trade—ripped an IV from her arm to return Center (the “war room” of 24, 2001, issue of New York: “‘They’re look- to Ground Zero on the back of a motorcy- any emergency effort in which representatives from ing for their brothers,’ says an ambulance cle. You’ll meet a paramedic who saw one local, state and federal driver ” [emphasis added]. of his best friends—also a medic—for the health and disaster Although the EMS losses pale quantita- last time just moments before the South resources must work tively in comparison to our fellow firefight- Tower collapsed. together to solve problems). ers and police, they have shattered the Prepare yourself. RCC: Resource national EMS community in an undeniably What you’re about to read is tragic and, Coordination Center—an FDNY EMS division that qualitative manner. So during a stagger- at times, humorous. It encompasses the coordinates and ensures ingly beautiful week last November, we entire spectrum of human suffering and is EMS resources (units, flew east. Like you, we wanted to know painfully graphic. The entirety of the story personnel) throughout the where EMS personnel were at 0846 HRS we heard must be told, without omission, in city are appropriately when the first plane hit. What was the order to understand what EMS personnel distributed. EMS preplan for a disaster of this magni- experienced in those first few hours. To edit tude? How many patients did they treat those portions would be to delete history.

FDNY FDNY FDNY FDNY Battalion 4 Battalion 6 Battalion 7 Battalion 8

Richard Thomas John Stephen Orio Philip Thomas Thomas Prunty O’Hagan Williamson Harrell Palmer Petti DeAngelis McCann 57 43 46 44 45 43 51 46 Battalion Chief Lieutenant Battalion Chief Lieutenant Battalion Chief Lieutenant Battalion Chief Firefighter The First Crash After Loutsky delivered his priority call following the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 into the north wall of 1 World Trade at approximately 0848 HRS, a Signal 10-40 (aircraft crash) was transmitted over FDNY EMS’ Citywide frequency. FDNY EMS personnel most proximate to the Trade Center at that moment included EMTs Loutsky and Ramos, the 01 Charlie crew. According to the Trade Center preplan, incoming EMS units were to stage at Greenwich and Vesey,just north of 1 World Trade. 01 Charlie quickly fled its post near the Brooklyn Bridge to join its fire and police counterparts,many of whom were already climbing the stairways of 1 World Trade to help evacuate occu- pants and access the involved floors. On the way to the preplan location, 01 Charlie was forced to stop at Church and Fulton2 * to treat patients.“When we got there thousands of people were coming out of the building after the first plane hit,”says Loutsky. “They had terror and fear in their faces.They were running.They were screaming.We were inundated.” Unbeknownst to Loutsky and Ramos, fellow FDNY EMS 01 Adam crew—EMTs Orlando Martinez and Frank Puma—was just up the street at the Woolworth Building—near their usual post on Vesey between West Broadway and Church (in front of 5 World Trade). After hearing and then visualizing the first crash, they proceeded west down Vesey toward the preplan location. Like the 01 Charlie crew, Martinez and Puma were inundated with patients escaping east from the Trade Center Complex. They stopped their vehicle and began treating them just yards PHOTO JENNIFER S. ALTMAN S. JENNIFER PHOTO from Loutsky and Ramos. FDNY paramedic Phil Ashby (left) assists a patient on “When we first got to Church and Vesey, I called the station the east side of the Trade Center Complex. and talked to Lt. [Bill] Melaragno,”recalls Martinez.“I said,‘Listen, we need backup.There’s nobody here.When’s the help coming?’ As patient triage and treatment developed on the east side of But they were already here.This building’s so large. … I didn’t the Trade Center, a separate EMS staging area was born nearer realize they were down the block.” the Hudson at West and Vesey streets in and around the pedes- 1 Adam’s crew received initial backup from St. Vincent’s trian North Bridge8 .After hearing Loutsky’s initial transmission 12 Manhattan and NYU Downtown Hospital EMS units dispatched over the radio, first-due FDNY EMS officer Lt. Rene Davila was as part of the 9-1-1 system. Shortly thereafter, crews from New skeptical.“My reaction was,‘These guys are bananas. I gotta go York Presbyterian Hospital, MetroCare and a host of other serv- over there and straighten them out,’”he recalls.“I thought they ices formally requested by the 9-1-1 system responded accord- had lost it—until I heard [Martinez and Puma’s] call seconds ingly.(For a list of all EMS resources that responded as part of the later.Then the radio started charging up with voices.” 9-1-1 system, see sidebar, p. 22.) Davila immediately left his post at Battalion 4 and headed In that location—a slab of pavement running along Church north, confirming the incident over Citywide. He also requested Street from Liberty to Vesey—sprung a bona fide EMS staging all available resources, including FDNY EMS’ Mobile Emergency area2 .There, EMS personnel aggressively triaged and treated the Response Vehicles (MERVs).Nearing the Trade Center,he tried to initial waves of critical and walking-wounded patients, who pre- stage at Greenwich and Vesey per the EMS preplan.However,like sented with such injuries as first- to fourth-degree burns,fractures, the 01 Charlie and 1 Adam crews, he was forced down to West internal bleeding and inhalation burns. It’s important to note that Street. Davila parked in the northbound traffic lane just across the time spanning 0848 HRS to 0959 HRS (from the first crash until from 1 World Trade and, as the highest ranking EMS official on the South Tower collapse) was the busiest period of the event for scene at the time, established EMS operations. EMS crews on all sides of the Trade Center.It was during this brief In those early moments,Davila struggled to focus personnel on window of time that providers helped the most patients—even if triage.“I wanted to start the START system to triage patients,”he it was just directing them away from the madness above. recalls.“I didn’t have the capability to treat any patients. People

* 1 These icons denote specific locations on the map. See pps. 24-25 for detail.

FDNY FDNY FDNY Battalion 9 Battalion 11 Battalion 12

Carl Dennis Alan Charles Edward John Fred Glenn Asaro Devlin Feinberg Garbarini Geraghty Paolillo Scheffold Jr. Perry 39 51 48 44 45 51 57 41 Firefighter Battalion Chief Firefighter Lieutenant Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Lieutenant were coming out with first- debris in order to do their jobs. American Flight 11—a Boeing 767 to fourth-degree burns after on its way from Boston to Los Angeles—carried more than 20,000 the explosion—unbeliev- gallons of jet fuel. Upon impact, the plane exploded, sending debris able what I saw coming out (from the plane and the structure) toward the south, east and west of this disturbance. All I areas of the Trade Center Complex.“Those [I-] beams were the size wanted, once I got 10 to 15 of Buicks,”remembers FDNY EMT Jonathan Moritz.“You had debris units on the scene, was to that looked like windowsills, glass and concrete.The magnitude of triage because I knew the the debris that came down was unreal.” magnitude of people that As minutes ticked by,incoming units were generally told to stage [was] going to be coming at West and Vesey where Davila had established EMS operations. out of this.” Due to unstable conditions many detoured to such locations as The influx of FDNY and Church and Fulton (again, on the east) or West and Liberty (to the voluntary (hospital, private south) near the pedestrian South Bridge. and other EMS services that respond as part of the 9-1-1 The EMS Command Post system) units on scene Unbeknownst to Davila, FDNY EMS Assistant Chief of Operations made it difficult for Davila Jerry Gombo (the No. 2 in EMS command) was on his way,having to establish an incident detoured at Church and Fulton to clear EMS units treating patients

PHOTO RONALD JEFFERS RONALD PHOTO command system (ICS). As in the middle of the exposed street. personnel scrambled out Once at West and Vesey,Gombo checked in with Davila and pro- A fire department vessel loaded of their rigs to treat nearby ceeded to FDNY’s fire Command Post—then located in the lobby of with evacuees departs N.Y. Harbor. evacuees, Davila and 1 World Trade4 .There Gombo conferred with Chief Peter Hayden, Loutsky,the staging officer at West and Vesey at that time, attempt- the fire incident commander, and formally established the EMS ed to control the unfolding chaos. “My concern was triaging Command Post.“We set up our Command Post in close proximity to patients, but my first concern was everybody’s safety,” recalls [the fire department’s]—within arm’s reach,”says Gombo.“This way, Davila.“Numerous times I was yelling that it was a hard-hat opera- if they’re in need of anything, they know exactly where we are.” tion. I’m standing here watching the rescue units run inside Tower Minutes later,Hayden alerted Gombo that they were to relocate 1. I’m transmitting, and I’m praying to God that I get some more the Command Post from the lobby of 1 World Trade to a driveway bosses to the scene.” area at 2 World Financial Center.The new Command Post5 lay just From 0848 HRS until 0903 HRS, first-in EMS units on the east and west of the Trade Center Complex and south of where Davila had west sides of the complex had to negotiate a staggering amount of set up EMS staging. Gombo followed suit, re-establishing EMS com- mand there as well. HAIL TO THE CHIEF As he evacuated 1 World Trade, Gombo ordered all EMS personnel out of the building. “When I left the initial The most amazing thing out of the whole Command Post, I gave clear direction that EMS personnel operation is the independent action from were not to be in the building,” says Gombo.“As far as our the EMTs and paramedics that regrouped, protocol with high-rise complexes, EMS personnel are not followed their basic training and took a lot outfitted with SCBAs and bunker gear. If there were any of leadership on their own. —Robert A. McCracken on the role of EMS patients, they would have been brought out to us—either by personnel at the Trade Center disaster firefighters or other civilians.” At the new joint Command Post, Gombo issued the follow- As editors, the symbolic moments when readers’ interests so ing directions to his FDNY EMS officers: well coincide with a source’s lamentations seem few and far 1. Division Chief Walter Kowalczyk—assume the role of between. By the time I found myself sitting to the left of Chief the EMS operations officer for the entire incident; Andy McCracken last fall at 9 Metro Tech, I had already 2. Deputy Chief Charles Wells—proceed to West interviewed many in his charge. Good people—sensitive, and Liberty to assess EMS ops at that location; and caring, professional and loyal. I couldn’t wait to hear what 3. Capt. Janice Olszewski and Lt. Bruce Medjuck—pro- he had to say, for whoever led the troops I’d spent hours with ceed to Church and Fulton to assess EMS ops at that must be one hell of a leader. He’s a rough-hewn, no-nonsense guy who speaks softly location. but directly. I studied his profile carefully as he recounted his Also present alongside Gombo at the fire Command Post experiences on the 11th, listening for meaning in the words were FDNY Fire Chief Peter Ganci, FDNY Deputy he spoke—or didn’t. McCracken’s a bear of a man whose Commissioner William Feehan and FDNY Division Chief John constitution can intimidate. However, he’s as comfortable Peruggia—among others. discussing EMS operations as he is agonizing over his own For the next few minutes, these officials prepared their post-incident feelings. respective EMS and fire strategies—completely unaware of Sometime between minutes one and 91 of our discussion, what lay ahead. Meanwhile, EMS personnel worked vigor- I understood that the wellspring of soul and dedication to ously at locations on the east, west and south sides of the patient service I’d seen in every face at FDNY EMS—whether Trade Center Complex. Most first-in personnel shared one two months or 20 years on the job—emanate from him. His concern and compassion for his people are palpable, and the thought:This was an accident.“In training they always stress recovery task before him large. For this, we salute him.—LD the secondary device,”says Moritz.“Nobody would have ever considered a second airplane being utilized as a secondary device—ever! At this stage in the game, nobody was expect- ing anything else.” sectors continued. Key staging locations at West and Vesey1 , Church and Fulton2 and West and Liberty3 streets The Second Crash remained, and informal treatment areas surrounding the Trade Approximately 18 minutes after the North Tower was hit, Center Complex cropped up as incoming EMS units—while 14 United Flight 175—also a Boeing 767—slammed into 2 attempting to drive into the area—encountered patients in World Trade Center.The effects of this secondary device fur- need of treatment and transport. ther endangered rescue workers and hampered EMS opera- tions as debris from the explosion pummeled the areas Chaos Ensues below the South Tower. Many on scene didn’t know what FDNY, hospital, private and volunteer ambulances continued had happened until the debris—and the people—began rain- streaming in after the second hit. EMS units, including ing down on them. MetroCare, Hatzalah, Columbia Presbyterian and Maimonides, Gombo, who stood in an exposed area at the joint staged in the southbound lane on West Street just under the Command Post, clearly recollects the scene following the sec- pedestrian South Bridge9 . EMT Jennifer Beckham, Flushing ond crash.“Before I really had an opportunity to react, there Memorial Hospital, reports that hers was the first unit in a line was another flood of people, running out of the [South] of ambulances staged to the south with their engines running Tower. There were plane parts falling on the ground. Things and rear doors open. FDNY officers at West and Liberty asked burning.We weren’t even sure what was burning, whether it crews to stand by to receive patients from 2 World Trade as was jet fuel falling to the ground or what,”he says. they were brought from inside the tower. As EMS personnel After the second crash, Gombo sent Davila east to Church stood ready, debris—and victims—continued streaming down and Fulton to assess the EMS operation there. In spite of a sec- on them. ond plane crash, the process of identifying and setting up EMS Aside from the loss of their EMS peers and other innocent

FDNY FDNY FDNY FDNY FDNY FDNY Battalion 22 Battalion 43 Battalion 47 Battalion 48 Battalion 49 Battalion 50

Charles Geoffrey Anthony Michael Joseph John Lawrence Margiotta Guja Jovic Bocchino Grzelak Moran Stack 44 47 39 45 52 42 58 Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Firefighter Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Battalion Chief The will to win. The heart to fight. The strength to lose. The spirit to fight again.

Seagrave Fire Apparatus Uncompromising Quality Since 1881

Clintonville, Wisconsin • Phone: 715-823-2141 • Fax: 715-823-5768 • www.seagrave.com bystanders, most personnel present on the 11th carry the bur- GATOR GRATITUDE den of witnessing victims who jumped or fell from the towers. A contentious subject, the spectacle of the jumpers was an At most MCIs, some thing— unqualified constant in our conversations with responding EMS product, strategy or other— personnel.The majority of those interviewed for this story vivid- often emerges as the call’s ly recollected—without solicitation—those who jumped. MVP. On Sept. 11, that was From eyewitness reports, the incidence of jumpers increased the Gator. All-terrain vehi- PHOTO WILLIEPHOTO CIRONE when the South Tower was hit. By this time 1 World Trade had cles that FDNY EMS origi- been aflame for nearly 20 minutes, its heat offering no mercy to nally brought in as part of the department’s Y2K those above and just below the involved floors—96–103. Moritz preparation, they proved indispensable for quick saw six or seven jumpers from 1 World Trade when he arrived on transportation amid Ground Zero’s daunting terrain. scene.When 2 World Trade was hit, the pattern repeated, forcing “On the 11th, the first Gator arrived with an EMS those above and just below involved floors 80–86 to endure the unit—two paramedics—from Queens on it,” explains Kowalczyk. “They were tremendous assets because heat or flee the building by leaping. the urban environment of lower Manhattan quickly “I can’t tell you the feeling I felt [when those people were jump- lost paved roadways. The terrain we had to go ing].I kept saying,‘Our guys are on the way up to you.Why are you through made the Gators the most maneuverable people jumping?’” recalls FDNY EMS Chief Robert McCracken, for people, victims and equipment.”—LD who arrived south of the Trade Center Complex after the second plane hit.“I had no idea the stairwells were inaccessible.And when the flames really roared, you knew they had no choice. They Post-crash No. 2, EMS officials focused on two concerns: 1) weren't unconscious; they knew what the hell they were doing. EMS would need more resources to handle the thousands of “The thing that really bothered me the most [were] the ones anticipated patients, and 2) personnel in exposed or debris- that were so far away from the buildings,”he says.“You wonder riddled areas were more vulnerable than ever to injury. how an individual can get 40–50 feet from the building.You can’t FDNY EMS Deputy Chief Zachary Goldfarb, who had been jump that far.Were they blown out? Was it the atmosphere? Were sent to West and Vesey,encountered 40–50 EMS personnel under they running and saw light?” the pedestrian North Bridge.They had parked their vehicles on It’s difficult to imagine how providers on all sides of the Trade the southbound side of West Street (North of Vesey) and were Center Complex negotiated the massive debris from the build- awaiting patients.Standing in the middle of West Street,Goldfarb ing, much less the emotional and physical challenges presented called for nearby officers. His goal was to set up a casualty col- by people leaping to their deaths. Whether on the job two lection point for the injured in that area, as well as to maintain months or 20 years, providers are haunted by what one FDNY egress for the ambulances. EMT describes as “falling tear drops.” He instructed Capt. Jace Pinkus and a lieutenant to move all The jumpers were a painful symbol of the patient care reality EMS personnel underneath the North Bridge up against the exte- Sept. 11: EMS could do nothing for those who fell.“I kept saying, rior of 3 World Financial Center—across the street—away from ‘Do not look at where they’re coming from.They’re coming from falling debris. He also requested they document all personnel in 16 90 stories up.They’re dead the second they hit.There is absolute- that location.“One of my big issues is accountability at the scene,” ly no reason for us to go over and even check. They’re dead. says Goldfarb.“As an EMS supervisor, I never want to be ringing That’s it,’” says Jack Delaney, director of EMS, New York anybody’s door saying,‘Johnny’s not coming home tonight.’” Presbyterian Hospital. “It put a whole different spin on emer- As his orders were carried out, Goldfarb looked back on the gency medicine. It truly was a war zone. Protocols were out the scene.“I said to myself,‘I don’t like the way this looks,’”he recalls. window.It was a matter of survival at that point.” “I think I saw things that I now don’t want to remember.I called Pinkus on the radio and told him to move the operation inside 3 EMS Ops Post-Crash 2 World Financial and do an accountability check.I told him to get The moment United 175 slammed into 2 World Trade,a paradigm the whole thing buttoned up in the building.” shift occurred in the minds of most EMS personnel on scene. As the upper floors of both towers burned,compromising the “Two planes—that’s much more than coincidence,”says Gombo. buildings’ construction, Goldfarb’s foresight at West and Vesey, “In my mind, I switched from accident to terrorism.” along with McCracken’s simultaneous activities south of the Operationally,FDNY EMS maintained its staging commitments complex, likely saved many EMS lives. McCracken, who had at West and Vesey, Church and Fulton and West and Liberty. parked south of the complex on Rector Street, proceeded north Smaller staging and treatment areas evolved in the vicinity as on foot, attempting to divert incoming EMS personnel south— patients escaping the Trade Center rushed to incoming EMS away from the towers.“My main objective was to get everybody units, begging for assistance. off Liberty,get them off West Street.A couple of my trucks were

FDNY FDNY Citywide FDNY FDNY Battalion 57 Tour Commanders Division 1 Division 11

Dennis Joseph Gerard Donald Joseph Thomas Timothy Cross Marchbanks Jr. Barbara Burns Farrelly Moody Stackpole 60 47 53 61 47 45 42 Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Assistant Chief Assistant Chief Captain Captain Captain

‘Fool, why am I doing this?’” says Kowalczyk.“My thinking and my training says I’m basically running into a dead end. What’s going to prevent this debris from following the natural course of the driveway into the garage?” It did follow.Most pedestrians near the Trade Center Complex were consumed by a stultifying cloud of debris and dust as the South Tower crumbled.To the east at Church and Fulton, Davila escaped into the Millennium Hotel, where he was knocked to the ground.“The hotel lobby was dark. I saw a light and went toward a door,”he says.“I was a chicken-shit, scared supervisor. I was panicked. The noise I heard was something like I never

PHOTO STEVE SPAK STEVE PHOTO heard before in my life.You could still feel the doors shaking,the Shelled ambulances line the southbound lane of West metal in the hotel bending.” Street just beneath the pedestrian South Bridge. Then Davila experienced an emotional cycle described by many EMS personnel who lived through the first collapse: feel- there—on Liberty facing the West Street corridor,”he says.“They ings of fear, acceptance, then anger.“I went through a warped thought I was kidding.I said,‘Get out of Liberty because [2 World feeling. I think we all shared it—all of us there through the col- Trade] looks very unstable.’” lapse period. We’re always in dangerous positions, and there’s McCracken continued giving directives to fire and EMS per- always that life-threatening possibility,”he says.“But I knew I was sonnel in the area. His goal was to have all EMS vehicles facing dead. All of sudden my feeling was, ‘OK, I’m gonna die. Calm south to evacuate patients to the South Street Ferry area14 .“I down. Die with some dignity.’” also reminded everybody about using [their] natural body sens- After momentarily absorbing his perceived fate, a survival es—hearing, taste, smell,”recalls McCracken.“Don’t ask me why. instinct kicked in. Amazingly, Davila found a working phone; he I’ve never said that before on a command. But it was something called his wife.“You could hear her hysterical because she worked you had to rely on because this was a bad feeling all the way up Church Street and saw the building collapsing,” he says.“She around.When I pulled up, I said,‘This is a bad one.’” told somebody in her office,‘Call 9-1-1!’ While clearing the Liberty area of EMS and fire personnel, “I said,‘Fern, I am 9-1-1.’” McCracken was called via radio to the Command Post. He never Southeast of the complex, McCracken found himself in a cor- made it there. ridor unable to see his hand in front of his face. “All I heard, before the darkness really got in [was] this woman screaming, South Tower Collapse ‘My baby! My baby! My baby!’” he remembers.“While I was in As McCracken journeyed north on foot, John Peruggia was this corner, pulling my helmet and my face shield down, I felt receiving disturbing news at 7 World Trade7 . “We got some something between my legs. [I reached down and felt] a child information from a buildings person or an engineer that there between my legs. Don’t ask me how it got there.” was significant structural damage to the towers and they were in McCracken began swirling through the fear,acceptance,anger 18 danger of immediate collapse,”recalls Peruggia. cycle.“You start to think you’re going to die,”he says.“I started to Shortly thereafter,Peruggia heard an unforgettable screeching think about my children, and, for the first time, I actually prayed sound. McCracken was overcome with the noise as well:“Just as to the Mother Mary.That was gonna get me through.” I got out of Liberty the sound under my feet was like an earth- A rush of air blew through the corridor he was in, and win- quake. It sounded like a jet engine screaming in my ear. … I dows broke as dark descended.“It got so quiet,”says McCracken. thought it was another plane coming in.” “I said, ‘This can’t be death; this can’t be death.’ ... Somebody Back at the Command Post, Gombo was busily discussing EMS yelled,‘Is everybody OK?’As I opened my mouth to respond,I got resources with Commissioner Feehan.“It must have been just min- this total mouthful [of debris]—as if I was buried in the sand. I utes—at least that’s the way it felt—[from the South Tower being said,‘Oh my God,I’m going to suffocate here.I cannot believe it.’” hit] when something very strange started,”he says.“All of a sudden, the sky got very dark. We felt the ground vibrating and heard a Struggle to Survive tremendous roar.For a second,I thought it might be another plane. During the next 29 minutes, Gombo, Kowalczyk, Davila and But when I looked up it appeared the sky was coming down.” McCracken worked their way out of their respective entrap- Nearby,Kowalczyk saw a plume of smoke erupting as 2 World ments. EMS personnel previously staged at the three EMS sectors Trade began to fall. He ran with Gombo and several others around the Trade Center Complex were scattered by the collapse. toward the underground garage at 2 World Financial.“I’m saying, During this period EMS personnel faced difficult odds.Most of

FDNY FDNY Division 15 Engine 1

Martin Thomas William Andrew Michael Egan Jr. Haskell Jr. O’Keefe Desperito Weinberg 36 37 49 43 34 Captain Battalion Chief Captain Lieutenant Firefighter them were seriously incapacitated.A 110-story office building had collapsed on them. The incinerating, murderous souffle of steel, concrete,office furniture and airplane parts made personal survival the moment’s priority. Lone personnel searched through a snowstorm of particulate for their partners. Ambulances and command vehicles closest to the towers lay crushed and burning.Those vehicles lining streets closest to the perimeter stood abandoned, their back doors open, covered with inches—even feet—of debris. Even the most physically fit providers struggled simply to inhale, much less to walk,amid the melee.When they could stagger in any PHOTO ADAM SCHREIBMAN ADAM PHOTO direction, it was difficult to discern where to go because no one The aftermath at Church and Vesey, a major EMS triage could see where they had ended up after the blast of the collapse. location prior to the collapses. And no one knew where to go,anyway:On-scene communications proved difficult at best.Department radios transmitted spottily,if at after moving his people off the street at West and Vesey into nearby all, during this period. Cell phones—personal or departmental— 3 World Financial, had propelled himself into the back of an ambu- proved worthless without their signals. lance as the South Tower collapsed. As the particulate matter began dissipating in pockets around Together at West and Vesey, FDNY EMS brass began relocating the Trade Center, happenstance reunions occurred on the perime- resources,such as moving vehicles west toward North End Avenue. ter of the Complex. EMS personnel joined with police and fire “The triage team in 3 World Financial had re-established in the fighters to assess their surroundings and develop any kind of lobby of the Embassy Suites building,”reports Goldfarb.“We were response strategy. The injured, who emerged from beneath fire getting patients—evacuees. A lot of public safety people, civil- vehicles, shelled-out buildings and various nooks and crannies, ians—about 25–30 cardiac and trauma patients.We also had a lot required eye rinses and respiratory assists. EMS personnel were of walking wounded drifting in and out.We had fractures. Smoke jolted from the mental and physical shocks of the collapse to and dust inhalation.Shock.They were injured in the [first] collapse aggressively focus on patient treatment—even if it meant looting as opposed to the initial events.” ambulances for oxygen and saline. Gombo and Kowalczyk’s group, which had escaped from the No Reprieve Command Post, worked their way through 2 World Financial and Still somewhat south of the Trade Center Complex, McCracken exited the west side of the building.They proceeded past the Winter searched desperately for his personnel and directed everyone to Garden area to West Street.There, they met up with Goldfarb, who proceed south.“All I know is [as] I went looking for the Command

Used Truck Broker - Advertise Free

(916) 663-1157 Email: [email protected] http://www.desifire.911net.com

Desi’s Rescue 1976 Ford Howe F 450, 15000 G.V.W., diesel, auto, sliding Waterous 1250 - 500 Stainless Tank trays, roll top, tel floods, 10 S.C.B.A. 3208 T CAT T - AUTO holders, winch. Cascade 4500 PSI System New $71,000 Plumbed Turvett, Stainless Wheel Covers

91 Chevy - 3116 Cat-Auto New Buildup 1800 Tank 500 PTO 2 Dumps - Fold-A-Tank Rack

Apparatus Appraisals! Heavy Creek Buster Flatbed Wildland 450 U.P.F.Tank, 125 G.P.M., Vangard aux Dealers Needed! 450 Tank, 125 G.P.M. aux pupm, 1 reel, 1 engine, 4X4 diesel-auto-A/C, A & B foam, twin 1/2" preconnect, foam, soft suction, mounted live lines, front bumper, 1 1/2" jump line. $71,000 We don’t charge you on your chassis. $23,000 to sell your unit! PHOTO ADAM SCHREIBMAN ADAM PHOTO PHOTO ALAN SALY ALAN PHOTO With only minutes between the tower collapses, many The Millennium Hilton served as both backdrop and shel- EMS personnel, desperate for air, escaped into vehicles. ter for personnel before and after the towers collapsed. Post,here it came again—the sound—a low roar [like] an engine coming at you. You felt like you were getting sucked into the Hundreds if by Sea [engine] intake,”says McCracken. As his senior staff endured collapse No. 2 and strategized to his Disoriented, he looked for a street sign or a building marker. north, McCracken emerged from the building he’d been in and “The most frustrating thing was seeing fire trucks collapsed, took to the streets.“Visibility got a little better,like a snowstorm,” crushed. Firefighters bent over trying to get air. PASS alarms he says.“I went back to the south and made my way down to the going off. No command structure anywhere,” he laments. “I harbor.There were little Coast Guard boats and police launches didn’t see anybody of rank in my area at all. The next thing I evacuating people. It seemed like a small amount of people. I knew I was running from the next tower.That’s when it struck didn’t see any injured.” me that the first noise I had heard was [2 World Trade collaps- At Robert Wagner Park (just west of the South Street Ferry),he ing].This was the next tower chasing me.” encountered an estimated 1,500 people. “You could not see Indeed, as most Americans watched the nightmare unfold on lower Manhattan from there,but for some strange reason,this lit- their television sets,on scene EMS personnel in lower Manhattan tle piece of real estate had good air quality,” McCracken says. had virtually no idea that the South Tower had completely fallen “Everybody kept saying,‘We got to go through [the smoke and down—much less that they were enduring the second collapse. debris cloud].’ I kept saying,‘I don’t know what’s on the other As the North Tower pancaked to the ground just yards from their side of that smoke.We’re not going.We’re staying at least where location in the Embassy Suites Hotel,EMS officials,who had been we’re in a safe haven.’” attempting to regroup after collapse No. 1, knew the operation From that location, he assisted people onto tugboats and fer- was about to take a dramatic turn. ries and had them evacuated to New Jersey. Water evacuation “We decided to retreat from the scene and pull back,”explains was a tremendous asset in this incident. Early on, a staging area Goldfarb.“We didn’t know what the next hit would be.We decid- was established at South Street Ferry. Prior to the second col- 20 ed to evacuate our assets, set up remote staging areas, bring in lapse,police,fire,Coast Guard,Port Authority and private sea ves- heavy-duty mutual aid to support staging and set up distant CCPs sels were approaching the west shore of lower Manhattan. From [casualty collection points] because we anticipated thousands of north Battery Park City to Robert Wagner Park and points below, casualties—injured. We were trying to figure out where OEM these vehicles helped evacuate the injured to such locations as was going to be.” Staten Island and Liberty Park in New Jersey for treatment and Operationally,EMS was reorganized as follows: transport to medical facilities. • All EMS personnel close to what is now known as Ground Zero would remain in their locations until more Chelsea: Abundant Resources information became available; At the north triage sector,Kowalczyk focused on set-up.“Chelsea • Kowalczyk was sent to organize an EMS triage sector far … became a mobilization point for anything medical.We started north at Chelsea Piers10 ; to give birth in a matter of minutes to an EMS system almost as • Gombo and Goldfarb went to 1 Police Plaza11 (former large as one of our own divisions,”he says. site of OEM and the city’s Emergency Operations Center Kowalczyk began assessing and organizing resources—from before it moved to 7 World Trade, which was now personnel to supplies. Crowd control overwhelmed even law aflame) to coordinate EMS activities from that location; enforcement officials at that location.“Here we were in the mid- • EMS personnel would continue triaging to the south at dle of the only exit from Manhattan,”says Kowalczyk.“It was an South Street (Staten Island) Ferry14 . evacuation route and thousands of people were exiting north.

FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 4 Engine 5 Engine 6

Calixto James Thomas Paul Manuel Paul Thomas William Anaya Jr. Riches Schoales Tegtmeier Delvalle Beyer Holohan Johnston 35 29 27 41 32 37 36 31 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Rescue. In A Rescue, Seconds Count...

In the heat of the rescue, your focus should be on your patient, their care, safety and well-being. You don’t need to waste valuable time determining if your head protection is appropriate for the situation. For over 160 years, CairnsHELMETS has been the leader in the manufacture of firefighter helmets. Our Modern line of helmets offers the best in protection, comfort, maneuverability and versatility for structural firefighting and rescue applications. Whether you choose Thermoplastic, Fiberglass or Kevlar, CairnsHELMETS are engineered to provide optimal protection along with sleek styling for any fire-service activity.

...count on CairnsHELMETS.

. There’s a new standard in safety and we are defining it. Every day.

0 3 515 990 360 66 C Metro HP Commando Navigator Intruder Structural 660 Phoenix

1-877-MSA-FIRE MSAnet.com Meanwhile, picture the amount of people coming into New Main Characters: EMS Personnel Who York, streaming toward the towers.” Responded to the Trade Center EOC Improvised The following services were requested by FDNY Citywide Dispatch to respond to the Trade Center disaster on Sept. Gombo and Goldfarb arrived at 1 Police Plaza and established EMS 11 from the time the event occurred through 0900 HRS on command.At the time,they were the only FDNY personnel there. Sept. 12. “We knew it was going to take time to get FEMA assistance,”says • Beth Israel Medical Center Gombo. “But we needed to do whatever we could until those • Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center resources reached us.We anticipated thousands of patients.” • Cabrini Medical Center Knowing that local hospitals couldn’t accommodate such • Flushing Hospital large patient quantities, Gombo and Goldfarb identified several • Jamaica Hospital Medical Center • Lenox Hill Hospital locations for CCPs: the Javits Center on the west side, the • Long Island College Hospital Brooklyn Navy Yard to the east and the Yankee minor league sta- • Lutheran Medical Center dium in Staten Island to the south.“The plan was … to set these • Maimonides Medical Center locations up, staff them with hospital personnel—primarily sur- • Montefiore Medical Center geons and doctors—secure medical equipment and have it • NYU Downtown Hospital brought to those locations and send patients there,” recalls • New York Hospital of Queens • New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center Gombo.“We planned to activate these locations by 1800 HRS.” • New York Presbyterian Hospital Sadly, Gombo and Goldfarb would ultimately scale back the • North Shore University Hospital operation.At 1800 HRS two of the three CCPs were demobilized • Parkway Hospital due to a lack of patients. • St. Clare’s Hospital By late afternoon, McCracken had made his way to the newly • St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center established EMS Command Post at West and Chambers6 . • St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers: Bayley Seton St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers: Manhattan Nearby Stuyvesant High School,which had seen a fair number of • • St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers: Mary patients earlier in the day,was being used by EMS mostly to treat Immaculate on-scene emergency personnel (police, fire, and so forth). • St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers: St. Mary's Kowalczyk had been relieved at Chelsea and joined McCracken • St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers: St. John's and others to plan the ongoing EMS presence on scene. Queens “Our biggest urgency after 7 [World Trade] went down [just • St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers: Staten Island after 5 p.m.] was regrouping,”says McCracken,“trying to figure out • Staten Island University Hospital • Victory Memorial Hospital who was left and making sure we could account for everybody.” That evening, Kowalczyk and Goldfarb stayed to organize Community-based volunteer ambulance corps: ongoing EMS commitments for the disaster.The remaining EMS • BRAVO Volunteer Ambulance Service supervisors were officially sent home. Less than 15 hours after • Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Service Broad Channel Volunteers Inc American Flight 11 hit 1 World Trade,the need for EMS resources • 22 • Little Neck-Douglaston Community Ambulance Corps to care for critically injured patients was, for the most part, over. • North Shore Rescue Squad Volunteer Ambulance Upsetting Role Reversal In addition to the above organizations, mutual aid requests The legacy of EMS involvement at the Trade Center disaster will made by OEM and the New York Department of Health resulted in additional on-scene EMS resources from com- evolve as time passes. While providers overcame tremendous mercial and volunteer ambulance services in New York and odds to treat and transport hundreds of patients from the site New Jersey as the event unfolded. Source: FDNY EMS early in the incident, they ultimately faced a cruel reality:What initially looked to be the largest MCI in American history—one that would have required an unprecedented EMS response— of events that Tuesday morning.And most anguish over having never materialized. become victims themselves.“My personal frustration is that we Data collected from five Manhattan hospitals report 790 went down there with the expectation of saving a lot of lives,” injured survivors from the Trade Center attacks were treated says Delaney.“In actuality ... we were concentrating on saving between 8 a.m. Sept. 11 and 8 a.m. Sept. 13. But these figures our own lives. Anybody we came across, we helped. But we account only for reported injuries and only for patients seen in were retreating instead of going in.” Manhattan during the time period. At press time, 3,023 people were confirmed dead or still reported dead or missing. The author wishes to thank every source who so willingly gave of their For now providers seem grossly disappointed with the turn time and resources during the preparation of this article.

FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 8 Engine 10 Engine 21

Robert Gregg Jeffrey Paul William Parro Atlas Olsen Pansini Burke Jr. 35 44 31 34 46 Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Captain STRONG GEAR. SECURE SYSTEM. SUPERIOR TEAMWORK.

I'D FDC Carabiner • industrial descender and lowering device • UL Classified to NFPA 1983 (2001 ED.) • UL Classified to NFPA 1983 (2001 ED.) General Use Light Use • 2 types: standard screwgate & autolock version • made of stainless steel, anodized aluminum & • amazing 7643 lbf open gate strength reinforced nylon • wide 11/4" gate opening • 2 sizes: small (7/16" rope) & large (1/2" rope) • made in USA

Rescue Pulley Rescucender • high strength pulley made with 7075-T6 • rope grab designed for hauling heavy loads anodized aluminum or as a progress capture device • 90% friction efficiency due to sealed ball • grooved cam interface acts as load limiter bearings • rope diameter 9-13 mm • breaking strength of 36 kN • made in USA • made in USA

Petzl America, your partner in rescue. For a dealer near you: www.petzl.com (801) 327 3805 12 St. St. Paul’s Paul’s Chapel Chapel 11 FULTON FULTON CORTLANDT DEY CORTLANDT DEY Hotel Hotel St. St. Millennium Millennium Peter’s Peter’s BARCLAY 2 BARCLAY CHURCH 4 4 Trade Trade World World Trade Trade 5 World 5 World LIBERTY LIBERTY 2 2 Trade Trade 13 World World 7 VESEY VESEY 10 Trade 1 World Trade 1 World Trade 7 World Marriott Marriott 6 6 3 Trade Trade World World 4 9 8

EST 5

BARCLAY W

1

URRAY URRAY

WARREN WARREN

M M CHAMBERS CHAMBERS 2 World Financial Embassy Embassy 3 World Financial 3 World Financial Suites Hotel Suites Hotel 6 Yacht NORTH END AVENUE Harbor North Cove 4 World Financial 4 World Financial PHOTO COURTESY NOAA COURTESY PHOTO

FDNY FDNY Engine 22 Engine 23

Thomas Michael Vincent Martin Robert James Hector Mark Casoria Elferis Kane McWilliams McPadden Pappageorge Tirado Jr. Whitford 29 27 37 35 30 29 30 31 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter 14 15 Pedestrian South Bridge Pedestrian Chelsea Piers (exact location not shown; Side Highway) & West Street 23rd Plaza (exact location not shown) 1 Police NYU Downtown Hospital (exact location Street) William not shown; 170 Manhattan Hospital (exact St. Vincent’s 12th Street) W. location not shown; 170 EMS Ferry South Street Staging (exact location not shown) Tunnel Brooklyn-Battery 9 10 11 15 12 14 13 Legend 1 World 1 World

Financial Financial South EMS & Vesey Staging Area West EMS & Fulton Church Staging Area & Liberty EMSWest Staging Area Initial Joint EMS Command Post & Fire (in lobby) Relocated Joint EMS Command & Fire Financial) of 2 World (driveway Post EMS after both collapses Command Post Office of Emergency Site of Mayor’s floor) Management (23rd North Bridge Pedestrian 1 3 4 5 6 2 7 8 River Hudson

North ↔

FDNY FDNY Engine 26 Engine 33

Thomas Dana David Michael Robert Robert Keithroy Kevin Farino Hannon Arce Boyle Evans King Jr. Maynard Pfeifer 37 29 36 37 36 Age unavailable 30 42 Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Live to Tell

InterviewsInterviews byby LisaLisa DionneDionne && A.J.A.J. HeightmanHeightman

On Sept. 11, 2001, EMS personnel worked under unimaginable circumstances. Many crews faced death twice within a time span of less than 60 minutes. EMS personnel were forcedforced toto renderrender carecare underunder truetrue battlefieldbattlefield conditions. While in the middle of patient care, crews had to run for cover to save their own lives, contrary to the usual course of events at an MCI. What follows are their personal accounts: graphic, descriptive and, most importantly, in their own words. You may notice—as we did—inconsistencies among the accounts. As you have probably experienced in your own life—and as providers certainly experienced on thethe 11th,11th, emotionsemotions andand stressstress cancan inhibitinhibit ourour memories.memories. WeWe attemptedattempted toto substantiatesubstantiate andand clarifyclarify incongruities.incongruities. Consider them part of the inevitable dilemma involved in creating an archive and documenting history. Caution: Because we wanted to represent the actions and words of these providers as true to the events as possible, we have broken our normal policy on not publishing profanity. Therefore, some portions of the material you are about toto readread containcontain graphicgraphic language.language. PHOTO GILLES PERESS/MAGNUM PHOTO PERESS/MAGNUM GILLES PHOTO

FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 37 Engine 40 Engine 50

John Kevin Michael Bruce John Michael Steve Robert Giordano Bracken D’Auria Gary Ginley Lynch Mercado Spear Jr. 47 37 25 51 37 31 38 30 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Glenn Asaeda, MD, deputy medical I work a BLS unit at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.On director, FDNY EMS Sept. 11, me and my partner Bonnie [Giebfried] went to As I neared the World Trade Center, I our bagel place. We’re like,“You know what? We’re just parked a block away.I grabbed my hel- gonna have an easy day.We’re not gonna buff any jobs. met and headed toward the Command Let’s just go do what we’re supposed to do and that’s it.” Post that had been established in front I was reading the paper. I said,“Bonnie, look at this. ASAEDA of the North Tower. I talked to the Today is National 9-1-1 Day.”We were listening to WNEW, Incident Commander and learned an which I never listen to—ever—and we heard this guy go, EMS treatment center had been set up in 7 World Trade. “A plane crashed into the World Trade Center.” So I decided to go there and assist. I said,“Bonnie, are you listening to this idiot? Planes Debris was falling. I looked up to see bodies falling. I don’t crash into the World Trade Center.” initially thought they’d been overcome by carbon All of sudden, the radio started to go crazy.You heard monoxide. But then I saw a man climbing out a window, everybody getting called to the 59th Street Bridge. We trying to reach another floor. He didn’t make it. I’ve seen were like,“What the hell is going on? Planes don’t crash people jump before, but never from so high.When they into the World Trade Center. It doesn’t happen.” fall from 20–25 stories, by the time you’ve said,“Oh God, I got on the radio. Dispatch was like,“Hold on, units!” please don’t jump,”it’s over. But this time I kept repeat- Then she screamed,“All right, 52 Frank, you want to pick ing,“Please don’t jump. Please don’t jump. Please don’t up [52 Edward’s] late job? It’s on your screen.” jump.” I witnessed dozens of people jumping. And this I said,“OK, 63 [en route].We’ll take it.” was just one side of one building. Then I said [to Bonnie],“Let’s stop at my car. I went As I headed into 7 World Trade, an EMT gave me an grocery shopping last night, and I have a whole thing of overview of what he knew—reds, yellows, greens. Soon juice boxes in my car.We’re gonna be there all day.We after I entered the building I heard a crash, and everyone gotta have something to drink.”I thought we would get dove for cover. This was the collapse of the South Tower. some overtime. I wanted to come home and have a real- Everything went black.“Anthrax,”I thought. So I sent an ly cool story to tell.This is what we live for. EMT for the antidote kit.Then I thought,“What good will So we stopped at my car.We got the juice boxes. I got a kit meant for 125 people do here? If we’re not dead my extra camera. We started driving [from Queens to now,we will be.” Manhattan].And everybody was going crazy on the radio. So we ran. I didn’t know the building layout and did- We were high-fiving each other. I was taking pictures [of n’t have a flashlight. But someone had a camera and 1 World Trade]. started flashing the strobe. He said,“I think the exit’s this I was doing my hair. Bonnie’s going,“Don’t put gel in way; follow the flash.” your hair.”I was like,“No, I gotta do it. I just cut it short, We got out of the building and had to decide which and it’ll be all over the place.”I was thinking we would 27 way to go. We picked north, away from 1 World Trade. run into some cute firemen. Had we gone south, the collapse of the North Tower So we were driving down Church Street, and Bonnie would have caught us. said,“Oh my God, Jen, there’s body parts in the street.”I What haunts me to this day is witnessing people jump- looked into a pile of red mush. Like someone took flesh, ing to their deaths from 100 stories.At stuck it into a blender, put it on high for 10 seconds and that moment, I realized all of the med- dumped it on the street. I looked up at [1 World Trade] ical training that I had was absolutely and saw the huge hole.The pictures do not do it justice. worthless because I was helpless to do I turned to Bonnie and said,“I want to go home. I don’t anything for these people. want to be here.This is not cool any more.” We ended up at West and Liberty.We parked under- EMT Jennifer Beckham, neath [the South Bridge] just below the Marriott. We Flushing Hospital Medical Center, were the first in line; everybody else lined up behind us BECKHAM Unit 52 Frank going south on West.There were MetroCare,Hatzalah and

FDNY FDNY Engine 54 Engine 55

Paul Jose Leonard Christopher Peter Robert Christopher Stephen Gill Guadalupe Ragaglia Santora Freund Lane Mozzillo Russell 34 37 36 23 45 28 27 40 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Columbia Presbyterian units filing behind us,facing the towers.No North Tower was coming down. Underneath the bridge was a one knew what was going on. I was taking pictures, and I saw a parking garage; we went in there. Me and Bonnie yelled to see if jumper come down. Pink shirt; black pants. It took him so long anyone was there.There were six or seven of us.We used flash- to hit the ground.Four seconds is an eternity when you’re seeing lights to get ourselves together. someone fall out of a building.When he hit the ground, he just We went back to the MERV to get more equipment.We walked exploded. And we saw three more coming down. I remember toward the water. But Bonnie started having an asthma attack. going,“No, no, no, no, no—don’t do this. Don’t do this to me. I There was an ambulance on the corner. I found it and broke into can’t handle this.” it. I took the Albuterol, nebulizers and oxygen for Bonnie. I also [FDNY EMS] Capt. [Karin] DeShore came over. Apparently took their antidote kit because I figured,“What else is coming?” they had a person, a victim, in the lobby [of 2 World Trade].We So I set Bonnie up.And I went back and got their tech bags and went in the lobby,going,“Where are all the people?”In the lobby, took their MAST pants out.Then I threw their MAST pants out, there was this lady there with a little jazzy wheelchair, sitting ’cause I figured anybody who needs MAST,they’re dead.I just kept with a friend. We put her on the stretcher because the wheel- taking things I thought we would need. chair wouldn’t make it outside with all the hose. She had proba- Back at the waterfront, we ended up with a trauma nurse. I bly been there for a while watching things fall. Outside, I started told her,“Listen,you gotta be stingy with this stuff.Don’t give the to do the paperwork on her,and she said,“I’m not a patient.I just firemen the water to drink. You gotta keep it to wet people’s needed help getting out.”She said,“Will you help me get in the eyes.You cannot give it to them to drink. Just tell them ‘No.’” chair?”Her legs were really stiff,and she couldn’t get in the chair. Then we started loading people on the fire boats to go to Jersey. She [asked],“Where should I go?” People came up to me [and said],“I have chest pains.” I said,“I don’t know where you should go, but just get out of I told them,“Get on the boat.I can’t help you.Get on the boat. here.”So she headed west across the street from the towers with Go to New Jersey. I can’t help you.”What am I gonna do for a her friend.Then Capt.DeShore ordered us to load all our stuff up heart attack person? Nothing. and go across [West] Street to a little grassy knoll.Then I heard I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet. I’ve only cried once. I get this roar,like a 747 or a fighter plane. I looked up, thinking,“This teary-eyed. I still have nightmares that me and Bonnie are on the is really cool, 747s flying around!”Not having any clue what was 106th floor trying to break a door open. I keep saying, “This going on. I looked to the left and I saw the South Tower sinking. tower’s gonna collapse.Bonnie,we know it’s gonna collapse.”I feel I saw three little poofs—I guess probably part of the floors.I can like I’ve been punished by being able to come home. It’s so hard still see them if I close my eyes: poof, poof, poof. to deal with. Me and Bonnie talked the other day that I wish I Bonnie grabbed me and shoved me.Then I ran.I saw a big build- would have died, so I don’t have to deal with all this crap. ing in front of me, and I took a step to the right and then went to My second day back to work, I called Capt. DeShore. I thanked the left, into a little alcove. her for saving my life. She said,“I thought I gave you a death sen- There were six or seven people in the alcove.I remember being tence.I thought I killed you.I remember sending two girls into the by a window on my hands and knees,with my window punch and South Tower to get somebody.I don’t remember you coming out.” my radio, pounding on that window. I remember looking up, try- It made me cry because she saved my life when I came out of ing to take a breath. I thought,“I can’t breathe. I’m gonna die this that building by sending me off the street over to the grassy 28 way.This is really a horrible way to go.” knoll. She saved all our lives. Then I heard a little tiny pop; the window shattered on me.A cop had shot the window out. I crawled over the windowsill and Scott Beloten, EMT-P, Maimonides Hospital got in [the building] and threw up. I screamed for Bonnie and Ambulance Dept., Brooklyn, N.Y. found her. It was just as dark in there as it was outside.Turns out I had just finished my first shift—I was doing a we were buried under four stories of debris—we’d been standing double.That morning I was working a transfer right across the street from [2 World Trade] when it came down. truck. My boss stopped us and said the World We ended up breaking into this bread shop.We walked in and Trade Center had just gotten hit by an airplane. saw a big metal bowl with ice and orange juice. I grabbed an I was like,“Yeah right.”We turned on the radio, orange juice and started drinking. I didn’t even think I should and—immediately—we found out it was true. BELOTEN & spit it out.I just drank it and blew my nose.When we walked out QUINN So we figured a Cessna.What an idiot [the pilot of the bread store, it was a blizzard of volcanic ash. It was dark, is]! It’s daylight. dirty,hard to breathe. I didn’t know what to do. When we got back to the garage, the other paramedics and We found a MERV because we needed supplies.We took two EMTs were watching TV, and you could see that it wasn’t a O2 bags, a tech bag, cravats, sterile water, saline. We didn’t think Cessna that hit the building.Alan Simon [our ambulance direc- we’d need longboards or short boards. tor] said,“Let’s mobilize.”So me,Alan, Pete Cuzzolino and a para- Walking around outside, I heard another loud roar.I knew the medic student,Ralph Bijou,went to the ambulance.We picked up

FDNY FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 58 Engine 74 Engine 201 Engine 205

Robert Ruben Greg Paul Christopher John Robert Nagel Correa Buck Martini Pickford Schardt Wallace 55 44 37 37 32 32 43 Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant

paramedic Joe Cutrone and headed into the city.Pete drove. I thought,“We’ve gotta get to forward triage; maybe even up We got on the Prospect Expressway that leads to the on the upper floors.”But Joe insisted on bandaging my hand. It Gowanus Expressway,and it was clear all the way to the city.We couldn’t have taken more than a minute. got through the Battery Tunnel in minutes.We came out of the While this was going on, Ric said, “Listen, I’m gonna walk tunnel and saw it.You can’t imagine. It was horrific on TV,but to ahead and go to forward triage.I’ll call you on your radio and tell look up to the towers to see the huge gaping hole in one and the you where forward triage is located.” other one with numerous floors on fire—I said,“Oh my God.” Joe finished bandaging my hand, and we went across [the We parked by the [pedestrian] South Bridge on West Street, Marriott] lobby.It was massive, maybe two or three stories high. just south [of the South Tower]. Other ambulances were lined There was no furniture, just large, square marble planters in a up. Maybe we were 200 feet from the towers. row. There was a giant glass wall [extending] the height and Ralph said,“I just saw somebody jump.”Then he said,“There width of the lobby. goes another one.” It really didn’t register. We got out of the When we were about to go through the large glass door to ambulance and started getting our equipment together. I looked enter the South Tower,we heard twisting metal and what sound- up at the tower and saw people jump and got fixated on it.You ed like an explosion in the distance.You heard it getting louder didn’t realize they were coming 600, 700, 800 feet. I watched a and louder and rolling toward you—just like in a movie. I took person just sail across Liberty Street, right into the parking lot Ralph and pushed him the other direction back to where we across the street, 100 feet away from us. He landed on a car.I felt came from. I yelled,“Run!”We all ran back the way we came. like I was watching a movie. It was just firemen and policemen in the lobby,and everybody It was so surreal. I watched person after person jump.There ran. It was like slow motion.You were running and hearing this were so many.It was horrible watching people land.When they noise rolling and [getting] louder and louder.Ric must have been landed, you heard a thud or a bam or a bang.Then you heard a just on the other side of that wall [in the South Tower] because secondary bang.You saw people’s body parts going in different he couldn’t have been more than 30 seconds ahead of us.When directions. I remember one specifically: the person landed you ran, you could sense [the shockwave] behind you. It got behind a car, and I saw their blood and intestines come up five louder and louder, and then you heard that glass wall break.You or six feet in the air. knew the glass was about to hit you. I remember diving behind Every time [someone jumped], I was stuck to this person one of those planters. coming down, watching them pray,watching them try to fly.Joe I remember lying there,gasping for air.I went to take a breath, Cutrone turned to me and said,“Scott,you can’t do a damn thing and my mouth was filled with all this debris. It was like if you for them.”So I said,“All right, let’s go.” sheetrock a room and sweep up the debris and stuff it into your We crossed the street to head through the Marriott World mouth.You couldn’t breathe. I figured,“OK, let me spit this out, Trade Center Hotel to get to the lobby of the South Tower,where and I’ll breathe.”So I spit it out,and I went to take a deep breath, we thought forward triage would be located.Debris was coming but I couldn’t. I was suffocating. I couldn’t breathe, and every down. I was watching so I wouldn’t get hit by a jumper.That’s time I breathed, I inhaled more of this garbage. when a good friend of mine, [FDNY paramedic] Ricardo Quinn, I called out to Joe and Ralph. No answer. I figured they were came walking across the street. Ric and I went to paramedic dead. Now I was alone and scared. The image of my children 30 school together, and we became best friends when we were popped into my head. I wanted to live. So I started walking like paramedics.We were about the same age. He was married. I’m a blind man with my hands out in front of me. I saw a fireman married.At that time, his child was four; my child was two.We with a flashlight,and I grabbed onto him.I wasn’t letting him go. used to study—all-nighters—together. We were going from room to room, and there was debris. Ric walked across the street with us.We walked toward the Ceilings had collapsed.You didn’t know which way to go. corner of West and Liberty. There was a staircase and glass Everywhere we went, the building [the Marriott] was awning in front of the building.As we walked in, a flat piece of plugged.You couldn’t get out.We found a staircase that took us metal came down at me. Since it wasn’t solid, it wasn’t coming downstairs to the lower level.Everywhere we went down there, straight down. It was shifting side to side. I didn’t want it to cut it was collapsed.You couldn’t find a way out. I remember think- my head off, so I blocked it with my arm. I figured it was better ing I was in the Poseidon Adventure when they walk through to sacrifice my arm than my head. I deflected it, and there must the corridors. Finally, we cleared some debris, and we came out have been a sharp edge underneath that came across four of my by a loading dock on West Street. fingers. Ric turned to me with his typical smirk and said,“You When I looked out on West Street,it looked like a giant parking schmuck, why didn’t you run?” lot. It was quiet except for debris still coming down. It was surre- Ric busted my chops about my hand.As we went inside, Joe al because the only person I saw was a lone fireman. It was like a Cutrone said,“We’re gonna stop and bandage your hand.” bomb hit, and everybody was killed, and you made it out. I said,“No, Joe, people need our help.” The street that was bustling [before] with all these people and

FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 207 Engine 214 Engine 216

Karl Shawn Kevin Carl John Michael Kenneth Daniel Joseph Powell Reilly Bedigian Florio Roberts Watson Suhr 25 32 28 35 33 31 39 37 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter cameramen,fire trucks and ambulances now [was littered with] all something, smashed the front door, and we went in. these destroyed ambulances, rolled over. I saw an EMT helping a They had their air-conditioning on. You could breathe. Their female EMT who was injured. He said,“Can you help me?” I just phone worked.A couple of guys looked for food and supplies.They wanted to go. But in my heart, I couldn’t leave her. I looked at her, found apples and soda. It was like an oasis. I went to call my wife and I said,“Come on baby,you gotta get up.You gotta walk.” and couldn’t remember her work number. She said,“I can’t.” The EMTs [who had gone to look for a way out] came back. There was just the two of us, and I didn’t know what was next. They had found a way out.We went out the back of the building So I walked over to an ambulance. It was destroyed.You couldn’t by the Hudson River,and people directed us to a triage center that open the doors to get a stretcher out or anything.But we got a stair was in another hotel on Vesey near 3 World Financial.We wheeled chair out. We got her on the stair chair and took her across the the patient over there and got her on an ambulance. street to one of the World Financial Center buildings. As we I started triaging people, and—out of nowhere—there was Joe crossed, we found an intact ambulance. So we took the longboard, Cutrone. I was so happy to see Joe. He was alive. I wanted to jump collar and stretcher and brought her inside the building.We board- up and down like a little kid.We were chased out of the building ed, collared and secured her on the stretcher. Just as we finished, because there was supposedly an exposed gas line.We got all the we heard a ripping sound, and the world came crashing down patients out. I grabbed a stretcher and two sets of ALS gear,and we again.You heard that twisting and the boom, and it just came clos- started down West Street.We got to Lower Manhattan Community er and louder. College and started to take care of injured cops and firefighters. We grabbed the stretcher; it was still in the down position.We Joe and I went over to help [two] paramedics who had this fire- started running down the hallway. But we couldn’t get anywhere man who was having chest pains in an ambulance they found with with the patient on it.We just wanted to get her and ourselves as all its windows blown out. I looked at Joe, and I said,“Joe what do far back [as possible]. I don’t know why I did this because I [had] you think? Let’s go over to St.Vincent’s with them.They must be get- always said I would leave a patient behind and save my own life. ting inundated with thousands of patients.We could help there.”He We ran down the hallway,and all of a sudden the front windows agreed, and the four of us went to St.Vincent’s.When we pulled up of this building just blew out.I was praying the glass wouldn’t cut me to St.Vincent’s, they had all these chairs and stretchers ready.There in half.You felt that sensation again,right behind you.I dove,but this must have been 40–50 doctors and another 40–50 nurses. But there time I couldn’t dive behind anything.Then the lights went out. My was nothing to do.There were no patients.There was nothing. mouth must have been open; it filled up with debris, and I couldn’t Joe and I got separated when the ED staff took me to another breathe again. I heard the patient screaming ’cause she was supine building to suture me. I finally got in touch with my wife and start- on this board, and everything was landing on her face. I felt so bad ed crying. I just needed to hear her voice. for her because she was strapped in. I really felt bad. I got a ride to Brooklyn.When I stepped out of the ambulance to There was a store with its lights on. One of the guys picked up walk back into the garage,it was the first time I felt safe through this whole entire thing. I headed [west] down Vesey toward Greenwich. I noticed I have a lot of built-up emotion about a lot of things,things that bodies laying out.A lot of debris and still [more] debris coming I’ll never forget and never be able to escape. If we [had arrived] down. Definitely an unsafe area. There was no way we would three or four minutes sooner,I would have been three or four min- stage there, which is what the preplan indicated. So I turned left utes deeper into the building. If I didn’t get hit by the metal, Joe on West Street and proceeded to the entrance at 1 World Trade wouldn’t have made me stop.Had that piece of metal taken off my near the garage on the east side of the street. fingers,Ricardo would be alive because he never would have gone I got there within five minutes of the first hit. On my arrival, ahead; he wouldn’t have left me. Loutsky and Ramos’ vehicle was the only EMS vehicle I saw. I The next morning, when I woke up, I called Ric, figuring that if assumed command of the EMS operation. I called Citywide and we got out, Ric got out. I got Ginny [Quinn, Ric’s wife], and I said, said,“Condition 04, I am assuming command of EMS operations “Ginny,is Ric there?” at this location.”My next thought was to grab a hold of the MCI, She said,“Scott, he didn’t come home.” grab control of the people responding before everything got I said,“Ginny,he didn’t come home? He was with me yesterday.” crazy.My next concern was communications. That’s when she started making phone calls, and I started call- Alex, I made my staging officer. He was to get patients who ing people I know in the fire department to find out if he was could walk out of the vehicles.As staging officer,I wanted him to alive. Ric is driven. He wouldn’t have called home. He’d be work- jot down incoming ambulance unit numbers and tell them to get ing his ass off like you wouldn’t believe. Ric thrived on that. out of their vehicles, get triage tags for incoming patients. Ric was the guy you got behind. Ric led the way.When Ric and [Ramos’] direction was communications. He was to stand by I were fire department EMTs and in medic school, there was a in case I lost my voice.Eric followed orders.The rest of the day— high-profile call Ric was on.It was a school bus that a giant oak tree every time I turned around—we were bumping into each other. fell on with five little girls inside. Everybody was all excited In the beginning, I wanted to start the START system to triage because Ric was there.They all wanted to get the story from Ric, patients. I knew I didn’t have the capability to treat any patients. and I knew he was hurting. I walked over to him, and I said,“Ric, People were coming out with first-degree to fourth-degree burns how are you?” after the explosion—unbelievable what I saw coming out of this With a pained look on his face, he looked at me and said,“Five disturbance.All I wanted once I got 10 to 15 units on the scene more faces I have to live with.” was to triage because I knew the magnitude of people that Never did I think it would be Ric Quinn’s face I’d have to live [were] going to be coming out of this. with. In our 9-1-1 system we also have voluntary units—the St. Editor’s note: Ricardo Quinn’s body was found on Jan. 22, beneath Vincent’s unit,the Cabrini Hospital units.These units operate and the debris of the South Tower. transport [the same as any other] 9-1-1 units. But some of them are not as accustomed to our incident command system [as oth- Rene Davila, lieutenant, FDNY EMS ers].As the patients came out,[EMS personnel] would grab them. I was [at Battalion 4], speaking to Lt. [Bill] I was like,“No—no way.”My first objective was to triage—not to Melaragno. When [FDNY EMTs Alex Loutsky’s treat.Their reaction was,“What’s wrong with this lieutenant?” and Eric Ramos’] unit first went on the air [with My concern was triaging patients, but my first concern was 32 the transmission reporting the first crash], my everybody’s safety.Numerous times I yelled that it was a hard-hat reaction was,“These guys are bananas.I gotta go operation.“Get out of that ambulance? Gotta have a helmet on.” over there and straighten them out.”I thought When I first got there—five minutes after the first hit—there DAVILA they had lost it—until I heard [FDNY EMTs was no way I was letting my guys go inside the building. I had a Orlando Martinez’s and Frank Puma’s] call sec- couple of guys in our system [who] came to me as a supervisor onds later.Then the radio started charging up with voices. and wanted to go in [1 World Trade]. I’m like,“No way. I don’t I ran out the door and began traveling south on South Street. have time to explain. Bottom line: Either do what I say or you’re I passed the projects, and I looked up at the Towers and saw the out of the ballgame.”My philosophy and the way I was trained is gap in [1 World Trade]. I called Citywide and said,“I am confirm- that we let the trained people go in and bring the patient back. ing there is an incident; some type of explosion.”I told them it So I was standing there watching the rescue units run inside appeared that a couple of floors had blown up. Tower 1. I was transmitting and praying to God that I’d get some I told them to send every available resource and alert the sen- more bosses to the scene.As I was transmitting, my peripheral ior staff.I said to roll the MERV.I actually used the plural—roll the vision caught plane number two. Next thing I knew, I lost the MERVs because we got MERVs in other boroughs designed to plane [from sight], and then the explosion [happened]. treat a bunch of people and for surgical procedures. I knew we Everybody stopped for a second,but the operation kept on mov- would need two,three maybe four divisions with two,three,four ing. Rescue units kept going inside, and you had more fire appa- staging areas. ratus going toward Tower 2.

FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 217 Engine 219 Engine 226

Steven Neil Philip T. Kenneth John David Brian Stanley Coakley Leavy Hayes Phelan Chipura DeRubbio McAleese Smagala Jr. 36 34 67 41 39 38 36 36 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter, Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Retired Known for creating innovative solutions to TTHHEE TTOONNGGUUEE everyday emergency TTAMAMEERR care challenges, Anatomy of a better blade Hartwell Medical once Super bright light source again redefines the for excellent illumination. again redefines the Standard large lamp Sized to fit the socket accepts all standard of care— majority of adult standard adult patients creating a laryngoscope bulbs. universal blade for this time for most cases.

airway management. Surgical grade stainless steel Unique blade provides strength No more floppy tongues design provides a and long term more anatomically durability. Easy to appropriate curve clean and disinfect. or dimly lit, obstructed which improves views. See for yourself direct visualization.

Wider blade surface keeps why the unique benefits Fits all standard the tongue out of the way handles with no special and reduces the need to connections required. of the GRANDVIEW™ reposition the blade. Blade will provide you with a better view ™ to the cords and help THETHE GRANDVIEGRANDVIEWW improve your intubation LARLARYNGOSCOPEYNGOSCOPE BLADEBLADE success rate in the field. from HHARARTWELLTWELL MMEDICEDICALAL

Check out these other innovative products that are designed to meet the needs of today’s EMS professionals.

CombiCarrier® BioHoop® Evac-U-Splint® Isothermal Rescue Blanket

HARTWELL MEDICAL Creating Quality Products for Life 6352 Corte del Abeto, Suite J • Carlsbad, CA 92009-1408 800-633-5900 • 760-438-5500 • Fax 760-438-2783 • www.HartwellMedical.com Within five minutes after the second hit, I got relieved. I had port just one patient.It was the good of the many vs.the good of seen officers [before then],but they were lieutenants like me.I had the few. I didn’t have enough resources in that sector. I walked them help Alex with staging and triage.A couple of minutes later, by,and this guy looked at me, and he had this stare. Every time I I saw [FDNY EMS] Lt. [Ross] Terranova and [FDNY EMS] Chief went by,I saw the guy getting a little ashier.I know he was going [Jerry] Gombo,our No.2 in EMS command of the fire department. deeper, deeper into shock. I couldn’t transport him. In our system, it’s normally a face-to-face hand off of com- In the middle of this we heard a rumble.The best way I could mand.I’ve known Chief Gombo for many years.You gotta under- describe it is driving by La Guardia Airport and all the jets are lined stand: We already had Tower 1 hit. We already saw one or two up.You hear the engines revving,ready to take off.I felt the ground people jump off the buildings. Now you had Tower 2 [hit].You shake, and I heard people yelling,“The building is falling!” had hard debris,paper and smoke coming out of both buildings. I looked up, and I didn’t see that building no more. I saw a He looked at me; I looked at him. Both of our mouths were wave of smoke and debris.All hell broke loose. I ran inside the open.It was the same reaction you probably had when you turned Millennium [Hotel].I got knocked down.I don’t know what I got the television on.This is the MCI of all mothers.I gave him my clip- knocked down by—the debris or the pressure. board that Alex had [kept] with all the units already on the scene. The hotel lobby was dark. I saw a light and went toward a Then he asked me,“Rene,what’s on the other side [of the tow- door. I was a chicken-shit scared supervisor. I was panicked.The ers]?” I was already so lost in everything that I couldn’t recall. I noise I heard was something like I never heard before in my life. go,“Alex,What’s on the other side?” You could still feel the doors shaking, the metal in the hotel “Church and Fulton.” bending. “Church and Fulton.” This is comic book, now: In this narrow room there was a He ordered me to go to Church and Fulton and start the oper- bunch of computers and phones. I went to one of the comput- ation there.I wanted to take my own unit with me because these ers to go for help on AOL or something. I’m like,“You dumbass. are my guys. [Heading there], I made a right on Church [off Everybody is doing this.” Vesey], and we missed Fulton because of all the debris in the I opened up the door.There was a bunch of debris and dark- street. I drove over bodies and lamp posts. I said,“I’m going to ness in front of me.All I had was my Maglite. I moved the debris catch a flat.”I [returned] to Church and Fulton right in front of and tried to walk. I found myself inside an elevator. I go,“This is the Millennium [Hilton] Hotel. You had people pouring out of not good because I could walk into an elevator shaft where there every exit, going up every street. I started getting some units to isn’t no elevator.” help me. I sent all the walking wounded up Fulton Street. I found my way back and closed the door to the room. I went We set up triage and treatment areas. I was getting volunteer through a warped feeling.I think we all shared it—all of us there units and the paid-for units,like AMR,that have no concept of our through the collapse period. We’re always in dangerous posi- incident command system.They were clogging my egress from tions, and there’s always that life-threatening possibility. But I the location. I told [Loutsky] to fill those units up [and get them knew I was dead.All of sudden my feeling was,“OK, I’m gonna out].The only units I kept were the fire department units, the die. Calm down. Die with some dignity.” Cabrini units,the St.Vincent’s units—because these were EMTs I The next thing that came to me was,“Don’t defecate on your- knew within the system. self because everybody will be talking [about] how they picked 34 Prior to the first collapse, the system was starting to fall up Lt. Davila body’s with shit on it.”That’s the honest truth. I together: Supervisors were arriving on scene. We had a good picked up the phone and got a dial tone. I called my wife. I told triage system operating fairly well.Our LSU had arrived.We were her,“I love you. Say goodbye to everybody.”You could hear her treating people with 02; nebulizers—treating a lot of asthmatics. hysterical because she worked up Church Street and saw the On that intersection,a cop said a patient was having a grand mal building collapsing. You could hear her tell somebody in her seizure.The cop goes,“You better help him.” office,“Call 9-1-1!” I said,“You know how you can help? Push him away on the I go,“Fern, I am 9-1-1.” sidewalk where he’ll be safe, and you haul ass up Fulton Street.” Maybe 15 minutes went by.I went from scared to a calmness. Fulton Street was basically green tags.You walk? You go. One Then I got pissed off. I was pissed off, and I’m going,“All right, if patient really rattled [me]. He was a Hispanic male. Had no shirt. I’m gonna die,I’m gonna die fighting.”I told my wife,“I’m leaving He had a hole in his upper left chest—the size of my fist.I looked the phone open, but don’t expect me to come back on. I’m get- at it as I felt his left shoulder, and I thought,“For all intents and ting out of here.” purposes, he should be pneumo, hemo—he should be dead!” When I opened the door,I saw a little light.The lobby was com- However, he was alive. We treated him. My units wanted to pletely destroyed—a lot of glass and debris.I came out on the side transport this guy.This is one of the positions that I was put into of Fulton Street, and I found [Eric].We hugged, we kissed, and we as a supervisor:I had [my people] screaming,“Let’s get him outta married each other! I told him,“What we can’t do alone, we can here. He’s gonna die!” But I couldn’t use an ambulance to trans- do together.”

FDNY Engine 230

Brian Frank Michael Jeffrey Eugene Edward Ahearn Bonomo Carlo Stark Whelan White III 43 42 34 30 31 30 Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Then we did something very stupid:We went back! I go,“Ramos, man shrugged. I go, “Well, by order of New York City Fire guess what? My wallet,my [federal tax] refund check is in my vehi- Department, I’m in charge. Go in your register, get your money and cle [parked in front of the Millennium].They’re not gonna write put it in your pocket.”Because we’ve been brought up in a service another check.We gotta get it.” of civilian complaints, I didn’t wanna hear no comment about no So we went. My vehicle was burnt.The windows were all out. money. The air bags had exploded.The seats were burnt. But my bag was The people in there were happy to see us in our uniforms, and intact.And my check. Eric was looking at me because I’m the boss.It helped me keep my We started walking, holding hands.You heard a rumble.A lady composure because they looked to me for leadership. screamed, “The building is leaning.”About that time, the rumble I was hot as hell. I took my turnout coat off and threw it on top started again.I looked back and saw debris starting to come down. of the food counter.Then the guy threw my jacket on the floor. I We ran, holding onto each other.I looked back.You ever go to a go,“What the fuck you doing?” He goes,“The food, the food!” So beach with a high surf and that big wave is coming and you’re like, now I was pissed off. I grabbed my coat, threw it on the counter “Oh shit”? That’s what this was.This pile of smoke coming—a roar and told him not to touch it.Then I had everybody go to the back getting louder. It overcame us, and we were in the dark. and stay calm. I grabbed my handkerchief and put it on my mouth and nose. I About 15 to 20 minutes later,I saw a little light in the street. I had told Ramos to grab something and cover his mouth and nose and the guys in the store get everybody towels,wet them in the sink and breathe deep.We walked through this in the dark. My thoughts at cover their faces. I told everybody to hold hands, go out and walk that point were worse than during the first collapse. I didn’t know east.That’s when we got out and made it to Broadway.I saw one or if we were going to make it. two ambulances there.We went inside Chase Manhattan Bank, and I Ramos goes,“Lieutenant?” grabbed one of the watercoolers and dumped some on our heads. “What the fuck you want?” We come out,and I’m going,“That Loutsky—he’s one pain in the “I lost my radio.” ass, but I would sure like to find him.”And we went back, looking “Your fuckin’ radio? If we live through this, remind me to write for him heading back down west on Fulton toward the towers.We you up for losing the radio!” found him running like a madman. He was all right. Next I heard hear a boom. I had walked into a lamp post. I did- After the second collapse, I tried to get on the radio. Suddenly it n’t see it.“Ramos,this is not gonna work.Move over to the right and seemed like you could hear Citywide transmitting any personnel in try to feel the buildings.”That’s how we made it up Fulton Street. the area go to two locations. Battery Park had an EMS staging area All the businesses must have closed after the first hit.We finally saw and the other staging area turned out to be the Unified Command a Subway sandwich store,and the light was on.I looked in and said, Post—West and Chambers at Stuyvesant High School. “Open the God damn door!” We had to regroup, so the best place to go was the closest sta- When they opened the door I go,“Who’s in charge?”An [Asian] tion or hospital—NYU Downtown Hospital. The picture down there was unbelievable.These people were prepared for this big We just looked around and saw what we could dive under or MCI. Surgeons, doctors, nurses were [outside] waiting. Debris run for. Everybody scattered in different directions. Then the from the buildings had made it all the way to the East River— tower came down.We had 23 personnel there at that point.And even in front of the hospital.You saw the Brooklyn Bridge and probably about 18 or 19 were there with us on that side. I think people walking out of Manhattan. No patients to treat. There that if I were closer to the front entrance of the building,I would were literally no patients to treat because, as we finally know have run into the lobby.There was no concept the building was [now], it was all casualties. coming down.That would have been my safe haven. [When I finally got home that night] I turned the TV on.That’s Everybody scattered.As we were running, the smaller debris when it started hitting me. I knew it, but now I was seeing what started landing around us.Then when the larger debris started had happened around me. falling around us—I-beams and that type of material—the three When Chief Gombo told me,“I want you to go around and take or four guys running with me dove under some stairs that led to command of the other side,”I had choices of EMTs to take with the bridge. [After the collapse], I got up and started moving me. My choice of EMTs was my guys because no matter what we pieces away.There was [now] six or eight inches of this dust go through in between [calls] with each other,that’s personal.That from the building concrete on the ground.It was just pulverized. passes. I’ll scream at them in the morning and chase them out of I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t hear.You felt your way around. here.They come in,“Oohh, the Puerto Rican Hitler.”But it’s part of There was a plate-glass window that had been broken, so we the job. I loved these guys before the event, and now I love them went in and started walking through the [1] World Financial even more because we shared something together.We shared a building.None of us could talk.Our mouths were full of this con- disaster together. It was almost like an out-[of]-body experience, crete. My ears were full of concrete. because these guys felt the feelings, and I felt the feelings. Our eyes were burning. We couldn’t see where we were going. Every time you opened your eyes, you couldn’t see what Jack Delaney, director of EMS, was going on.We made it down to a small deli. New York Presbyterian, the University We looked for towels so we could put them over our faces. Hospital of Columbia and Cornell Unfortunately, with modern technology, there were no regular I was notified by our communication center towels—just disposable napkins. So we took off to go back and that a small aircraft had gone into Tower 1.We see if we could find the rest of our coworkers.We went back to had one unit responding, and then about three where the building came down but couldn’t find any of our peo- minutes later the comm center told me that we ple. Then everybody started yelling the second building was DELANEY had multiple units responding. coming down. So we took off again. In addition to the 9-1-1 units, we sent 23 Thank God windows kept breaking. We ran by the Chase EMTs and paramedics.When something like this occurs,the [trans- Manhattan Bank. I figured,“Bank, secure. Go in there.”We dove fer] units respond back to the hospital and start moving on what- into the bank.You could hear the ground rumbling and 1 World ever equipment they think they’ll need.Unit 10-David was coming Trade coming down.The bank started to fill up with dust and out of [NYU Downtown Hospital].So they responded down there. smoke. So we went in deeper,into the back rooms of the bank. I When they got down there, the second plane had hit. shut one of the doors behind us to keep the smoke out. I told 36 I responded with our other units.We parked right in front of Mike [Mokson] to stand under a doorframe, and we stood there Tower 2 on West Street. Everybody was trying to get away from as the building came down.The entire building [we were in] was the building.We were probably 1,500 feet away from the build- shaking.The ceiling tiles were coming down.The light fixtures ing because of the people who were jumping out of the build- were popping out of the ceiling. I actually thought the building ings. Then debris started coming down, so some of our units we were in was about to collapse. The power in our building went and parked under the pedestrian South Bridge.That bridge went out, but the bank’s emergency lights went on. When we actually is what saved the majority of us. I think we would have tried to get out of the bank, all the doors I closed to keep us free lost a lot more if we weren’t near it. from the debris were locked.We went around some corridors, I walked to [the Command Post] to get our orders.I was walk- found an open door and exited the bank. ing back down to the group to tell them what our assignment We walked down toward the New York Harbor. Everybody was, and an ESU cop standing right in front Tower 2 started seemed to be migrating down toward the water zone. Police screaming,“Everybody run for your lives! It’s coming down!” boats had started to congregate at that location. I ran into a cou- When the ESU cop yelled, you heard a “pop, pop, pop.” I ple of my staff members and [FDNY EMS Deputy Chief] Charlie looked up to where I thought the noise was coming from.That’s Wells. I looked at Charlie; Charlie looked at me, and we hugged when you could see the debris starting to break away at one one another.Then we started gathering [our] staff. location.You could see the top of the tower hanging over, not I saw a lot of civilians down at the water. People didn’t know perpendicular with the rest of the building. what the hell hit them.There was no sense of time down there.

FDNY FDNY Engine 235 Engine 238

Steven Nicholas Francis Lee Lawrence Glenn Bates Chiofalo Esposito Fehling Veling Wilkinson 42 39 32 28 44 46 Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant

People weren’t in a total panic.They were walking along asking staff meetings about three or four times a day.I promised them that for directions.We were walking around there looking like snow- I would tell them everything, honestly. I told them I had agreed men. Literally, the only thing you saw of people was the red with the families that I was not going to notify them until I per- around their eyes. sonally verified that it was actually their loved one that had been Back at Ground Zero,I could intermittently get through on my recovered. I also told the staff that I was not going to share with Nextel to keep in touch with my dispatcher,do roll calls and fig- them the discovery before I shared it with the families.That was ure out who was missing. I had been out of radio contact for the only rule I was not going to break. more than 90 minutes until then. It took about three hours to We lost a total of nine vehicles:seven ambulances and two com- account for 21 of our personnel. mand vehicles.When I was being treated in the emergency room, We [did] radio roll calls, trying to locate the different staff the president of the hospital came and spoke to me. He said,“Call members.There was a period of time where some of us were not and do a verbal order, and we’ll replace everything you lost.” in radio contact.We were hoping that our two missing members, We had three or four staff members who wanted to take fly- [Keith Fairben and Mario Santoro],were just out of radio contact. ers of Keith and Mario around to the hospitals in Jersey and They were last seen working near Tower 2.Newsweek has a pho- throughout New York.They coordinated that among themselves, tograph of them treating patients there. The last photograph and there was no duplication of effort.This was something they taken of them was about 12 minutes before the building came felt they wanted to do.They wanted to make sure their cowork- down. Keith was on the cell phone with his dad just minutes ers weren’t lying in some ICU on a respirator, not able to speak. before Tower 2 collapsed. His dad called him, and he said to his They did that on day two, three and four.We gave them the vehi- father,“Dad,I’m really busy.There’s a lot of people here that need cles to take. Kinko’s made them free color copies. my help. I have to go.” The lack of recognition of EMS efforts by the news media and Mario and Keith weren’t responding over our private radios. others has affected the staff. I try to get them to put everything The fire department was calling wondering why they weren’t into perspective. Had the towers not collapsed, we probably responding to the fire department [dispatchers]. So it was a mat- would have gotten a lot more recognition. Mostly, I think people ter of did they lose their way,or did something happen? are upset about the lack of recognition for those that have fallen. My personal frustration is that we went down there with the expectation of saving a lot of lives.In actuality,for a period of time, Tamara Drummond, EMT-P, NYU we were concentrating on saving our own lives.Anybody we came Downtown Hospital EMS Dept., Unit 01 across, we helped. But we were retreating instead of going in. Victor with partner Juana Lomi, EMT-P I didn’t go home for a week and a half after this event.My kids, I was working on 01 Victor with Juana Lomi. [ages 20,13,9],came to the hospital to see me the Thursday after NYU Downtown Hospital is at Beekman and the event.The following Sunday, I snuck out of the hospital and Gold Streets, not far from the World Trade went home. Sunday tradition: Go to mass and then Dad cooks Center. When we got to Church and Vesey DRUMMOND breakfast. I was out of here for about three and a half hours. Streets, there were so many injured people & LOMI Out of our 23 responders, 14 were injured.When you’re look- running out at us that we just started triaging. ing at 10' beams that weigh 13 tons—these things are six inches A lot of people had placed tourniquets on [the injured], so we 38 thick—all you need is one of them to tap you on the shoulder,and were removing a lot of tourniquets. you’ll never be talking about it. I kept saying to my staff,“I don’t The patient volume was getting so heavy that we decided to want to hear any more bullshit about wearing these damn hel- make a triage area over at St. Peter’s Church. If the injured could mets. If it weren’t for the helmets, we all would have been dead.” walk,we told them to walk to the church.We told BLS units to go Throughout the night [of the 11th] and throughout the follow- to St. Peter’s and start taking the injured to the hospital by fours. ing days, there were a lot of rumors going around about this one Somehow I lost sight of my partner because she was triaging being found, that one being found. There was a tremendous on one side, and I was triaging on the other.The next thing I amount of misinformation throughout the EMS, police and fire knew, I heard this loud crash. It was the second plane running communities because you were dealing with a lot of emotion. into the South Tower.All of a sudden there were huge chunks of On [the 12th], I gathered the staff because it was getting to a debris raining down on us. Fiery pieces of metal.A big piece of point where if I left the premises,people were saying,“He got noti- the plane’s fuselage fell to one side of me. The plane came in fication.”I told them that I made a commitment to the families to from the south and when it went through the building, the stuff stop the misinformation.I told the families I would tell them exact- that came out rained down on us on the northeast side. The ly what was going on at all times because we had been told—unof- pieces of debris were the size of desks. ficially—five or six times within the first 24,36 hours that they had When the plane pieces started to come down I ran maybe a found their bodies.That was an emotional roller coaster. block. People were getting hit with the shrapnel from the plane. After that, I pulled the staff together, and we had impromptu There were big sizzling pieces of metal cutting into people around

FDNY FDNY FDNY Engine 279 Engine 285 Engine 320

Ronnie Michael Anthony Raymond James J. Henderson Ragusa Rodriguez York Corrigan 52 29 36 45 60 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Captain, Retired us.When I turned to look up,I realized that I still wasn’t in a safe area cell phone],hysterical,telling me that a plane had hit the World Trade because chunks of the plane had damaged the building I was stand- Center. I immediately ran out and told [my partner] Steve [Craver]. ing under. So I went back another block. It was chaos. People were We could hear commotion on the radio as we jumped in the being trampled, grabbing at you, screaming and yelling. ambulance.We went to the West Side Highway and headed south. I was trying to process everything that was happening, and I also We were there a minute and a half after the [first] plane hit. We worried about my partner because I didn’t know where she was. I parked underneath the pedestrian North Bridge that crosses near was two blocks away from Church and Vesey.Another ambulance 6 World Trade to Winter Garden and the World Financial Center. crew came up to me.An EMT from the crew was hysterical, telling Because of the potential hazard of falling debris,I parked under the me about her daughter and how she [the EMT] can’t be out here. I bridge, near the massive pillar in the center. I figured that would said,“Well,you know,there’s nothing you can do.This is your job.This protect the unit and us. is what you have to do. So buck up, and let’s get this done.” There were people running up to the ambulance with com- My partner was three ambulances in front of me while we were pound fractures, no clothing on, totally burned—third-degree telling them where to go,so she was quite a bit away from me.That’s burns. No hair on their heads, no eyebrows, no eyelashes. when I heard a sound that was like four or five trains coming.The Steve opened up the back, and I started filling the ambulance volunteer crew that I was talking to at the time was getting ready to [with people].Somebody on scene was ordering us to triage,to stay drive away. I told the driver,“No, no, no, don’t drive away.Take me there on scene. But I felt in my heart that wasn’t the right thing to with you.”They quickly pulled me into the ambulance across the pas- do.I looked at Steve;he was trying to help these people in the back, senger’s lap and down into the small space where the radios are in trying to clean their wounds and cool them off. I said,“We’re going the cab.The driver was hysterical.As we fled,I could hear big pieces to transport.”I made a U-turn and transported to the hospital. of debris hitting the ambulance, and I began to see a huge cloud These patients were from the ground level.They all came out of approaching.Suddenly,I realized I was leaving my partner behind.So the elevators or walked by the elevators.The elevators were infer- I said,“No,you have to let me out.I have to go back.”They didn’t real- nos from the jet fuel.The pressure from the explosion blew out the ly want to stop,but I insisted.So [the driver] came elevator doors on the main floor.Whoever was walking by those to a rolling stop and told me to get out. I got elevators [in the North Tower] was burned or had multiple trauma reunited with Juana several hours later back at injuries. NYU Downtown. We transported six patients to St. Vincent’s. Steve and I had to leave people behind because it wasn’t safe. The top of Tower 1 Louis Garcia, EMT-P, St. Vincent’s appeared to be leaning—above the fire floors. It’s something that’s Manhattan, Unit 06 King haunting me, and I know it will haunt me until the day I die. We were getting breakfast on University Place As we left,a woman ran up to us and said,“Do you have sheets?” GARCIA and 12th Street, and my wife called me [on my I said,“Yes.”

Toll Free: 877-228-7978

www.gardenstatebattery.com ARE YOU READY TO BE POWERED INTO THE MILLENNIUM?

Garden State Battery is a full Garden State Battery has… Batteries for… service supplier of batteries & Experience that counts. accessories. Our goal is to (Technical, Sales, Customer Service, & Manufacturing) • Camcorder/Professional Video provide… • Two-Way Radios An environmentally safe recycling program. • PC Computer (CMOS) • Largest Selection • Cellular/Cordless Phones Various state of the art battery chargers and conditioners to • Affordable Prices • UPS/Lead Acid/Gel Cell extend the life and performance of your batteries. • Extended Warranties • Streamlight • Reliable Performance Skilled craftsmen able to duplicate • Laptop Computers & Accessories • Superior Quality discontinued/hard-to-find battery packs • Emergency Lighting • Prompt Delivery or design one to your requirements. • Medical Equipment

Also available a full-line of Duracell/Eveready Disposables and Motorola OEM batteries. And Much More…

Visit:http://www.gardenstatebattery.com/ for secure online ordering of all your battery needs. Or call your customer service representative to request your free catalog and make your battery buying easy. We provide same day shipment of most in-stock items. P.O. Box 1126 Somerset, NJ 08875-1126 • Toll Free: 877-228-7978 • Fax 732-296-9312 • E-mail to:[email protected] She said,“I have a woman that’s burned here.” People were something’s not right.”[St.Vincen’t paramedic] Ben [Shelton] has running.It was chaos.I’ll never forget that image of this [injured] known me for a long time.I asked him as a friend,“What I’m feel- woman, literally with no clothes on. Her back was badly burned. ing, is this normal?” She had no hair left. No eyebrows left. She was sitting down, like He said,“I’ve been doing EMS a long time, and I have never, in a squatting position,and her skin had peeled up and was crisp. ever felt like this.”I was confused by my feelings. Ben gave me She sat there and looked up at me, and I felt terrible. very good advice. I felt comfortable with what he said to me. It I said,“Ma’am,there’s more ambulances coming.There’s gonna kind of gave me some sort of closure. be people here for you.”She was shaking and looked up at me. I took a sheet, covered her and poured water on her to cool her Zachary Goldfarb, deputy chief, FDNY EMS down.The [uninjured] woman said,“I’ll stay here; I’ll stay here.” Monday the 10th we started our 6 Charlie shift And we left [with our other patients]. She probably passed away [a four-day shift from 10 p.m.to 8 a.m.].Me and because of the burns.But I also wonder if they [both] were there my aide,[EMT] Mary Merced,went in at 10 that when the building started coming down. night.I had just gotten a new Crown Vic,and we When we arrived [at the hospital] with the first six [patients], had cleaned it top to bottom. The previous I told everybody,“There’s gotta be thousands.”At the end of the day—Sunday—we spent our tour looking at the MERCED & day,we were very surprised that there weren’t as many patients GOLDFARB various LSUs in our area and our two MERVs to as we expected. Having no patients is probably the most frus- see how their stock levels were. I just had this trating thing about the incident. annoying feeling that they weren’t stocked the way they should We went back to the scene.We were there before the second be. So we spent the next two nights doing inspections. plane hit. When we arrived, they were using the outside of 3 Tuesday morning we left Brooklyn at 8:30 to drive home World Financial as a secondary triage area.We were directed to when we heard a cop screaming on the police frequency that a turn west on Vesey and back up to the curb near 3 World plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I listen to the radio a Financial.As we walked toward the building, I heard a loud rum- lot, and I know when it’s real.This was real. ble. It was almost like an earthquake. It was unreal. But I was so We turned the car around and told Citywide we were focused on getting us out of the area that everything else turned responding. It took us 26 minutes to get there.The sky was per- off—like tunnel vision.You really don’t hear much. fectly blue—not one cloud.A beach day. Mary’s driving; I’m on I ran into 3 Financial Center initially.I tried to stay focused,but my department cell phone, calling [FDNY EMS Division Chief] at the same time, I followed everybody. It was probably a bad Walter [Kowalczyk]. I said,“Listen. Plane into the towers. Big job. thing to do, but people were running [and] so hysterical, so con- Gotta respond.” fused. Steve and I got separated for a while. I ran in and every- My responsibility was to plan this thing.We had to go through body was running back and forth,hysterical.There are numerous the [Brooklyn]-Battery Tunnel because I knew the police would entrances to 3 World Financial,and people were running in from cut off a lane for us. At that point only the first plane had hit. all sides. It was almost like a dream. When we saw the plume coming up from the building,we knew My instincts told me to get out of there.When I ran out,it was it wasn’t a small plane. literally snowing [debris]. I found Steve in the back of our ambu- I was on the phone with the Citywide dispatch supervisor,giv- 40 lance.We decided to leave the area.As we left, we ran into [St. ing him direction. I told him to put together task forces in the Vincent’s paramedic] Richie [Fellegara].He was covered in white boroughs to support Manhattan. I told him to call 10 units in from head to toe.We also ran into [St.Vincent paramedic] Ken each task force and put them in each borough at the bridges.You Jaimes. They both kept telling us, “Just keep moving farther ride the edge of the rail on something like this. If you bring too north, farther north.”Steve and I went west on Vesey to North many [resources] in,you’re going to hurt the city;if you don’t get End Ave.We then followed Chambers Street to West.As we were them ready,you may hurt the city,anyway.I also told him to acti- turning left [north] on West Street,Tower 2 collapsed. vate our regional mutual-aid agreement. I was very proud of Steve because he kept me focused.It’s not We pulled out onto West Street.From a beautiful sunny day we anything that he said. It was just the way he acted. I was saying, pulled into Hades.The second aircraft had hit while we were in “Let’s get this person and let’s go.”And he was saying,“Louis,let’s the tunnel.There was debris in the street and tons of emergency just do this.”When we came [back to St. Vincent’s], everybody vehicles around.We proceeded north and parked just below the was very calm.They were so ready to treat patients or give us South Bridge before Liberty. supplies. It gave us a sense of comfort. We got out of the car and saw stuff coming off the building:air- You don’t know what’s right or wrong when you start feeling plane stuff, building stuff, people stuff. I was there in ’93, and on your emotions. I never felt like this before. I was very cocky the the one hand I’m like,“OK,we’ve done this already.We know how first two weeks after Sept. 11, acting like nothing was bothering to deal with this.”On the other hand,this was very different.In ’93 me.And then all of a sudden, I was like,“Wow! These emotions, one of the first things that grabbed me were a couple of windows

FDNY FDNY Hazmat Hazmat Company 1 Operations

Dennis John Martin Thomas Jonathon Dennis Kevin John Carey Crisci DeMeo Gardner Hohmann Scauso Smith Fanning 51 48 47 39 48 46 47 54 Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Battalion Chief Chelsea. The Number One PTO of Choice to the Fire Industry. Whether running a water pump or operating the Jaws of Life, Chelsea offers a wide range of torque ratings and speed ratios to help get the job done.

277/278 Series

Parker Hannifin Corporation Chelsea Products Division 8225 Hacks Cross Rd • Olive Branch, MS • 38654 Phone (662) 895-1011 • Fax (662) 895-1019 ISO 9001-94 Registered www.parker.com/chelsea broken out with smoke showing.When you see that in a high-rise End. My tactic was to get everything clear on West Street. building, you know it’s a problem. Here, you had a big chunk of I was in the middle of the intersection at West and Vesey look- building missing out of two high-rises and a lot of smoke showing. ing back on the scene,trying to do an assessment.I said to myself, We put on our helmets, grabbed the command board, IC vests, “I don’t like the way this looks.”I don’t remember exactly what I notepads,phones—the stuff we usually take.We each grabbed our saw. I think I was seeing things that I now don’t want to remem- own personal cell phones, which we don’t normally do. Later on, ber. I called Pinkus on the radio and told him to move the opera- those phones worked when the department phones didn’t. tion inside 3 World Financial and do an accountability check.I told The first thing that was awry in this incident was we couldn’t him get the whole thing buttoned up in the building. get to the preplan location for EMS staging at Greenwich and Almost at the same time, an ESU cop came along wearing bal- Vesey.The second issue was what was going on [around us]. I listic equipment, carrying an MP-5, saying,“This is a tactical area. didn’t head for inside [1 World Trade].We went to the area facing Clear the intersection!” the entrance to the Marriott. That’s where fire had set up the We were on the street near a MERV.I don’t remember it being Command Post. particularly noisy or chaotic. My piece of the pie was under con- I told my aide to start setting up the command board. I got on trol. I was sort of detached. I would have been surprised if it had the radio to EMS operations to say,“I’m here.What do you need been different.The only way I can make a parallel is this: If you do me to do?” I radioed Chief [Jerry] Gombo, the EMS commander. a patient assessment, you don’t really see the patient’s face. His aide told me to come to the lobby of 2 World Trade. Clinically you check the nose, pupils.An hour later,I wouldn’t rec- I went to walk across the street when Mary screamed,“Stop!” ognize that patient. I think that’s a self-defense mechanism. You “What?” keep that shield up.At a big incident it works the same way.If you “You can’t go over there,”she said.“Look over your head!” start thinking,“Oh my God, it’s so horrible!” it would completely Big pieces of steel and debris were falling.That was the first screw you up.You wouldn’t be able to work. time she saved my life that day.I called back on the radio,“I can’t I was looking south on West, and Mary was looking up.All of a get across the street.”They told me to stand by at the Command sudden she shouted,“Oh my God, it’s coming down!” Post. Mary called dispatch to see where the units were. Our pro- She’s got this keen sense of hearing and heard something crack- tocol is the aide sets up a command board,contacts dispatch,IDs ing in that building. I saw this huge smoke thing coming right at which units are present and tracks them to find out where they us. It went dark on the street.We ran north. I saw the doors to an are. It also gives us accountability for our off-duty people. ambulance open in front of me. I shouted to Mary to come in One of my big issues is accountability at the scene.As an EMS there. Then I projected myself into this rig and shut the doors. supervisor, I never want to be ringing anybody’s door saying, Mary kept sprinting up the street. She looked back at that cloud “Johnny’s not coming home tonight.”In ’93 I was the command- and was like,“Forget it. I’m going the other way.” er at the South Tower.We sent a bunch of people in the tower, The cloud engulfed the rig. I heard debris falling on the roof. but we didn’t have accountability for who was where. In a Then stuff started coming in the rig.“Why is stuff falling in here?” review of that job, we decided if there had been a secondary I crawled in the driver’s compartment; both windows were event in ’93, we could have lost a lot of people. down.The truck was still running,so I powered the windows up. I told Mary and two other EMS personnel to move our stuff to No way was I thinking the building would collapse. After a 42 the mouth of the garage to protect them from stuff falling. I was minute or two, I heard Mary calling me on the radio. I got out of talking to Chief [Peter] Ganci and setting up the [EMS] liaison. the truck and went back to 3 World Financial. Everything was Walter arrived. He sent me to Vesey and West to take command covered in debris and dust, but all our people were accounted there. I took Mary and the two guys with me to Vesey and West. for. I tried to get through to the Command Post but couldn’t. I I wasn’t seeing patients.At the intersection under the North thought, “If no one’s answering on the Command Post, then Bridge in the north-bound traffic lane, I ran into 40 to 50 EMS maybe I should take command.” But I didn’t wanna be like Al personnel with their equipment. They had staged their ambu- Haig.Then [FDNY EMS Capt.] Mark Stone ran up to me:“I was lances north of the intersection in the southbound lane facing with Walter, but he’s trapped. I gotta go back and get him.” south. But [there were] no patients. My strategy was to set up a Then I moved the group in the lobby [of 3 World Financial] to CCP [casualty collection point] and triage area and to make sure the far westernmost point [of the building].We were getting a few we had egress for ambulances. patients. I decide to recon an exit from this area to find a better I called over a couple of officers—[FDNY EMS] Capt. [Jace] place [to stage].Stone had collected himself;Kowalczyk had been Pinkus and a lieutenant. I told them,“Get all the resources up found.We found a back exit that put us on Vesey.I sent Stone back against 3 World Financial to get them out of the line of fire of the to Pinkus and told them to evacuate [3 World Financial] using this debris. Set up triage there. Get accountability; get a list going.” route and to relocate to North End Ave. and Vesey. Then I encountered [FDNY EMS] Chief [Fred] Villani heading At Vesey and North End, it had resumed being a beautiful day. south on West. I had him recon on Vesey heading west on North Mary and a number of the EMS chiefs and resources were there.

FDNY Ladder 2

Michael George Denis Daniel Frederick Carl Dennis Clarke DiPasquale Germain Harlin Ill Jr. Molinaro Mulligan 27 33 33 41 49 32 32 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter The triage team in 3 World Financial had re-established in the lobby our assets, set up remote staging areas, bring in heavy-duty mutual of the Embassy Suites building. Now we were getting patients— aid to support staging and set up distant CCPs because we antici- evacuees. A lot of public safety people, civilians—about 25 to 30 pated thousands of casualties—injured. We were trying to figure cardiac and trauma patients.We also had a lot of walking wounded out where OEM was going to be. drifting in and out. We had fractures. Smoke and dust inhalation. Chief Gombo decided to go to 1 Police Plaza because that’s Shock.They were injured in the [first] collapse as opposed to the where the city’s Emergency Operations Center [EOC] was before initial events. it moved to 7 World Trade [a few years ago]. Gombo issued assign- We were on the street at Vesey and North End when my pair of ments.We decided to set up at Chelsea Piers on the north side and ears—Mary—said,“The other building is coming down.” on the Manhattan side of the Staten Island Ferry for south side cov- “Relax. Get a grip.” erage.We decided to leave everything on scene to officers already “You know I have very sensitive hearing.” on scene [and closest to the site].This was the best possible deci- “Let’s just get everybody inside and under cover.” sion at that point.We tried to broadcast this stuff over the radio. We were like,“What the fuck is going on? What is happening It was like a black-and-white movie trudging out of there. We here?” Events were outpacing the ability to process them or clear- were retreating.We never retreat. It was so sad. Mind you, we had ly and definitely react to them.“The fog of war.”We weren’t in the no idea what was behind us.We walked up North End with dust lobby of the Embassy Suites two minutes when the next one came masks on. We made it to Chambers and West. My task was to go down.It was nuclear winter.It went dark—like black.I have no rec- with Gombo to 1 Police Plaza. ollection of sounds. In the ambulance, the only sound I recollected We were the first fire department reps there.We began setting was stuff falling on the roof. Maybe there’s some defense mecha- up the larger scale, back-office citywide response. It was about nism that doesn’t let you remember. 11:30 in the morning. When it lightened up, everything was coated like it snowed.We At the EOC we looked at the big picture.We had sporadic con- were trying to get a sense of what was going on.We realized this was- tact with the scene. Radios, cell phones worked on and off.At one n’t the place to come up with an action plan; it was too chaotic.We point we lost the TV.We operated on the assumption that whatev- tried to get on the radio, but it wasn’t reliable. Cellular phones er happened would generate thousands of patients over several weren’t working.How much of our infrastructure had we lost? Who days. We set up the city infrastructure to manage that. Here are could we talk to? It was a complete absence of information.We did- some entries from the log I kept that day: n’t know if we had been nuked, missile attacked or what. 1142: Order DMATs, DMORTs and four USAR teams. In all likelihood,[the general public] probably had a better idea of 1154: Morgue set up at Pier 92. (People were setting up stuff what was going on than we did.We went to the back corridor of the independently.) Embassy Suites and decided to retreat from the scene and pull back. 1157: U.S. Park Police set up a CCP at Federal Hall—Wall Street We didn’t know what the next hit would be.We decided to evacuate at the Stock Exchange. 1200: No contact from any chiefs. Police reporting they have 10,000 body bags. 1200: Activate three CCPs. (If a patient was in a life-threaten- 1845: Bodies are being set aside to enable search and rescue. ing situation, they went to a hospital; if not, they went to a (That told me the USAR search teams were finding bodies and CCP.We had NYPD help us set up the Javits Center [on the moving them to look for survivors.) east side], the Brooklyn Navy Yard [to cover patients who At 1900 Gombo told us that we’d all been relieved.We decided ended up in Brooklyn] and a minor league baseball stadium to go back to the scene.Half of lower Manhattan was blacked out. [Richmond County Bank Ballpark, aka “Yankee Stadium”] in Everything was under maximum security—shotguns and M-16s. Staten Island.We sent NYPD to secure the sites and sent state We encountered FDNY EMS personnel on Center Street in private police to secure the Javits Center. We told vendors sending cars and looking to work.So we formed a detail of 10 people.Mary supplies where to go with what. I wanted the CCPs running took their names, and we all headed off into the darkness. by 1800. Meantime, we waited to hear about the patients.At On Chambers, I heard them calling for EMS resources on the four that afternoon,we realized there would be no patients.At radio.There was a male trapped in Liberty Plaza, and they talked that time,we told all the CCPs except Javits to stand down.By about doing an amputation. We sent some of our detail on a 1800, we decided to stand down Javits, too.) Gator—they were God-sends; you could have traded them for 1207: Activate regional mutual aid.(In our preplan,a task force Krugerrands—with a safety officer to assist the victim at Liberty. is eight BLS units, two ALS units and an officer or task-force We took the rest of our detail to Chambers and West.It was 8 leader. I ordered 10 task forces to mobilize: five from or 8:30, and we were re-energized.We ran into Walter, who was Westchester County and points north to Randall’s Island; and the EMS commander at that point. I volunteered to stay on the five task forces from Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk counties overnight shift with him to plan for the next tour.We wanted to to Shea Stadium.) get personnel into 12-hour rotations. 1210: University Medical and Dental Hospital of New Jersey Everyone else [left].Walter and I set up the incident.We were [UMDNJ] in Newark reports 1,000 patients at Ellis Island get- working out of the back of a Suburban. The guys from Essex ting deconned; 200 patients at the PATH station in Hoboken; County had a small Command Post truck there.We adopted that as 50 to 60 patients in Jersey City at Exchange Place;150 patients the EMS Command Post.A while later, they said had a bigger one. in Monmouth County (south Jersey) at Atlantic Highlands;and At 2 a.m. in rolled this huge command center from Essex County. an unknown number of patients at Weehawken—where the We moved in and set up the incident command system, spending mouth of the Lincoln Tunnel opens up. UMDNJ runs the EMS a good chunk of the night planning:staff schedules,setting up sup- Communications Center, called REMS, in Jersey. They’re the plies, etc. At this point we were still anticipating and hoping for mutual-aid response for Jersey. patients. But we had only seen a few—mostly rescue personnel. 1245: Set up an ESF8 [emergency support functions—func- We got relieved at 6:30 or 7 a.m.Mary and I had been up since tion 8 involves health and medical] EOC. (This is basically a Monday evening. It was Wednesday morning. We got a Gator place to bring together all the interested health-care parties— operator to give us a ride to find our car.This was the first time hospitals, health departments, EMS, mutual-aid providers, fed- we were seeing the devastation—this huge, smoking blitzkrieg eral public health service, medical examiner, FEMA, etc.—to of a pile—in the daylight. It was so sad. It was so fucked up. I support the Citywide EOC we had established. We got calls can’t even tell you.As we drove down Broadway,you could look 44 with offers of resources—physicians, medical supply compa- down side streets and see the remains of the [World Trade nies—all of this unsolicited. On the fly, we had to come up Center] complex lying everywhere. with a plan for where to mobilize this stuff and make sure it When we got off the Gator, we had our masks on and began wasn’t a supply of bombs or something, catalog it and safe- to debate where the car was. We have a rule that the aide is guard it until we needed it.We also had to control a massive always right. Mary didn’t think it was over there, but we went infusion of personnel resources.) clambering up Liberty,anyway.I was really afraid of what I might 1247: Order CISD—call medical services and tell them to step on or find. In front of us was a huge smoking hole; fires mobilize every CISD person. burning; smoke; a huge debris field. 1300: Police telling me they’re sending body bags to Pike Slip, Mary said,“I told you it wasn’t over there.”At the South Bridge, Pier 94, Staten Island Ferry,Chambers and West and Pier 40. we stopped. Both of us saw what looked like a melted light bar. 1315: Passenger buses sent to the CCPs. Our car hadn’t been crushed, but it was completely incinerated. 1328: Order Verizon to set up 50–100 phone lines at each CCP. Nothing was left in it but an ear piece for the stethoscope and a 1500: Finally get through to the comm center. Hear from a chip from my PalmPilot. All our personal equipment—every- chief at Ferry terminal—ready to move people, no one to thing—gone. Ninety-six miles on it.Toast. move. Also hear from Brooklyn side of Brooklyn Bridge— So I took my microchip, and we walked back to the Gator. It ready,but no patients. was gone.We hiked through Battery Park. It was a beautiful morn- 1830: 20 ambulances coming from New Jersey for mutual aid. ing.The sky was clear except for this column of smoke over the

FDNY Ladder 3

Patrick Michael James Gerard Kevin Jeffrey Joseph John Brown Carroll Coyle Dewan Donnelly Giordano Maloney McAvoy 48 39 26 35 43 45 45 47 Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter A special thanks to the guys of Engine Station 4, Oxnard, CA.

With Workrite, you’re ready to go – just And you’re always ready to look sharp, throw on your turnouts, and your station because we autoclave our shirts and pants wear of Nomex®IIIA is a thermal barrier. for a permanent just-pressed appearance. You’re ready for action, because Workrite Call us about our superior station wear station wear is firefighter tough and built and other fire service apparel. Make to last. Workrite a part of life. And looks.

Your Uniform for Life Company

500 EAST THIRD STREET • P. O. BOX 1192 • OXNARD, CA 93032-1192 800/521-1888 • 805/483-0175 • FAX 805/483-0678 www.workrite.com Statue of Liberty. I remember thinking the guys that did this Several people were just lying in the street, so I believe the screwed up because they didn’t take down the statue.There were street was already closed.I saw no vehicular traffic,only an unbe- barges lined up waiting to take patients.We just took this long,sad lievable amount of pedestrian traffic running from the building walk down the waterfront.We went to the Staten Island collection and debris all around. point.There weren’t any patients there, but a bunch of crews.We I asked [EMS] to relocate because they were impeding the talked to the chief there and then hitched a ride with a supply flow of people exiting the Trade Center.The EMS personnel were truck to the quartermaster’s to get another vehicle. all wearing their protective helmets. I told them to keep their We climbed into the cab at 9:30.We hadn’t slept in 36 hours.We helmets on and set up triage and treatment area off to the north- sat back in the seat. That Titanic song [“My Heart Will Go On”] east corner of Church and Fulton.It appeared that there was less came on.The D.J. said,“This is for all those people who were lost than a dozen patients,which supported my thought that perhaps at the World Trade Center.”The song started up. For the first time it was a small plane and an accident.After relocating them, I felt I’m relaxing, off my feet, and it washes over me. I started crying comfortable with the EMS resources working in that sector.I told right there in the truck.That song made a connection for me. them I would go to the other end of the tower and send addi- tional resources as soon as I arrived there. Jerry Z. Gombo, assistant chief of I continued west on foot, crossing the Trade Center Plaza and EMS operations, FDNY EMS approaching West and Vesey streets.At that point, I wasn’t look- The first notification I received that there was ing up at the tower.There was too much going on at street level, a problem at the World Trade Center was when and I just wanted to assess the situation and get the other EMS one of my lieutenants ran down from fire oper- sectors set up.There was no longer debris falling. ations and advised me that a plane had just hit When I arrived at West and Vesey, I was greeted by Lt. Rene the World Trade Center. He was sent by Chief Davila,who had several units and [EMS] officers with him.He gave GOMBO [Peter] Ganci, the chief of the fire department me a quick briefing on the resources he had.There weren’t a sig- who worked on the same floor as we do—on nificant number of patients.Several other EMS officers showed up, the seventh floor of fire headquarters operation. Chief Ganci’s including [FDNY EMS] Capt. [Janice] Olszewski and [FDNY EMS] office faced the towers,and he actually saw the first plane hit and Lt. [Bruce] Medjuck. I asked them to go back to that initial EMS sent someone to inform Chief [Dan] Nigro—who was the chief group I had encountered on the east side of the Trade Center of operations at the time—and me that a plane had hit the World because I wanted officers there to assist in coordinating treatment Trade Center. and transport and in setting up a staging area on that side. On occasion we have a warped sense of humor here. Initially,I I inquired as to where the fire Command Post was and was thought the lieutenant was joking around. From the side of the advised that it was located in the lobby of the North Tower.So Lt. building that Chief Ganci was on,I was able to see smoke coming Terranova and I went there to meet up with the fire incident from the World Trade Center. So I knew rather quickly that it was- commander. In addition to Lt. Terranova, I took [FDNY EMS] n’t a joke.At 8:55 a.m. myself and Lt. [Ross] Terranova (who shad- Capt. [Mark] Stone and, I believe, [FDNY EMS] Chief [James] owed me throughout the entire incident) responded (in separate Basile and two EMS crews with me. vehicles) from fire headquarters along with Chief Ganci, Chief On our way to 1 World Trade, we saw glass all over the plaza, 46 Nigro and, I believe, one if not two of the commissioners. plane parts on the ground and pockets of different things burning. We drove over the Brooklyn Bridge and went directly toward In comparison, this side of the towers displayed much more of an the Trade Center.As a result of the hordes of people and debris,we active disaster scene.There was a significant amount of [human] ended up parking near St.Paul’s Chapel (on Fulton Street between parts, including arms, legs and torsos. In all my years of EMS expe- Church and Broadway) by the cemetery.As we approached, I was rience, I’d never seen a disaster of this magnitude. Other than the gearing up, psychologically,for a major, major MCI.The only infor- cameras not being there, it felt like this was a movie shoot. mation we had was that a plane had hit the Trade Center.We did- From the mechanism of injury,the scenario was painted.I knew n’t have any information on the size of the plane or the [number] there would be fatalities. There was no way we were going to of people on board.At the time,we assumed it was an accident.At escape this incident without anybody being hurt. We’re talking 9:01,I gave an on-scene signal verbally to the Citywide dispatcher. about the World Trade Center—thousands of people [in the build- While walking down Fulton Street toward the Trade Center ings]—let alone the number of souls who were on the aircraft. Complex we encountered hordes of people exiting from every When we reached the lobby, we didn’t even have to walk in which way.As I approached Church Street near 4 World Trade, through the door [of the North Tower].The glass was already shat- several EMS units were setting up a treatment and triage area. I tered throughout the base of the building.As I walked in,I noticed remember seeing two FDNY EMS units and at least two volun- the tiles had dropped off of the marble walls.It looked like a build- tary units [ambulances from private hospitals contracted as part ing under construction.There were only emergency personnel in of the New York 9-1-1 system]. the lobby of 1 World Trade.There were no civilians. No patients. It

FDNY Ladder 3

Timothy Joseph Steven McSweeney Ogren Olson 37 30 38 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter seemed a little odd. thing really bad going on. ation in the process of being implemented. The fire incident commander was With the second plane in, I knew this The second plane didn’t change much of [FDNY] Chief Peter Hayden. I informed him was no accident.Two planes—that’s much our strategy from an EMS perspective that I was there.He acknowledged.Our SOP more than coincidence. In my mind, I because we had our teams/sectors already is that we set up the EMS Command Post in switched from accident to terrorism.Before in key locations. Subsequently, we were close proximity to theirs—within arm’s I had an opportunity to react,another flood going to need more EMS resources because reach.This way,if they’re in need of our serv- of people ran out of the [South Tower]. we did not know how many additional ices, they know exactly where we are. I was There were plane parts falling on the patients would be generated from that sec- the highest-ranking EMS chief on scene and ground. Things burning. We weren’t even ond plane or what to expect next. assumed command of the EMS operation. sure what was burning, whether it was jet From a fire perspective, they were con- Then we received a report that there fuel falling to the ground or plane parts.We fronted with a much more complex opera- might be civilian patients in an auditorium saw people ejected from the building and tion. As a result of the second plane, they in the back. I asked Chief Basile to take a landing in the plaza. I wasn’t sure whether generated additional fifth alarms and call- crew and go back there. While speaking these people had been on the plane.There ins for a significant number of [additional] with Chief Hayden, Eddie Gabriel [deputy was no way of me telling,other than seeing fire suppression resources. director for the Mayor’s Office of them flying through the air. I remember conversing with Emergency Management] approached. He We already had a strategy set up,an oper- Commissioner Feehan about the EMS asked if there was anything he could do to support the operation.There was some dia- logue as to the activation of mutual aid—to put them on standby but not have them respond because there wasn’t a significant number of patients. Several minutes had passed when Chief Hayden informed me they were going to relocate the fire Command Post across West Street in front of [2 World] Financial Center. He did not specify why they wanted to relo- cate. I don’t believe we had any intelligence as to the building falling at that time. Several minutes prior to the second plane hitting,we set up EMS command next to the fire Command Post in the driveway of 2 World Financial Center.When I left the initial (forward) Command Post, I gave clear direc- tion that EMS personnel were not to be in the building.EMS personnel are not outfitted with SCBAs and bunker gear.Patients would have been brought out to us—either by fire- fighters or other public safety personnel. When I arrived across the street, the fire Command Post was set up, and Chief Kowalczyk was already setting up the EMS Command Post. Kowalczyk was my major chief that day. Chief Ganci and Commissioner [William] Feehan were also there, along with several other ranking chiefs. More of my chiefs started reporting in; the Command Post was set up; the com- mand boards were set up. Although it was one large operation,we had to have multiple treatment and triage sectors set up given the size of the Trade Center Complex. I sent [FDNY EMS] Deputy Chief Charlie Wells to report what was going on [at] the south side of the Command Post at West and Liberty.At that time the three treatment and triage sec- tors were at Church Street and Fulton (near 4 World Trade),West and Vesey and West and Liberty. Shortly after we [began] discussing strategy at the relocated fire Command Post, the second plane hit the South Tower. I personally did not see the plane going into the tower. Several others in the Command Post stated they visualized the plane. We knew then that there was some- resources that were responding in. It must have been just min- Command Post. We exited from the North Cove. We walked utes—at least that’s the way it felt—[from the South Tower being through the yacht harbor and turned right on Vesey.There,it was hit] when something very strange started.All of a sudden,the sky an extremely rude awakening. We went from a beautiful, calm got very dark.We felt the ground vibrating and heard a tremen- atmosphere with no debris to everything covered with soot and dous roar. For a second, I thought it might be another plane. But an unbelievable amount of paper. when I looked up it appeared the sky was coming down.As the When we reached Vesey near the New York Mercantile, there South Tower was collapsing, it was like this huge cloud coming were several EMS units treating people on the street and a MERV down.The noise was as if you were walking on a runway with parked there.They had set up a triage area in the lobby of the planes coming down above your head. building on the corner.They seemed to have the situation under Within seconds,personnel [in our area] either retreated down control—[FDNY EMS] Capt. Howie Sickles was coordinating the driveway of 2 World Financial, which I did with several peo- their activities. I needed to be at the Command Post to coordi- ple from the Command Post, or ran toward the street. Several of nate this MCI. I had made it several yards down Vesey headed us dove behind a white van parked at the base of the driveway. toward 4 World Financial when the second collapse occurred. The next thing I remember is pitch darkness—no more light. It wasn’t as loud, but I saw this tremendous cloud coming The majority of the people in the Command Post prior to the around the corner. I said,“Oh my God, here we go again!” We first building collapse ran behind us into the underground garage ducked behind the building where they had set up this indoor at 2 World Financial. When we stood up, we couldn’t see any- triage area.After [surviving] that second mushroom cloud com- thing. It was extremely difficult to breathe because every time ing toward us, we were not going to go back to the Command you inhaled, your mouth filled with soot. Even with a flashlight Post where it had been prior to the initial collapse. on, there was so much soot and cement dust and who knew I had several chiefs with me—[FDNY EMS] Chief [Pedro] what else was in the air, you couldn’t see in front of you. Carrasquillo, Basile, Kowalczyk, [FDNY EMS Capt.] Fran Pascale, We were close to the opening of the garage.We moved every- Zach Goldfarb and Chief Fred Villani. We found a private area body in our party toward the back.There was a separate area, an behind where the treatment and transport were taking place, office space, a few steps up. After we made sure no one was and we had a quick strategy session.We really had limited infor- behind us, we moved into that office space and closed the door. mation as to the extent of what was going on outside our In that area, we were able to breathe without having to inhale purview.We had EMS resources here. Clearly, we would not go soot and garbage.Walter and Ross were down there with me and back to what is now called Ground Zero, although we were on about 15 or 20 others—people from OEM, fire officers, firefight- the perimeter.I divided up the chiefs that I had with me.We iden- ers.We asked the firefighters to find us a way out.We didn’t know tified two staging locations that we felt were far enough from the whether there was another exit. incident site yet close enough [to] them to stage and set up treat- I did not know the whereabouts of the others who had been ment areas and casualty collection points. in the Command Post. I had to assume that instead of retreating I had to make these decisions [based] on what information back to the garage, they went forward toward the street. [The was available at the time. I didn’t know whether there were time] prior to that collapse was my last encounter with both planes coming down elsewhere in the city. I was concerned for [Ganci and Feehan]. the safety of my personnel. I did not want my people to be any- 48 So we were in this office.There was a phone on the desk that where near Ground Zero due to concern about additional col- did not work.There was no dial tone.Our radios didn’t work.Our lapses,explosions or gas-main breaks,etc.We identified two loca- cell phones didn’t work. A pretty grim picture was developing tions—South Street Ferry to the south, and Chelsea Piers to the rather quickly. north. I split the chiefs between those two locations. I left one My wife asked me later,“Did you think that you were gonna chief behind to make sure the patients were taken care of in [the die down there?”At no point did that even enter my mind.There location on Vesey] and that the EMS crews would [eventually] were people panicking, and I felt I needed to remain as focused leave that area [after they had cleared out the patients]. as possible.We had a five-gallon water cooler, so we rinsed our The Emergency Operations Center [run by the Mayor’s Office mouths to breathe easier.The firefighters were able to locate an of Emergency Management] was not going to be in commission exit on the opposite end of the building, which led us out into a because of its location at 7 World Trade, where they would be marina area on the west side of the building. relocated. I tried to think of where it would be relocated.What When we exited the garage, there was absolutely no evidence came to mind was 1 Police Plaza.I informed the chiefs that I was of what [had] just went on.The sun was shining.We saw boats in going to 1 Police Plaza to coordinate activities from that location. the marina. I found that amazing. But more amazing than that was I took Chief Goldfarb, Lt. Terranova and Chief Goldfarb’s aide, the silence. After that rumble of the building [falling], there no Mary Merced, with me. sounds. No sirens. No birds. No nothing. It was an eerie feeling. The place was buzzing. It was jammed with public safety per- The plan was to walk around the building and go back to the sonnel—primarily police officers from every branch within the

FDNY Ladder 4

Joseph Michael Michael Michael Daniel Samuel John David Angelini Jr. Brennan Haub Lynch O’Callaghan Oitice Tipping II Wooley 38 27 34 31 42 45 33 53 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Captain New York City Police Department, plus representatives from out- destroyed ambulances, destroyed fire apparatus. Dark.Wet.Dirty. side organizations—health, sanitation, FBI. They were putting With rescue personnel all over the place. together the war room with different representatives. On my way over to the Command Post, I had to see if my car First, I told the EMS folks with me to call a relative.Then we was still around. It was! The driver’s side window was smashed. informed fire operations, EMS operations and dispatch that we Later,I learned that while people were escaping the collapse and were on site at 1 Police Plaza. passing parked cars, they smashed the windows to stick their We knew that it was going to take time to get FEMA assis- heads in to get a breath of fresh air. tance. But we needed to do whatever we could until those At the Command Post around 10 p.m.,I saw [FDNY EMS] Chief resources reached us.We anticipated thousands of patients.We [Robert] McCracken and some of the other chiefs I was with ear- knew that the hospitals couldn’t handle this type of patient load. lier in the day.We hugged each other to acknowledge the fact that We met with police and the health department personnel and we were there.At that point there were few civilians being treated identified several locations where we could set up large casualty at West and Vesey.A schedule was being put together so that appro- collection points. There was some discussion about the use of priate relief personnel could be used. But we knew, for the most Chelsea Ice Rink as a temporary morgue should the need arise. part, it wasn’t going to be a significant EMS operation. We identified the Javits Center,on the west side, the Brooklyn Over the next few days, the only ambulances on the scene of Navy Yard and the Yankee minor league stadium in Staten Island this operation were primarily mutual aid ambulances.Foot teams to be used for casualty collection points [CCPs]. and triage teams staffed by FDNY EMS personnel were situated The plan was that we were going to set these locations up, in key locations.We also deployed Gators, and they proved to be staff them with hospital personnel—primarily surgeons and doc- a tremendous asset. I was there Wednesday and Thursday and tors—secure medical equipment and have it brought to those then directed back to headquarters on Friday. locations and send patients there.We planned to activate these Every day I speak to the EMS deputy chief on site at the Trade locations by 1800 hours. Center, who functions as the operations officer and medical liai- As time progressed and these plans were put into place, we son to the fire chief overseeing the site.I frequently walk the site were informed that there weren’t many patients and that the to make sure we’re on top of the EMS resources.We have been hospitals could handle it. Based on the information we received steadily de-escalating the amount of EMS resources on site, and from emergency medical dispatch, there wasn’t going to be a we do that in conjunction with fire operations. need to activate the CCPs. We have one EMS captain, one EMS lieutenant, two BLS units One other thing that came to mind shortly after our arrival at and one ALS unit on scene.They have a Gator,as well as a stocked 1 Police Plaza was patient tracking.That’s always an adventure ambulance in the two sectors that we now have operating unto itself.We agreed that the police department would dispatch there—west and east. Those resources are on standby in case police officers to area hospitals to assist us in capturing patient anybody gets injured, whether a construction worker or fire- tracking and accountability information. fighter or any other emergency personnel. In addition, we have At about 3 p.m., I received the information that Chief Ganci two morgue ambulances—the stretchers have been removed. and Commissioner Feehan had been killed in close proximity to There is one EMT assigned to each of those vehicles. They the Command Post. I couldn’t believe it. One minute we’re con- remove recovered emergency and public safety personnel[‘s versing, putting together a strategy to deal with the situation. bodies] to the [medical examiner’s] office. 49 Next, I find out that both of those officers perished. We’ll continue to support the fire operation down there.I know I was in constant contact with emergency medical dispatch as there’s still a significant number of firefighters unaccounted for. well as the [FDNY EMS] Resource Coordination Center. And they’re determined to remain on site until everybody’s Additionally,we were trying to account for all of our personnel. accounted for.Personally,I don’t believe that everybody’s going to Throughout the day, I had been informed that not all EMS per- be accounted for. It’s not possible.Words cannot describe what’s sonnel were accounted for.The concern was that we wouldn’t been going on as far as the operation down there, the memorial know all those working on scene because the TV networks were services, the families, the media inquiries. Of course we have to broadcasting that any emergency personnel should report for pick up the pieces and move on. duty—go to the site.When personnel went in on their own, we had no way of knowing their status and/or their location. Cosmo Jackson, EMT, MetroCare I remained on site at Police Plaza until late that evening. I Ambulance requested RCC to send me an officer so I could go back to Ground Before the South Tower came down,FDNY had Zero.I had to see what was going on from an EMS operations per- all the drivers on the divider in the middle of spective.We made our way on foot to the EMS Command Post on West Street, near the [back of] our ambulances. West and Vesey.There were police officers and state troopers all Me, being a fool—seeing both towers on fire— over.The destruction was incomprehensible.Vehicles turned over, JACKSON I wandered closer and closer to the buildings.

FDNY Ladder 5

Louis Andrew Vincent Thomas Paul John Gregory Michael Arena Brunn Giammona Hannafin Keating Santore Saucedo Warchola 32 28 40 36 38 49 31 51 Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant My partner [EMT Yamel Merino] was still in the staging area get- prior to the official set-up.They found people coming out, started ting instructions. loading up, going to the hospital and returning. I heard what sounded like thunder and, when I looked up, I I was under the pedestrian South Bridge, maybe 40 feet from heard the rumbling sound. But, what a lot of people didn’t see the South Tower.The crews were lined up outside their ambu- because they weren’t that close, [was that] the whole top of lances.There was a fire chief in the lobby of the South Tower.The Tower 2 exploded. Completely exploded. planes had hit both towers,and firefighters were already ascend- When I started running, I didn’t know it was coming down. I ing the towers. The goal was that they would send patients ran because it exploded, and I thought I was gonna get crushed down. Then we would get waved from the lobby. There was by debris falling. I took off down West Street toward Vesey. debris coming down, but nothing that bad at that point. I remember jumping across the divider on West Street. The I was to wave EMS crews in, crew-by-crew.They would get a force of the building coming down knocked me down three patient with their stretcher and remove them to their vehicle. times.The debris was so hot. I was afraid of getting burned. Each Then the next crew would go in.That was the premise of the set- time I got back up and continued running—bam!, I'd be on the up. Obviously,we were way too close. street again. By the time it had stopped, both of my hands were Yamel’s was one of the first units to park in the area. They swollen from me hitting the street hard. I kept wandering two were one of the first units waved over to head in the direction blocks down West Street and [followed] some people onto a of the South Tower. Soon after they left our area,Tower 2 came [New York Transit] bus that was there. down and the area became buried along with some of the buses. As the bus started rolling, the [North Tower] came down.The Yamel’s partner, Cosmo Jackson, ran by me.Yamel was between bus took us as far as he could toward Battery Park, and then the me and the tower. She was buried under falling debris. bus stalled on us because of too much of that soot stuff going into I didn’t run anywhere. I had no time. When I recovered, I the system.There was an EMT on the bus from AMR who lost her thought I was in a cave. Steve Zakheim, our chief operating offi- partner. She said,“Listen, I’m gonna try to get you some help.”By cer, was to my right. We were screaming for each other. Brian then I was throwing up, could hardly breathe and had gashes on Washburn, operations director for New York Presbyterian my hands. She put my arms around her shoulders and got the Hospital,was to the left of me.He had just pulled up to look after back of my pants and literally dragged me a block.She said,“Listen, his 9-1-1 units as well. if we get out of this, we’re gonna be like best of friends.” I immediately went looking for Yamel and Cosmo. But, the A Regional ambulance went by us. She chased that ambulance place was on fire.We had to get away from it. I later returned to about a block and started banging on the side of it to [make it] search for Yamel,but couldn’t find her.After I found [my remain- stop.They had a DOA in the back.They stopped and rushed me to ing personnel], I turned the crews affected by the collapse into St.Vincent’s Hospital.St.Vincent’s was great.They had triage set up patients and sent them away. right there on the street. Because my breathing so bad, they jumped on me right away.They ran lines, had oxygen on me and Walter Kowalczyk, division chief, gave me medications. Later that evening, my breathing finally got FDNY EMS better. I was working in my office in Brooklyn that Editor’s note: EMT Yamel Merino died while working at the Trade morning.I monitor the fire department radio in 50 Center on Sept. 11. addition to the EMS frequencies.The first sign that I became aware of [that something was Al Kim, vice-president of New York City operations, wrong] was when the radio announced the fire MetroCare Ambulance KOWALCZYK department had transmitted a second alarm for Responding ambulances set up on West Street.We were set up the World Trade Center.This was not unusual, on the furthest southbound lanes near 2 World Trade, in 90° but when I switched from the Brooklyn to the Manhattan fre- angles.An FDNY EMS officer directed us to coordinate our crew quency,it became clear a plane had gone into [1 World Trade]. with forward triage in the Marriott Hotel. At 9:01 I was called by Citywide to respond.As I was leaving, a Ambulance 15 George, the unit [MetroCare EMT] Yamel TV was on in one of the offices and [the crash] was already on [Merino] was on, as well as three of our other 9-1-1 units, were CNN. Clearly the incident had been confirmed.The route I took part of the responding units there.A slew of FDNY units and hos- from my office to the site put me on the Gowanus Expressway. pital units that provide 9-1-1 response also converged on the As I approached the Gowanus [an elevated part of the high- same location. way that leads to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel],I saw clearly what We set the units up in a row. There were units that were 9-1-1 was going on.[FDNY] EMT Michael Ober was with me,and I told assigned to this area anyway.Obviously,they were the first ones in him,“This could be terrorism, and we need to be cautious about prior to any kind of official deployment. I found out after the fact protecting ourselves and keeping our eyes open.” that these units had removed patients at least two,three,four times Initially when I left the office, I thought it was an accident.

FDNY FDNY Ladder 7 Ladder 8

George Robert Charles Richard Vincent Vernon Vincent Cain Foti Mendez Muldowney Jr. Princiotta Richard Halloran 35 42 38 40 39 53 43 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Captain Lieutenant When I got closer and saw the enormity of the event, I was con- Liberty on the south.There was a multi-prong approach,trying to cerned that this was something else. I’m not sure if the second get face-to-face directions, having chief officers indicating to our plane had hit prior to my arrival at 9:23, but the upper floors of Citywide dispatcher where our Command Post was,utilizing cell the Trade Center were well engulfed. From a distance, we could- phones. I remember Lt. [Ross] Terranova being on a cell phone n’t discern the North Tower from the South Tower. I believe the with Citywide giving directions. second plane hit while we were on the Gowanus. Just as we were—I’m not even going to use the word “stabi- I came through the Battery Tunnel,and the police department lized”—it started.A noise I can never forget. It was loud, but yet already had emergency routes in effect. So inbound traffic into it was soft:The collapse of [2 World] Trade.We didn’t know what the Trade Center was only emergency [vehicles]. Coming was happening. We were setting up the Command Post in the through the tunnel were other ambulances,fire trucks,police.As middle of the driveway as it started.We saw a plume of smoke we pulled onto West Street from the Battery Tunnel, we had to erupting, and we ran. Several members, including myself and use caution and slow our response, given the debris already Chief Gombo, escaped west into the driveway [of 2 World there from the building, as well as body parts. Financial], which turned into an underground garage. I positioned my vehicle on Liberty Street between West and There was a point that was beyond our control:the bodies com- the Hudson River by the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel. I ing off the Trade Center. I’m not talking about one or two.There never saw my vehicle upright again. had to be half a dozen or more.And there was nothing we could The radio frequency was inundated with transmissions and do.That’s another sound that I’ll never forget.The only sound I can dispatch information.From a command-and-control perspective, compare it to is the sound of plywood hitting the floor.That noise. the first thing we needed to do was identify where the Also, in front of 1 World Trade there is a [glass]-enclosed driveway, Command Post was. As I walked up West Street, other fire offi- and the bodies were coming through that glass. Some [bodies] cials indicated to me that the Command Post was in 1 World landed on it,some went through it.These bodies were not on fire. Trade. Traditionally, from a firefighting EMS operation, we’re a I’m not sure if they were jumping, if—in the smoke environ- joint Command Post:The medical branch is set up in conjunction ment—they saw a light and they thought it was an exit, or if the with the fire command and reports to the incident commander. sheer explosion blew out the windows and the suction drew As we entered [1 World Trade],we had to be cautious.Although them out.You just tried not to look.When you tried to focus on we had helmets and response coats on,there was a lot [of debris] what you had to do,the sounds associated with these people mak- coming down. We were physically walking through body parts, ing contact with the ground interrupted that sense of thinking. torsos.You had to get focused on command and control, but you So we escaped into the garage area.That was scary because I had this human element affecting your decision-making. couldn’t find my aide. I knew that Chief Ganci and Commissioner At that point,Chief [Jerry] Gombo was on scene.As I received [William] Feehan were next to me at the Command Post. Ganci information from him, he said,“We need to get out of the con- and Feehan were that close.I went into the garage.Obviously,they course level.They reported another plane coming in.”Now, that went toward the Trade Center. People ran in different directions. I goes back to me being unsure [at this time] if the second plane didn’t know where they were as the mushroom cloud developed. had hit or, if given the magnitude of the incident, there was a As I’m running, the life questions are coming to me. I’m recent- report of a third plane. ly widowed with two children.So right away,I’m wondering,“Will The thing that initially surprised me—and I’ve managed a mul- I ever again see my eight-year-old and my 13-year-old who depend 51 titude of EMS operations with high casualties—was you usually get on me for parenting?”In other words,escaping into the garage,I’m a grip on yourself and know what you have to do.[But] my mouth saying,“Fool, why am I doing this?”Because, typically in a building went dry to the point where I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t physically collapse,you have a building that’s going to arc in one direction or get a Lifesaver or piece of gum to try to do the job I needed to do. another. My thinking and my training says I’m basically running With the order to exit the concourse level, we walked across into a dead end.What’s going to prevent this debris from follow- West Street to the front of 2 World Financial Center.We relocat- ing the natural course of the driveway into the garage? ed the EMS Command Post to a driveway there with the fire For a time, that’s what we thought was happening. In a sense, Command Post.Alongside us was Chief [Peter] Ganci, the chief the cloud came down—the dust and debris.We were trapped in of the fire department. that garage area, but we weren’t sure what we were trapped by. Chief Gombo and I started to establish command and control. The garage area filled with smoke, and we didn’t know how to Chief Gombo, the EMS command officer, was to establish and get out. Probably two dozen people were in there—a cross-sec- coordinate strategy with incident command. I was the opera- tion of city government from firefighters to police officers to tions officer in charge of implementing the strategy. Chief offi- Commissioner [Thomas] Fitzpatrick. cers had responded in, and we started to give out assignments It was eerie to hear one of the fire officers screaming for his that were broad in nature. men,“16 where are you? 16 where are you?”This is a man who’s At that point,the street extensions were Vesey on the north and trained to get us out and he can’t even find his people to aid us.

FDNY FDNY Ladder 9 Ladder 10

Jeffrey John Gerald Sean Walz Tierney Baptiste Tallon 37 27 35 26 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Chief Gombo stood next to me, gasping for air.The daylight almost as large as one of our own divisions; in fact, probably big- that existed when we escaped was no longer there.The access ger, given the magnitude of the resources there. point to that garage was filled with debris from the Trade Center. Managing those resources was a problem in itself—control- Air quality was a little questionable,so we didn’t know what our ling them, categorizing them. The police or a group of law destiny was to be.Everybody maintained their composure.We all enforcement officers from the U.S. Secret Service assisted us in acknowledged that we couldn’t worry about doing our jobs.At crowd control.Here we were in the middle of the only exit from that point, it was our survival. I thought I was living a movie. But Manhattan. It was an evacuation route and thousands of people this was no movie. It was real life. were exiting north. Meanwhile, picture the amount of people I can’t tell you how long we were there. It could have been an coming into New York, streaming toward the towers. hour,but I don’t think it was more than 15 to 20 minutes.We final- When [FDNY EMS] Dr. [Glenn] Asaeda and [FDNY EMS] Dr. ly got out.Somebody found a staircase and we exited on the north [Neal] Richmond from Commissioner [John] Clair’s office end of the Financial Center in the area of the Winter Garden. arrived, I was happy to see them. In addition to the hundreds of In the Winter Garden area,we saw the water.I thought we had EMS providers, we were being overrun by busloads of doctors exited into a snowstorm.The entire air was hazy, filled with dry and nurses.I’m not talking about cars—busloads.Dr.Asaeda took snow. I thought that breathing outside would be better than responsibility for the medical professional component. breathing inside; [it wasn’t]. Now many operations started to come together.We had a stag- We started to walk north up West where we met with Chief ing area for EMS personnel to report to; we had a mobilization Zach Goldfarb and Chief [Frederick] Villani.Our objective was to point for any medical component.Then we took a portion of our grab whoever we could and hold a strategy session.That’s when resources to set up a casualty collection point at Chelsea.That the second collapse started.We evacuated into the lobby of the did two things for us: It gave us a functional medical sector, and Embassy Suites Hotel, which is across the street from the it also gave some of the medical professionals a sense of focus— American Express Building [3 World Financial Center]. at least for the next 90 minutes. [When the second collapse occurred] we retreated back into Then there were the logistical supplies that came with [the the hotel. In our minds the entire portion of southern Manhattan incoming personnel] or after them. I would have sworn there was questionable from a safety perspective.After some discussion, was a manufacturing building around the corner piping out the decision was made to go to Chelsea Piers, an area between things from IV solutions to hardware to LIFEPAKS to stretchers 23rd Street and the West Side Highway.Normally,it functions as a to oxygen—you name it. We were starting to become over- multi-faceted recreation facility—basketball, racquetball, roller- whelmed. Shortly after that, Chief [John] Peruggia, who worked skating. I was directed to go set up operations [there]. for Chief Ganci,contacted me over the radio.He was running the We met with the management of Chelsea,who were extreme- EMS operation at Chambers. During this process, I recorded the ly cordial to us.Whatever we needed, we could have. numbers of resources that we had available for dispatch.At one Then we started to set up operations on 23rd Street.Within 45 point, the initial [number] was 40 BLS units, 20 ALS. I gave that minutes, we had about 75 ambulances from all types of jurisdic- report to Chief Peruggia, who then requested I respond to the tions—the hospital-based component to the private component Command Post at Chambers and West. to resources from outside New York City. On arrival there, I saw somewhat of a Command Post estab- 52 We set up an operation with the staging officer, [FDNY EMS] lished.I spoke to Chief Peruggia,and we agreed that I would take Capt. [Gerald] Gelbard and tried to categorize our resources. At command of the medical branch of the overall operation. The one point, the ambulances went from 17th Street, or maybe even system there was starting to come together.There weren’t any 16th Street, all the way up to 23rd Street. And we’re not talking casualties, though.There were reports here and there of a casu- about one row.We probably had three rows of ambulances there. alty.That was probably most frustrating. The people responding wanted to go down [to the Trade Cell phones were virtually useless, and, for a period of time, a Center area] and make a difference. The hazardous materials lot of [communication] was face-to-face. Initially, it was almost technicians—BLS units with hazmat certification—got in my impossible to run a face-to-face operation, given the geography face several times.They identified themselves as hazmat techni- and the demographics of the [event]. It took some self-starting cians and said they needed to get down there. I had to get back on the part of all the EMS providers—EMTs, paramedics, EMS in their faces and say,“You’ll stay here.” supervisors, chiefs, captains—to do what they thought was right Finally, I hit home to them when I said,“I’m responsible for for the EMS operation.As we started to get communications back you going home to your spouse,parents,relatives.Your destiny is together, it didn’t take much to get a workable operation. We in my hands.And until I get directions that it’s safe to operate, started to [operate with] branches and divisions, with mobile nobody is moving anywhere.” sectors in the north and south. Chelsea then became a mobilization point for anything medical. As the events started to unfold, [FDNY EMS] Chief McCracken We started to give birth in a matter of minutes to an EMS system arrived at the Chambers and West Command Post.About 5 p.m.,

FDNY FDNY Ladder 11 Ladder 12

Michael Edward John Richard Michael Matthew Angel Michael Cammarata Day Heffernan Kelly Jr. Quilty Rogan Juarbe Jr. Mullan 22 45 37 50 42 37 35 34 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter we were getting ready to sit and talk when 7 World Trade began to I didn’t drive away because I was trying to hide from the collapse. We ran north, but then, two or three minutes later, we beams and other things falling from the sky. I went underneath composed ourselves and returned to focus on strategy. an overhang at the Borders bookstore.The shape of the building We had a sense that we needed to get a picture from every- [5 World Trade] helped protect me.I’m only 5'2",so I was able to body on what they were dealing with and where we needed to hide. I stayed there for a little while, but then people started to pick up.We needed to regroup.And we came to a mutual agree- run and scream and things got worse.Then a police officer yelled ment, both within the region and outside the region, in terms of across the street to me, “Girl, what are you doing here? Move resources.We spoke about shoring up the instant mutual aid and north.”I said,“No,I can’t move anywhere.My partner is not here, trying to get the 9-1-1 system back into place. and I have to help people.” You just never know what little component is going to push I didn’t know what had happened. I was below it. I couldn’t you over the edge.This event resurfaced many major incidents see it.All I heard was the sound. So I stepped across the street, for me. [For example], the bombings on New Year’s Eve 1982 and things were still flying. I had little pieces falling on my hel- when we were preparing for the Times Square celebration and met. It was like a hammer hitting on my head. there were explosions at 1 Police Plaza. One of the things that’s Then I saw the flames, and people hanging out the windows, always in the back of our minds is the secondary device.At Police looking down,trying not to move and just waiting.I looked up and Plaza, there were explosions happening all around us.The same saw what looked like a female falling. I turned away,then I turned thing kept happening to us at the World Trade Center. back and looked again. Sometimes you don’t want to see some- The other MCIs [I’ve worked] were closed incidents.The inci- thing, but you look just because you want to know what’s going dent happened; you responded; you mitigated the response; you on.Then another guy jumped.And then another.That’s when I real- implemented incident command;you removed the victims.Done. ly started feeling uncomfortable and started moving quickly.I told These were open incidents, and you had no control. At the people,“Get out of here! Run to the church. Run to the church.” bombings and at this event, the rescuers quickly became victims. Earlier,I had told Tamara something wasn’t right.In my 14 years We were there here to help people, but we became victims. I feel in EMS, I have never been in anything like this. I told her,“Listen,if for our people. I feel for the people who have gone through this. anything happens,don’t go too far away from me and head for the subway [entrance],” because it was close. Now she had moved Juana Lomi, EMT-P, NYU Downtown Hospital EMS Dept., away and disappeared. I was worried.Where was she? I was more Unit 01 Victor with partner Tamara Drummond, EMT-P afraid of something happening to her than I was about myself. We heard a large bang.We ran outside and saw Tower 1 on fire. Then the South Tower collapsed. I thought it was a bomb. I We jumped in our bus and started to respond.On the way there, heard what sounded like when they throw pieces of sheetrock our dispatch alert was already in the vehicle computer. I parked right on top of each other at a construction site. It had a domino at Vesey and Church, near Borders bookstore, located in 5 World effect.It was like,“Ton,ton,ton.”It got really dark,and there were Trade. Initially, the incident didn’t seem like it was gonna be fumes [in the air]. I didn’t know the building wasn’t there something of great magnitude. It seemed manageable. I wasn’t because it was so dark. getting nervous or anything. I continued to look for Tamara as everybody started driving off. I told my partner,Tamara [Drummond],“Anybody who comes On the corner opposite me, there were two police officers stand- out of there and who’s able to walk, have them walk. If there’s a ing near the subway entrance. I said,“Guys, what’s going on? 53 fractured arm or upper body trauma with no respiratory distress, They said,“I don’t know, girl, but try to keep your eyes open tell them to walk to a triage area we set up at St. Peter’s Church and move away from underneath that store.”Then more people on Church Street, just north of Vesey.”We didn’t have to go into were running [down the streets], screaming and yelling. They the towers because people were running out. It was over- had fractured arms, head trauma and burns. whelming.We had a lot of badly burned patients. Then I saw this big guy, about 6'5", fall on his knees, right in When the second plane hit, I heard this tremendous rum- the middle of the street.Beams and debris were falling near him, bling—the loudest noise I’ve ever heard in my entire life. I saw a and this guy started preaching. He opened his arms to the sky huge shadow in the trees as it approached. I thought it was an and was yelling,“This is the end!” explosion. I didn’t see the second plane hit. I heard what sound- I said,“He’s gonna die; something’s gonna fall on top of him.” ed like a huge train.When it hit, I didn’t have my helmet right A cop said,“Come on. Keep going, girl.”He wanted me to go there,and things started flying off of the South Tower.There were across the street.But I didn’t.I ran over to the man and said,“Guy, shoes, cell phones, money,wallets and briefcases dropping. come on. Get up. I ran to our vehicle and got my helmet. Debris was falling in He was still chanting,“This is the end.”He was gone. I saw in different directions. Everything after that started to move quick- his eyes that he was not listening.Then, I pulled him by the arm. ly. Everybody started to move. Vehicles started to move away. I I said,“Sir, get up! Get up!” I hit him on the shoulder. Nothing. lost Tamara after that. I didn’t know where she was. Finally, I turned around and gave him a kick with my boot, right

FDNY Ladder 13

Thomas Walter Dennis Thomas Gregory Hetzel Hynes McHugh Sabella Stajk 33 46 34 44 36 Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter on his back. Boom! I hit him so hard that he went forward and One of the officers followed me,“Why are you going back?” hit his face. He woke up, realized he was in danger and got up “Why am I going back?”I said.“because my partner’s in there.” and ran away,leaving his briefcase behind.I guess I snapped him When I got back to Church and Vesey,the only vehicle left was out of it.Thank God. mine. It was completely covered with dust; the windshield was Then I ran to the other side of the street. People started com- broken;a little mirror was gone;and it had a flat.I started to drive ing en masse.The two officers and I ran for the subway entrance. the vehicle slowly and moved it to Chambers Street and left it I was thinking about getting to shelter,getting to cover.I wanted there. I continued to look for Tamara. to use the subway as a passageway to go underneath the debris. She [had been] in this area, but then I couldn’t see. I couldn’t I thought it was more protective to walk underground than on tell where the corners were anymore. I figured there had to be the streets. I told people,“Come [in the subway], you can get all some place where she had hid. I started to look for her like I the way to North and get off on Chambers from here. Walk would a little kid.I wasn’t able to walk well.There were too many underneath the train; protect yourself; get out of here!” things on the ground.There were only five or six people in that It was already dark, and heavy debris was falling. I still didn’t area because almost everybody had evacuated. Some people look up to see what was collapsing. I couldn’t see.And before I were underneath cars. Some were dead. knew it, the second building—Tower 1, closest to us—came The more I walked, the more things I started to see on the down. I saw a dark shadow coming toward us.That’s when the ground. I was praying that I wouldn’t see a blue uniform. I start- two officers, a couple of civilians and I jumped in the subway ed finding pieces of clothing with body parts.I know from work- entrance.We fell all the way down.No,it was more like we rolled ing in the field what pieces of flesh look like even if they’re cov- down the steps.The only thing I had was a bruised leg. ered by dust. Then the whole entrance was closed off by debris—beams or After 45 minutes, I couldn’t look any more.The officer said, something.I tried to look up.There were a lot of people [outside] “Go back [to the hospital] because maybe she went back.Maybe screaming. I knew we had to go through the subway to get out. she drove away with somebody.” I thought the entrance and everything around us was gonna I thought,“I can’t go back to the hospital without her.They’re sink in. Inside the subway,the fumes got worse because the sub- gonna say,‘Where were you? Why didn’t you help your partner?’” ways were all connected with the World Trade Center.Everybody I took a deep breath and started walking back.Somebody had was screaming; everybody was moving; everybody was nervous. moved my vehicle to Greenwich Street. It was still running. I They didn’t know what to do. didn’t shed a tear while the commotion was going on. I was I told people to keep walking. Nobody could see.You could being strong. But now I was crying because I knew it was over, only hear people.You were bumping into people,and everybody and I couldn’t find my partner. was grabbing each other. So I said,“Listen, I know for a fact that I put my head on the steering wheel and said,“Oh God.What there’s an exit north of here.I know the stations.Just lean on the am I gonna do now?”Then I turned my head to the side and saw wall, and we’ll walk our way out of here.” The fumes over- my supervisor, Peter Fromm, coming toward me. Peter had a ter- whelmed you.You had to breathe, but you couldn’t breathe. rified look in his eyes. I said,“Peter, what happened here?” I lost my helmet, my belt, my stethoscope, my cell phone— “I don’t know,”he said.“Tell me what happened to you.” everything fell off when I fell.And I wasn’t gonna look for it.All I went through the whole thing and told Peter,“I have go back 54 I had was my pants and my shirt. to find Tamara. I’m afraid she’s dead.”I jumped out to go back. We walked only two blocks, but it seemed like an eternity. I Peter,a soft-spoken guy that I’ve never seen yell or anything,said, thought like I was a blind person. I think that occurred to me “Juana! No.You listen.We’re going to the hospital. She might be because I have two friends that are blind—totally blind.They go at the hospital.You don’t know.” in new places and determine the edges, the corners and the So Peter and I rode back to NYU in a vehicle that wasn’t doing doors by touching. I learned that from them.That’s why I told that well with the wipers on to clear the dust away.On the way everybody,“Touch the walls.You can’t see.Touch the walls.” we found two firemen and put them in back. The fumes had We found our way to the Chambers and Church exit. overcome them both, and one was having an asthma attack. I Everybody got out. We told them to just keep walking north. I dropped them off at the ER. I put some water on my face, also told them where the [NYU Downtown Hospital] was. washed out my eyes and pulled my hair back. When I went to the job, it was daytime. By the time I got out When I finally went back to our garage, I saw Lt. Rene Davila of the subway it was nighttime. It was pitch black.You couldn’t coming out of the garage. He hugged me and started crying.And I see. I thought,“Where’s Tamara?” I turned around on Chambers thought,“OK, he must know Tamara’s dead.” But she wasn’t. He Street and started walking back.The whole street was filled with was just happy to see me alive because nobody knew where I was. paper and dust. I thought,“This is the end.There was a nuclear He had seen me on Church Street and didn’t know if I survived. war,and it caught us.”I prayed,“God,if my family’s dead and if my I started crying and said,“My God,Tamara’s dead. I can’t find relatives are dead, I don’t want to be alive.” Tamara.”Then, I felt somebody tapping me from the back, and it

FDNY Ladder 15

Richard Arthur Thomas R. Scott Scott Joseph Douglas Eric Allen Barry Kelly Kopytko Larsen Leavey Oelschlager Olsen 30 35 51 32 Age unavailable 45 36 41 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter was Tamara.She was there all nice and clean.I started hitting her,hug- building after the first plane hit. They had terror and fear in their ging her and telling her,“Don’t you ever leave me again.” faces.They were running, screaming.We were inundated.We had no command at that point.We saw fire trucks over on Liberty.According Alexander Loutsky, EMT, FDNY EMS to the MCI plan we have on board that comes through our MDT We were in vehicle 219 at an intersection right [mobile data terminal], we were supposed to go to the concourse by the Brooklyn Bridge.Me and my partner [EMT level in Tower 1. But by the time we got to Church and Fulton, the Eric Ramos] were talking small talk. And I priority was not,“Let’s go to the concourse level.”It was,“Look at all noticed—the World Trade Center was right in these people coming out.”You couldn’t abandon them. our view—I noticed a plane going down. It was [At some point we relocated to] West Street right in front of 1 flying low, and I interrupted him, “Eric, look at World Trade—underneath the North Bridge between Liberty and LOUTSKY that! Look how low that plane is! It’s gonna hit. Vesey—to assist [FDNY EMS] Lt. [Rene] Davila in establishing EMS It’s gonna hit!”A few seconds later, it exploded, operations at that location.He said to me and Eric,“I want you guys just went in and exploded.We just shook.We shook. to stick to me.You’re my staging officers,and I want you to stick to Quickly I took my radio, and I thought,“I have one shot to get it me like glue.” right.”Because the radios are terrible down here, you always have to I knew by looking at his face that the weight of us was on his repeat yourself, or they put us out with no response and stuff. I said, shoulders. I felt good about that and a little safe about that. It reas- “01 Charlie for the priority.” sured us. Lt. Davila had us use MCI triage tags on the victims— “01 Charlie, go.” about a dozen of them.We sent a lot of the walking wounded—the “01 Charlie.We have just witnessed a plane hit the World Trade people that were yellow tagged—out of the borough. So we Center.” wouldn’t inundate the neighboring hospitals that would have the [The dispatcher’s] voice went,“What?!”and then everything went more critical or unstable patients. crazy on the radio. You couldn’t transmit anymore. A few seconds We were in front of 1 World Trade triaging people when the sec- later,we were trying to transmit that we were staging at Church and ond plane hit.I wasn’t aware of it at the time.All of our patients ran Fulton—at the very end of Fulton, aimed at 5 World Trade Center. away.We had to get out of that area because it was totally unsafe. About a minute later we were by St. Paul’s [Chapel] and the Everyone high-tailed out of there.We had this [North] Bridge cov- Millennium Hotel. Eric was acting as the triage officer. I was trying ering us, so a lot of the debris—the metal and everything—didn’t to do the transmission and trying to get a spot to start operating hit us squarely. Rene told us to go back to Church and Fulton.We until some semblance of command came along.As far as we knew, headed south on West Street, but that’s where the explosion came we were the only ones there. But 01 Adam was just by [us at] from.Things were falling down.We took one look up Liberty Street, Church and Vesey.So we were quite close to one another. and it was total destruction.The building was on the floor.There When we got there thousands of people were coming out of the was no way to get through. People were screaming.Terror is the word to describe it.You Even with the door shut, all this pressure was billowing in.We had some people looking up into the building—they just lost it. emptied out the chocolate jars and filled them with water before You had people running for their lives.They knew that this was the water main went.We didn’t know how long we’d be there. the end of the world. As things cleared up a bit, it was like a fog again.We went out When we got back to Church and Fulton, I was the staging looking for survivors again.There wasn’t anyone on the streets, officer.My function was getting people out of there.I loaded [pri- but there were people in the buildings,in the basements,hiding. vate and hospital ambulances] up as much as I could—up to six We got a couple of pipes in case we needed to break into stores patients each—to get them out of there, because [the area] was to get water and supplies. unstable. For example, I said,“Where you from?” As I was leaving, my radio started to work. I heard that they “Brooklyn.” had some kind of triage at South Street Ferry. I told the fire cap- “Name a hospital.” tain that I wanted to go check it out and went to South Ferry. I “LICH [Long Island College Hospital].” met up with [FDNY EMS] Chief [James] Basile around noon. “Go—that’s where you’re going.” There was a MASH kind of triage outside the ferry. We saw a fair number [of patients]—in the 10s at a time.Burn Chief Basile gave me a new set of commands—to help evacu- victims—second- and third-degree, long-bone fractures, asthma ate lower Manhattan. I was directing people—the general pub- attacks. lic—onto ferry boats to Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey. Then there was the rumble. It sounded like a volcanic erup- There were hundreds and hundreds of people. I did that for 12 tion. Everybody started screaming and running up Fulton. I hours; lost my voice. I wasn’t doing any EMS; I was just working thought I was gonna get trampled.A lot of the patients also ran. as part of an evacuation operation. I ducked under a little truck. Everybody went by, like a stam- It was there that I found out that Eric was OK and in a hospi- pede.When I came out from under the truck, I saw this garage by tal. I felt better then. We’re with our partners more than we’re the Millennium [Hilton] Hotel. It [has] an indentation of about a with a spouse or family.We’re on the streets in a small, compact foot.There was a cop huddled there. I went and huddled next to area with that individual for eight hours or more.After a while him.As I looked at the building [2 World Trade], I saw it coming you get to know each other real well. down. I didn’t think we were gonna make it. You couldn’t run I took the ferry to Staten Island. I went home, but couldn’t away from that.Then the thing came down.Everything was black. sleep and went back to Ground Zero on Wednesday. I worked I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see. I realized with all this par- the 9-1-1 system and then went to Ground Zero. You felt that ticulate matter that I wasn’t going to be able to hold my breath your life was spared, so you should be of benefit to someone for minutes. I couldn’t hear. I panicked a little bit. I sorta felt like who was buried there. On the 12th we thought there were oth- the fish that shakes a little bit because I couldn’t breathe. I took ers buried and alive.You wanted to spend as much time as you my radio and started banging it around. I cracked glass.When I could getting those people out of there. cracked the glass, I put my hand inside, and it felt familiar. It But after a week or so, I said,“I don’t want this rubble to dic- turned out to be a van. I slipped inside and brought my head tate my life.”You’re like a zombie, returning to your tomb or down low. I covered my head with my jacket and took shallow something. I didn’t want to be like that.The hypersensitivity to breaths.There was a lot of pressure there. sound, sleeplessness, the nightmares, this, that and the other 56 Everything started to settle.It was like being in a fog.I could see thing. I remember [FDNY EMS] Capt. [Brian Milzoff] saying,“The 10 to 15 feet ahead of me. I didn’t see anyone. I knew NYU best place, I believe, for you is with your peers.”" And, it was so Hospital was two blocks straight ahead of me. I figured I could true.That’s why, for me, when I got home, I could only sleep a make it,so I went there.They saw me and washed me down.They couple of hours. It was better for me to be here. stuck my head in the sink.They gave me oxygen.They put a pulse After a week, I did morgue duty.They had a forensic patholo- ox on me and tried to get me to stay.I said,“No, I gotta go back to gist—the ME [medical examiner] or a representative from the my post. I gotta go back. I don’t want to abandon my post.” ME’s office who would open the bag and take out body parts.My So I went up Church and Fulton, and I saw our ambulance in job was to identify and document body parts.They had me,a cop flames. I met up with a firefighter,Alex Santoro, and a cop.The and a firefighter working there because we could better identify three of us made a pact not to separate, to stick together. We our own people. For example, I might see shears that belonged were looking for, but not finding anyone else. to a medic. Then, suddenly, we heard a rumble and high-tailed it outta I think a good number of people that suffered and who died there. We made it up from Dey Street—that becomes John there were degloved. I witnessed the degloving of a hand, the Street—right at the corner of John and Broadway.We ducked in degloving of bodies: It was like they were pushed out, like a a store that makes old-fashioned chocolate, slammed the door banana from the peel.We actually had pieces of skin. Maybe a six- and everything went totally black. If we had stayed [outside] a inch vertebrae and the skin.There were very few intact bodies,and second or two more, we wouldn’t have made it. even the intact bodies were not recognizable. Sometimes, a family

FDNY FDNY Ladder 16 Ladder 20

Robert Raymond John John James Sean David Robert Curatolo Murphy Burnside Fischer Gray Hanley LaForge Linnane 31 46 36 46 34 35 50 33 Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Captain/Former Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant member would not be able to say,“Oh well, that’s my ... whatever.”" us, they’ll call us.” A lot of the firefighters that had their bunker gear on were intact.We I told Pu,“Pu just go outside. I’ll wait for the food.”So Pu goes out- looked in their uniforms to see their names and things like that. side and doesn’t come [back] for a minute.The food wasn’t ready yet. There was a lot of mixing of body parts.We had one interesting So I said,“You know what? Let me go out and see what’s up with one—a pair of trousers with a hip bone, two legs and a wallet. It Puma.”I went outside and looked around the block. I saw Puma. His was perfect for us because it had a wallet and we could identify it. mouth was just dropped. He was looking up. I look up, too, and say, They handed me the wallet.I was able to identify the person.Then “Oh shit.That’s gotta be bad. I’m gonna be here all night.” we looked to see what else we had. We had flesh, bone, other The vehicle was parked a block away.I ran back toward the vehi- things.But,then we took a second look,and we had two right legs. cle—01 Adam—because I was driving that day. Two right legs. It was two people. Puma: When we heard everything, I ran outside The thing that really affected me was an intact body that fell out to go see what was going on.I thought a manhole of the building into the Plaza area.The hand was charred black in cover or something blew off. I saw people flying a grasping position. I could see how the person had been grasping down Church. What the hell’s going on? I ran the building—not wanting to jump, but not wanting to be inciner- down there and looked up.I saw the flames shoot- ated.“Should I jump or should I burn?”It must have been a tremen- ing out the top of the tower [1 World Trade]. My dous agony. This person was found dead due to the fall—every mouth just dropped. “Holy shit!” I grabbed my bone broken—but the hand was charred black. That was very radio.I said,“1 Adam.A fucking bomb just went off PUMA painful.It’s not so much what you saw as what you [imagined] that in the Trade Center!” My dispatcher told me to they went through. It’s an agony to me.Very difficult. stand by. I didn’t find out until later that people heard my transmission first and then Alex [Loutsky’s]. Both of the Orlando Martinez, EMT, & Frank Puma, EMT, transmissions cut into each other.My voice stood out more because FDNY EMS I was screaming so loud. Martinez: Before the first plane hit,we were across Next thing I know,Orlando pulled up next to me in the vehicle. I from Barclay and Church—one block north of jumped in and we drove down to the corner and stopped. Vesey Street. We were getting our breakfast at Martinez: Actually, we went the wrong way on the street. I was 8:45. We were at the counter. We usually order cranky—I didn’t eat my breakfast.We parked on Church and Vesey. BLTs.They were making it, and we heard a rum- There was some debris.We opened the ambulance doors and were MARTINEZ ble. The building we were in—the Woolworth flooded with people asking for help.We tried to treat as much as we Building—shook. Debbie, the girl [who works at could.We got one guy with second-degree burns. the deli], looks at Pu [Frank Puma] and me and goes,“Shouldn’t you Puma: Second- and third-degree burns from head to toe. guys go outside and check what’s going on?”I told her,“If they need Martinez: Nasal burns. We got some internal bleeding. We gave him oxygen. Five minutes later the bus was just crowded with Martinez:Part of the landing gear was found on Vesey and people.We couldn’t throw ’em all out. So we treated as much as Church, right across the street from where we were. It was gray. we could.We doused some water on their eyes. A large tire was right next to her.A large piece of metal had sliced When we first got to Church and Vesey,I called the station and her back.We got her on the longboard and picked up as much talked to Lt. [Bill] Melaragno. I said, “Listen, we need backup. flesh as we could from where she was and put it between her There’s nobody here.When’s the help coming?” But they were legs.We strapped her down. I remember there was no collar or already here.This building’s so large.As soon as you got close to HeadBed.We just got her on the board. Put her on the stretcher. it,you had to stop and help people.I didn’t realize [other crews] Put her in the ambulance.Started driving toward the hospital.It’s were down the block. only three blocks away. Puma: There were too many things going on.Way too much We got to the hospital,I opened the back doors.She had a col- chaos.There were units everywhere. We thought we were the lar and HeadBed on. Puma finished her off. only ones there. Puma: I’m good like that. Martinez: The first units to back us up were St.Vincent’s and Martinez: It was the wrong size collar, but it was a good job, [NYU Downtown] Hospital—part of the 9-1-1 system. The first anyway.We got her out [of] the ambulance.We rushed her into units parked on Church and Vesey and came to help us. the ER.We forgot about everybody else. When the second plane hit, we got in the back of the vehicle Puma: It was a traumatic rescue.In the ambulance going to the and closed the doors. We heard “clinks” hitting the top of the hospital, I was holding her hand, and she was screaming,“Help vehicle.We thought we would be crushed.After a minute and a me! It hurts! Please help me!” half, I got out and ran to the driver’s seat.We felt like we were in I said, “Listen, you gotta calm down. It’s gonna be all right. danger.We had enough patients who required critical treatment. We’re gonna be at the hospital.Try to stay calm.” One patient had respiratory burns, and we thought he would go Martinez: They actually pumped her with 40 units of blood. I into respiratory arrest. So I started driving down Vesey, going turned around before I left the ER,and I saw her raising her right toward NYU Downtown. leg. So I knew she had some sensation. She wasn’t paralyzed yet. Twenty feet in front of us,right on the next corner,a man was Puma: A couple days later,we found out that she was still alive. waving toward me. I looked at him.Then I looked down.There She didn’t lose her legs, either. was a female next to him on the curb. She was just laid out. It Martinez: We get back to the vehicle and all the patients were seemed like she didn’t have any legs.But,they were just so badly gone. But, all their purses and wallets and bags were in the back. I crushed. They just blended in with the street. I saw her torso: took it to the ER and dumped it. I told the nurses,“These are the “Oh, she’s gotta be dead.” patients’. Just sort it out. Do what you can.” I stopped,anyway.We had just gone 20 feet.I don’t know why Then I told Puma, “We gotta go back. But I gotta wash my we stopped.“Puma get the stretcher and get out the back and hands.They’re full of blood.”I washed my hands. He washed his take a look at this lady.”We looked at her.Her legs were crushed. hands.The stretcher, it was full of blood. We couldn’t take this Her pelvis was exposed. She was waving her arms.There was a stretcher back.We doused it with water and washed as much as lot of blood around her,a lot of flesh.And it was just this one man we could. Didn’t put a sheet back on.We just took it like that. holding her head.But she was screaming,still talking,waving her Puma: We dropped off our patients before the first tower even 58 arms,“Help me!. Help me.” went down. When [Orlando] started driving to go back in. I I got the longboard and the stretcher. I told the burn patient knew something was going on, and I didn’t want to go back just on the stretcher to get up and get on the bench. But he was too yet. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw other ambulances going weak, so I helped him up and threw two [other] people out [of] across to Battery Park City.We were going down Park Place and the ambulance and told them to get the “whatever” out. we made a left onto Church—to go back to Vesey and Church. Puma: They had a couple of scratches on their arms, a couple But we were going the wrong way.Fire engines were coming our cuts—nothing big. I told them,“Your injuries aren’t serious—get way,so we had to back up. I said,“No, no. Let’s just follow them. out.The hospital’s that way—just run!” That’s where our staging is.”When we got to North End and Martinez:We tried to board her.We couldn’t board her.She was Vesey,there were 10 other ambulances lined up. too wet from all the blood. She was very slippery. Finally I just We got out and looked in the back to see what we needed to grabbed her hip bone, just kind of picked it up, the best I could. get from the LSU. We were missing sterile water, 8x10s, 4x4s, Just slid her on the board. multi-trauma pads, saline and burn sheets.We were pretty much Puma: When we tried to roll her over, we saw that her whole depleted of all supplies. backside was ripped off. When Orlando went to get more supplies at the LSU truck, I Martinez: I said to Puma, “She’s gonna stop breathing any walked back up to West Street.We heard them screaming over minute, just watch her breathing. She’s getting ready to die.” the radio that the first tower was leaning,that it was ready to fall. Puma: Part of the tire and the landing gear [had hit her]. So I came back up to Vesey Street and ran straight down toward

FDNY FDNY Ladder 20 Ladder 21

Robert Gerald Gerard Keith Joseph William Benjamin McMahon Atwood Duffy Glascoe Henry Krukowski Suarez 35 38 53 38 25 36 35 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter the Hudson River.Orlando ran north. So me and him got separated for an hour and a half. Martinez: I carried three bottles of water four blocks I stopped for a second to calm down, looked at the water:“What am I doing?” I thought Frank was in front of me. I figured he had a head start. I fig- ured if I run, I’ll catch up. For a good two hours, we were separated. I thought he was dead. He thought I was dead. I ran up Westside Highway near West and Vestry.I ended up right by the St.Vincent’s garage. I was too exhausted to run anymore. Puma: I was in front of 3 World Trade when I heard them shout, “Start running!”After the first tower came down,I got in the truck to move it.Then I went to look for my partner or anyone I knew. After that, right before the second tower collapsed, I was at Vesey and North End when I heard them scream, “The second tower [1 World Trade] is coming down.” I went to the truck and drove it as far as Chambers and West before the cloud of smoke and debris caught up with me.It was pitch black in the truck.I thought, “I can’t outrun this.” I threw [the truck] in park. I didn’t want to overheat the engine. I couldn’t see my steering wheel. The smoke found its way in. I thought,“Please God,either let me live through this or kill me quick.” About five or 10 minutes later, the smoke started to settle. I could see light again. I jumped out of the vehicle to see if I knew anyone from my station. I found one person, Mike D’Angelo. I grabbed him and said,“Let’s get out of here.”He jumped in the pas- senger seat, and I jumped in the driver’s seat. I started the truck, rolled down the window and started driving north on West. I got about 10 blocks north, and I see someone doing jumping jacks in the street.That was Orlando.We gave each other a big hug and said at the same time,“Bro, I thought that you were dead.”

Robert A. McCracken, chief of EMS Command, FDNY EMS Normally, I would be in headquarters before 9 a.m., but I went to check on a project in one of our stations.When I was on the Belt Parkway,the signal came down. I got on the Gowanus [Expressway]; they had opened up the [HOV] CANCI (L) & lane for emergency vehicles only. It was a stream McCRACKEN of fire trucks, ESU [Emergency Service Unit], police cars and ambulances going into lower Manhattan. I could not believe a small plane could do this because there’s no way [it] can make that kind of smoke and damage.When I got to the entrance to the Gowanus, my car was being showered with confet- ti. It looked like nice-size pieces of paper. I was saying,“Where is all this confetti coming from?”The plume of paper was blowing from lower Manhattan into Brooklyn. I’m in the [HOV] lane, saying [to myself],“This can’t be an accident. Be cautious of a secondary inci- dent or a terrorist incident.”I was hearing the transmissions from [Lt. Rene] Davila about how they were setting up triage. When I came out of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, I had to stop and park at Rector Street because of the body parts laying all over the ground.We were running over body parts: chunks, flat pieces of skin, no skulls attached to [the body]. You’d just see the head with no skull inside.You could see just their hairline, like a door- mat—nothing else underneath it. I’ll never forget that one bad piece I saw.I could not believe it. There were parts of an [airplane] engine, and then I looked up and said,“Oh, my God, a second plane hit.”When I looked to the South Tower,there had to be a hole in the side of that building that was six stories high. Not straight, but on an angle. When I got out of my car,I saw a couple of firefighters. I said,“Do me a favor. If any more ambulances come out of this tunnel, divert them up South End Ave. Stay off of West Street.” I asked a fireman headed for the South Tower to get the ambulances off Liberty and send them back to West Street to go to the south end [of the island]. Then I met Chief [Gerard] Barbara [chief of the Bureau of Fire the south sector.We already knew there was a north sector set Prevention] on Albany and West. He said,“They’re going to run up.As I got up to Liberty,Hatzalah must have had 20 trucks—40 another third-alarm assignment in the South Tower. I’m going to providers. Thank God all those resources were there because meet Chief [Donald] Burns [a citywide tour commander].What that’s all I had. do you know so far?” A couple of my trucks were on Liberty, facing the West Street I said,“I believe the Command Post is relocated from the lobby corridor. I told everybody to get out of this corridor, get out of [of 1 World Trade] to West Street. I’ll meet you in Tower 2.” Liberty. They thought I was kidding. I said, “Get out of Liberty I figured the guys on Liberty and West would be sending every- because [2 World Trade] looks very unstable.” body down south, which would be a safe haven for them. I wanted all ambulances off Liberty, and I wanted everything When you looked at the corner of [2 World Trade],you said to to face south on South End Avenue. If there was going to be any yourself,“It’s like a table that somebody cut [a leg] off. It’s gonna transport, they weren’t going to cross Liberty and they weren’t crush down.The weight of the [damaged floors of the] building going to go north. Everything was going south. has got to force it to crush the [floors immediately below].” So I told these guys,“That’s your evacuation plan—everybody Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it was going to goes south.” implode—that the building was not going to support the weight. “Where?” When I got farther up toward Tower 2, Commissioner “To the [Staten Island] Ferry.We have to get out of this area." [Stephen] Gregory,[assistant commissioner of communications], I also reminded everybody about using [their] natural body was getting out of his car and said he was going to the Command senses—hearing, taste, smell. Don’t ask me why; everybody Post.Then a fire marshal called me over—don’t ask me why— thought I was crazy. I’ve never said that before on a command. and asked me for blankets. I said,“Richie, I’m trying to find com- But it was something you had to rely on—your natural senses— mand.I don’t have blankets.All the ambulances down there have because this was a bad feeling,all the way around.When I pulled blankets.They’re looking for live victims.” up I said,“This is a bad one.” He said,“There’s bodies everywhere.” Just as we got everybody out [of the Liberty area], I got a trans- I said,“I know that.” mission over the command frequency to go to the Command Post. You couldn’t help but look up.All this confetti, all this stuff So [before I left] I got everybody in a little corridor—like an over- was showering you.You were seeing bodies fall. I’ll never forget hanging building.We set up a little treatment area;we put a couple the couple jumping out, holding hands, or the guy you saw on of stretchers in there with all the ambulances facing south. TV,swimming all the way down.It sounded like plywood hitting. Just as I got out of Liberty the sound under my feet was like I didn’t realize they were popping through glass, going through an earthquake. It sounded like a jet engine screaming in my ear. glass panels.It sounded like a broken picture tube when they hit I didn’t know Tower 2 was coming down.I thought it was anoth- that part of the building.That’s what it sounded like to me—not er plane coming in. I had no idea that this roaring sound was broken glass.It sounded like a broken picture tube or a breaking actually the building coming down. fluorescent bulb kind of sound. All I felt [next] was a fireman pushing me. Other people were On my side,as long as the walking wounded were moving,we running. I found myself around Liberty,back in a corridor,hiding bypassed them. As long as they were making their own way behind a building.And then everything changed.You could feel 60 south, we bypassed them.They asked where there were ambu- the atmosphere come and push you.You noticed debris coming lances.We told them,“South Ferry end, South Ferry end.” at you, but you hadn’t felt it yet. I thought it was a bomb. My main objective was to get everybody off Liberty,get them Everything became total darkness.You couldn’t see. off West Street.When I met Gregory,he said he had an EMS cap- All I heard,before the darkness really got in,[was] this woman tain on scene. This was the first EMS supervisor I knew of on screaming,“My baby! My baby! My baby!”And while I was in this scene.What I had in resources on Albany [Street] were Hatzalah corner, pulling my helmet down and pulling my face shield ambulances,commercial ambulances,volunteers and only a cou- down, I felt something between my legs. [I reached down and ple of department ambulances. felt] a child between my legs. Don’t ask me how it got there.The I had a firefighter making sure the [EMS personnel] didn’t go baby was lying on the ground between my legs. It couldn’t have up West Street, and I had a firefighter getting them off Liberty.To been more than two years old. this day I don’t know if those two guys are alive.The people were That’s where you start to think you’re going to die.You want starting to go down south. On each block, we set up sectors. [If to die in your sleep, and you want to die peacefully. I started to there were] no officers, I looked at a group of people and said, think about my children, and for the first time, I actually prayed “Any medics here? Good,you’re in charge.You have medical con- to the Mother Mary.That was gonna get me through. trol.You supervise this group until I get a boss.” As this force came, I heard windows breaking and it was total There were no bosses. I was trying to find an EMS captain to darkness. I opened my eyes. It got so quiet. I said,“This can’t be make him in charge of this whole sector, which was going to be death;this can’t be death.”I didn’t hear nothing [and it was] total

FDNY FDNY Ladder 24 Ladder 25

Stephen Daniel Matthew John Kenneth Robert Joseph Paul Belson Brethel Barnes Collins Kumpel Minara Rivelli Jr. Ruback 51 43 37 42 42 54 43 50 Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter darkness. And all of a sudden somebody yelled, “Is everybody crushed. Firefighters bent over trying to get air. PASS alarms going OK?”As I opened my mouth to respond, I got this total mouth- off.No command structure anywhere.I didn’t see anybody of rank ful—as if I was buried in the sand. I said,“Oh my God, I’m going in my area at all.The next thing I knew I was running from the next to suffocate here. I cannot believe it.” tower.That’s when it struck me that the first roar I had heard was The next thing I knew, somebody broke the window in the [2 World Trade collapsing].This was the next tower chasing front of me. I said,“What are you doing?”I don’t know who he me. was. He had a flashlight and said,“There’s people on the other I didn’t know the first tower had come down.As a matter of side of the windows.” It wound up being one of my HazTac fact—talking about senses—I thought it was a flashover. I was guys [FDNY EMS HazTac ambulances are outfitted with haz- waiting:“Where’s the fuel? Where’s the flashover? Where’s the ardous materials equipment]. explosion after the darkness?” I had no idea it was a building. On the other side of that window was debris from the build- Total darkness—like the end of the world. ing. People were trying to get out through the window [directly I saw a door and ran in as hard as I could, as fast as I could. in front of me].They couldn’t see that the other windows were Somebody knocked me down, gave me a push, gave me that last broken.That explained why my window was blown in and the ding. I was in before he was.To this day,I’m still hurting from that other ones were blown out.That drove me crazy—why three of push. But I’m lucky.Whoever pushed me probably saved my life. the windows were blown outward. For some reason, the pres- I ran as far back as I could into a building.You had to pause.It sure or the atmosphere didn’t break the window in front of me. was strange because I had lived through the first one,and I knew If it had, it probably would have cut me up. [what was coming with] the second one. I was calmer with the The next thing we know, we were pulling people out of this darkness and the after-effect. I knew I wasn’t going to choke on building. We formed a human chain. In the human chain, the this stuff and suffocate from it. I was not the victim now. mother of the small child [who I retrieved from between my I had to get out of there. I somehow got back out on the other legs] appeared, and I handed the child off [to her]. side of the building. It started to get light.Visibility got a little bet- We went inside [the building], and there was a deli. I don’t ter, like a snowstorm.That’s when I went back to the south and know what was worse, being outside or inside. So we started made my way down to the harbor.There were little Coast Guard evacuating everybody south. I realized it was just [like] a snow- boats and police launches evacuating people. It seemed like a storm. It was quiet.You saw people walking slowly. I didn’t see small amount of people. I didn’t see any injured. one EMS provider. I looked down the street and saw all the When I got down to Robert Wagner Park—by Battery Park— trucks empty and vacant. I got as far as two blocks and said, there were close to 1,500 people [there]. You could not see “Where are all my people?”There was nobody. I was alone with lower Manhattan from there,but for some strange reason,this lit- civilians and some ATF [alcohol, tobacco and firearms] cops. tle piece of real estate had good air quality. Everybody kept say- Before this went down, I knew I had at least 40 Hatzalah guys ing,“We got to go through [the smoke and debris cloud].” and [FDNY EMS] Deputy Chief [Ulysses] Grant, who I put in I kept saying,“I don’t know what’s on the other side of that charge of the sector [near Rector Street] before I headed up West smoke.We’re not going.We’re staying at least where we’re in a Street to the Command Post. So I had left Grant with [FDNY safe haven.”I got somebody to go scream for a tugboat and the EMS] Capt. [Frank] D’Amato and [FDNY EMS] Lt. [Pauline] next thing you know,the tugboat and ferries started showing up, Cronin in that sector. and we evacuated 1,500 people to New Jersey. 61 I walked back and start searching all the stores. I saw people It was rough getting people on the first boat.People were tak- [who] made it into stores:“Get out,I don’t know what else is com- ing time to say goodbye to their loved ones and [asking],“Where ing.”Now people were telling me the White House had been hit; are we going?”There were people arguing with us,“How are we the Capitol was hit—that’s when I realized we were at war. going to get back? I’ve got to go back to my apartment.And I’ve I ran over to [another] deli, and Chief Grant was in there. He got to get my pet.” said,“Where you going?” I tried to tell them,“Listen, forget all that.We’ve got to get you “I’m going to make sure everybody’s OK,and I’m going to the out of here.” Command Post. Get everybody reassembled back to the water’s After we got most of them out, we had about 200 stragglers edge. Start bringing them down to the Ferry terminal.” who still weren’t getting on the available boats.The only way I So he got people going south.I don’t know how long this took. could get to their emotions was by saying,“People, you have to All I know is [as] I went looking for the Command Post here it go now.You have no choice.You’re stopping us from effecting came again—the sound—a low roar [like] an engine coming at another rescue.By us sitting here,negotiating with you to get on you.You felt like you were getting sucked into the [engine] intake. the boats,we cannot move forward.We want to secure this area.” I can’t tell you what building I ran into.I was totally lost,because Finally,the last 100–200 people got on the boat. I couldn’t find street signs.You couldn’t see markers or buildings. After numerous boats took them to Jersey,I got reunited with The most frustrating thing was seeing fire trucks collapsed, Grant, D’Amato and a bunch of the Hatzalah guys.We made our

FDNY FDNY FDNY FDNY Ladder 27 Ladder 35 Ladder 38 Ladder 42

John Frank James Vincent Michael Michael E. Joseph Peter Marshall Callahan Giberson Morello Otten Roberts Spor Bielfield 35 Age unavailable 43 34 42 31 35 44 Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter way to the Staten Island Ferry.There must have been 50 ambu- the most capable, highest-ranking person to take over your sec- lances there.They had set up a casualty collection point floor. tor.Then you take 10–15 minutes to get debriefed with the inci- When I got there, I met [FDNY EMS] Dr. [Allen] Cherson and dent commander on site so the commander can get a full scope Chief [James] Basile who had set that up.I said to the guys,“How and then come up with a different plan of action. many patients made it to you?” It’s worth it for that 10 minutes—to pull people out of those “This is it.” sectors—to get a sense,rather than you doing personal recon.Get “You gotta be kidding me—that’s it?” them to come in and find out what your resources are.What are For the first time, I was [now] able to establish some commu- your obstacles? What do you need? Get the brain trust of people nications with Chief [Jerry] Gombo via telephone. Somebody that were there at the time to say,“OK, where do we go from had a Gator and took me back to the original Command Post. I here?”We’ve done that on many occasions. It’s always been bene- found a couple of EMTs and paramedics on the street.“OK, you ficial. Sometimes people don’t want to do that, and you just slide guys are in charge. Stay here as long as you can. I’m going to try further,lose control and never recover.That’s basically what it was to get you some backup.” turning into.The [regrouping process] lets you interpret:What are When I got to Vesey I saw Chief [Peter] Hayden for the first your voids? What are your injuries? We asked every person to pro- time.He was standing on top of a rescue unit with all the people vide an area report so we could reassess where we needed help. trying to regroup and organize a search-and-rescue [operation]. I Early in the event, construction workers stripped our trucks. In cannot tell you what a relief that was. He was yelling as loud as a normal situation I’d grab each of them,saying,“What the hell are he could. He asked me what I had established. you doing? Why do you got my helmet on? Why do you got my I said,“I’ve got some partial resources here.I got a casualty col- turnout jacket?”Guys who had surgical masks on—doctors—were lection point here, and I’m being told there’s another casualty just stripping the trucks.I would have loved to just see my people. collection point up at Chelsea.” It was such an eerie feeling to see open trucks, with no providers At that point [Chief] Walter Kowalczyk started calling me.I said, around,and anybody and everybody trying to grab equipment and “This is great.”I finally [heard] my first transmission. For some rea- just help.Trying to gain control was virtually impossible. son, I didn’t have enough wattage on my portable. I had to walk One of the things that really struck me occurred on day nine.It back to Rector Street and [transmit from] my car.When I got out was the first day I was able to walk in my community. I went on the car [radio], Kowalczyk said to try to make my way up to home, had a good rest and started walking through the communi- Chambers [and West, the newly formed EMS Command Post]. I ty. We lost 81 people in my neighborhood on the 11th—11 of made my way up to Chambers. It was probably three in the after- them were firefighters People told me,“I thought you were dead. noon before I got there. I was wheezing from all the garbage that Thank God you’re still alive.”They had never seen my truck move, I sucked in. I got an Albuterol treatment and eye treatments. saw the newspapers piling up and heard all kinds of rumors. You know what I was frustrated about [when the second tower You know,you go to CISD—and I’m not saying it doesn’t work collapsed]? That I became a victim and not a rescuer anymore— because sometimes we see a tremendous turnaround in our peo- because nobody knew where the hell I was.Nobody knew where ple—but you don’t walk out with a clean slate.The only reason I’m I was.That upset me the most. In an earlier transmission, every- sleeping a little better today is because I’m taking a muscle relax- body thought I was in Tower 2 because that’s [where] I led every- er. I have pain in my lower back and my hip, and I have this burn- 62 body to believe I was going.Then I got diverted by the [fire] mar- ing sensation from my hip down to my thigh. I had an MRI the shal and wanted to get the resources in the south end. other day. I’m not a person who’s afraid of heights, and I’m not When the first [tower] went down, I didn’t know it went claustrophobic. But I got in there, and I felt like I was in a coffin. I down until the second one went down. But I knew then there said,“Take me out.”It reminded me of being covered in the dark- were at least three- to five-alarm assignments for both of those ness [again].A couple of deep breaths and I went back in. buildings. What concerned me the most was the high-ranking So I’m having some problems. I’m sure it’ll take a couple of guys I knew. Chief Barbara had been on his way to meet Chief years. It’s like the Happy Land fire [a fire at the Happy Land Social Burns in [the Command Post], so I knew that those two guys Club,a bar in the South Bronx,that killed 87 people].People were possibly were dead.And if it weren’t for Gregory telling me the frozen in time.All those people trying to get over each other.Trying Command Post was relocated up West Street, and Richie calling to get to the door. It was all smoke, and they were frozen in time. me for the blankets, I likely would have gone into [Tower] 2. When you look at the different psychological effects, I look at I think our biggest urgency after 7 [World Trade] went down the guys who were there before the buildings went down, after [just after 5 p.m.] was regrouping, trying to figure out who was [the collapses] and [throughout] the complete rescue-and-recov- left and making sure we could account for everybody. ery phase.Those are the guys I’m worried about.That’s the fall- [Regrouping] goes back to your training.We always tell the guys out I worry about. in ICS training that there are times that benefit outweighs you The most amazing thing out of the whole operation is the going further down the tubes.You tell your sector officers to find independent action from the EMTs and paramedics that

FDNY Ladder 101

Patrick Salvatore Brian Joseph Thomas Joseph Terence Byrne Calabro Cannizzaro Gullickson Kennedy Maffeo McShane 39 38 30 37 36 30 37 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter regrouped, followed their basic training and took a lot of leader- MCI City. We do MCIs all the time here. I have to say, for the ship on their own.That’s the common aspect [of this event]. [scope of the] scene,it really was not that crazy.I thought every- We chose not to go inside.There were numerous, numerous body was really organized,professional.[EMT] Alex Loutsky was transmissions,“Away from the building,stay away from the build- even tracking people’s names and what hospitals they were ing—hardhat operation.” Normally in a high-rise fire, we go to going to—that’s how organized it was. establish EMS operations side-by-side with the incident com- We did not have a tremendous amount of units parked under- mander [IC] at the lobby Command Post and set up a lower neath that site.They were either loading or moving away from triage sector at a floor designated by IC as safe for operations the site. I was standing right in the middle of the street. Most below the fire floor.At this incident,Gombo chose not to do that people were back against the Millennium Hotel.A woman who because of the hazards involved and that made the big difference started to walk across the street [from the Trade Center in the number of EMS injuries and deaths that occurred. Complex] passed out,right in the middle of the street.I reached down to grab her leg and somebody else did, too, and we were Amy Monroe, lieutenant, FDNY EMS going to put her in the patient care area. She wasn’t in arrest or When I turned on the news that morning, I anything, but she was unconscious. As we picked her up, I saw a plane burning in the side of the Trade looked over my shoulder and saw Janice standing there.That’s Center. I decided I wouldn’t overreact. A when Janice said,“Run!” plane had hit the Empire State Building years We heard it first. I thought,“Oh Jesus, they’re sending in a before,but it appeared to me,because I could third plane to wipe out all the rescue workers.”I didn’t have a see the extent of the fire,that it was gonna be visual but I could see the cloud coming. I turned to Fulton MONROE a big job. I live in lower Manhattan and Street along with other people, and we just ran. Janice was Battalion 4 is where I work. So I know the running with me side by side. We reached out to grab each area and the World Trade very well. I picked up the phone and other’s hands, and we were overtaken by this stampede of called the Battalion.Lt.[Bill] Melaragno answered the phone.He people. We got separated. I refused to go underneath a car, screamed,“Just get in here! Get in here!” which is what a lot of people did or down the subway. St. I threw on part of my uniform and ran out the door.I could’ve Paul’s [Chapel] was there. I saw that wrought-iron fence [near called my husband on the cell phone, but for some reason I it]. I had a landmark. So I reached the corner of Broadway and stopped by my kids’ school. I drove there, ran in barefoot and Fulton and grabbed the fence to stabilize myself. It had started looked for my husband because I thought he would still be to get cloudy—not completely dark.The wind hit me.Then it there [dropping them off]. I wanted to tell him where I was became very, very dark. going. I couldn’t find him. So I jumped in my car and went to The cloud felt thick. It was like stuff was being stuffed the Battalion.I took one of the guys that was there,and I jumped down your throat.We couldn’t breathe at all.It got really quiet, in an ambulance. but the thing you heard in the distance was these very quiet At that point, I knew the job was pretty serious. Being on the voices saying,“Help me! Help me! I’m dying! I’m dying!” Urban Search and Rescue Team, I knew it could potentially turn It was absolutely pitch black.At that point,I chose not to hold into that type of operation. So I took my bunker gear with me. onto somebody’s hand.I had this lifeguard mentality:Don’t hold We actually hid it in a little spot on the ambulance, which is onto somebody’s hand; they’ll pull you under. Truthfully, I 63 kinda weird, but I knew that if things got crazy, everything thought I was gonna die. I couldn’t breathe. I thought about my would disappear. I found it in that spot eight hours later. kids:“God, please don’t let me die now.I’ve got two boys.” The second plane had hit when we were seconds away from After that, I saw this orange light. I don’t know what it came the corner of Church and Fulton. I had a really bad feeling and from or what it was. It got a little bit grayer, and I started to was trying to call my husband just to say,“Look,this is where I’m breathe through my shirt. I turned to try to find something and going. I don’t know if I’m coming back.” saw this outline of a vehicle. I opened the door, and when I got When I got down there,I became the transport officer,decid- in three civilians were inside. It was a fire Suburban. Inside was ing who was going to what hospital, etc. Units were starting to a doctor,an older man (about 70) and this younger guy.One guy turn toward the Trade Center. I stopped everybody and made was actually hurt and crying hysterically;the other guy was hav- everybody pull back to Broadway because I felt that [the scene] ing respiratory problems.We did not see anybody moving out- was really unsafe. You could see the debris on the street, the side at all. Nobody.It got a little bit lighter, and we were able to stuff coming out of the windows. see some things, but we never saw another person. Janice Olszewski was the captain operating at the scene at I told the younger guy,“Hotwire this fucking vehicle now.” that time, and [FDNY paramedic] Manny Delgado was there And then he started crying and said,“I can’t! There’s a plate!”He with a lot of officers. looked like this macho guy, but he was so out of control. He I’ve worked all over the city, but lower Manhattan is really leaned over the steering wheel, crying.

FDNY FDNY Ladder 105 Ladder 111

Vincent Thomas W. Henry Dennis Frank Christopher Brunton Kelly Miller Jr. Oberg Palombo Sullivan 43 51 51 Age unavailable 46 39 Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant I saw this other vehicle with its lights on. I knew there’d be you saw the devastation from on top of the pile, it was a totally keys in it if the lights were on.I told the guy who was crying,“Get different perspective. I hate to say this, but I thought we’d find out and go and see if that vehicle is locked.” pockets with people more than they found. What [this event] He got out of the vehicle and when he came back,he was still reinforced for me is that we are in control of nothing—nothing. crying,saying,“It’s locked! It’s locked!”So I told the doctor to see if he could find anything heavy [in the back]. He the pulled out Jonathan Moritz, EMT, FDNY EMS this huge drill. I said,“OK, let’s go.”So we all got out and the doc- I was on 04 Henry,a hazardous materials ambu- tor broke the window. I put them all in the back seat. For some lance.We had heard the boom [of the first plane reason, I couldn’t open the front door. So I climbed in through hitting] and had a thousand people waving to us the broken window.That’s when I cut my hands up. and pointing to the World Trade Center.My unit We rounded the corner of 14th Street and the sky was really was the third or fourth unit on scene. By this beautiful.The vehicle died. It had so much dust in the engine. So time, the entire lower west side of Manhattan we got out.The young hysterical guy was in the middle of the MORITZ was shut down. People had just stopped their street rolling around,vomiting.He said he couldn’t breathe;it was cars, gotten out and started running.The streets bizarre.This lieutenant came whipping up, stopped and got out. were crowded with people, debris. I said,“Look, you’ve gotta take us to the hospital.”The lieutenant We got down there, we started hearing Lt. [Rene] Davila set- said,“First of all,we can’t transport him [the hysterical guy] in the ting up his incident command center.We couldn’t even get over Suburban because it’s against the rules.” to where [the command center] had been set up. I believe [we I said,“Look, are you out of your mind?” went] up Broadway and ducked down and got to Church and He told me,“I’ve got six ambulances responding now to this Dey streets. location.” We saw six people come out of the upper floors of the first I said, “Are you fucking crazy? The World Trade Center col- tower where we pulled up.We started treating people that had lapsed! You think you’re gonna get ambulances here now?” been piling [out of the buildings] and falling onto Church Street. We had four or five patients at that location, and I still had the We were just dragging them, literally dragging them away from other two with me. So that was already seven or eight people in the scene. People were getting trampled.We would start pulling his car. I finally walked up to the hysterical guy in the street and and some of them would just [get up and] start walking. said,“Listen, if you wanna live, you better get your ass up off the We thought we heard a second boom.We looked up and the ground and walk right now.” entire tower was turning into a fireball.My partner and I took off He got up and we all got in the vehicle and took off. I literally running down Dey Street, trying to get away from the debris, sat in the lieutenant’s lap on the way to Beth Israel [Hospital].At because the plane came from the [opposite] side and blew the time,nobody knew the towers had collapsed;they just knew everything out toward us. there was a plane crash.We were the first collapse victims at Beth We had a patient, I remember, after the second plane hit. She Israel Hospital.They hydrated me, and I was there maybe 15 or walked down from the 78th floor. She was in an elevator when 20 minutes. The charge nurse told me,“They just bombed the the plane hit. How she was walking was beyond me. She was Pentagon.” third-degree, full-thickness burns head-to-toe—and walking. She 64 So I said,“I gotta leave.” said the elevator lit up like a power light on a hot water heater. I took the IV out of my arm and walked home. I didn’t have Flashed and then stopped. She said doors opened up and every- any clothes because they decontaminated me. So I walked the body piled out. She said she walked down to the 70th floor.We five blocks home in my hospital gown.They wouldn’t let me off packed [her] up [with] six patients and headed up to the hospi- the block, either because they thought I was a psych patient or tal. She was 38. I believe she survived. She was alive and talking because they wanted to contain victims. I told one of the cops I when she came to me and was alive and talking when I left the worked for the fire department. He said,“Go.” ER.To my knowledge, she’s still probably alive. I went home, went upstairs, changed into some clothes and This debris that looked to be really small [on TV]—those asked my neighbor—he has a motorcycle—to take me back down beams were the size of Buicks.You had debris that looked like to where I was.All the highways were closed down,but they let us windowsills and glass and concrete.This stuff was probably the on because I had my fire department jacket on. I went back in the size of an office cubicle, probably an I beam.The magnitude of early afternoon and deployed with USAR. I found the ambulance the debris that came down was unreal. that I came in with abandoned on the street and almost com- When we came back after the debris had come down, there pletely stripped. But I found my gear still in the little hiding place was a police officer who came up to me. He had a shrapnel where I left it. I deployed with USAR and went out on the pile. wound. He said that something very small hit him. It put a hole I was on the pile until five the next morning. On the pile at about 6 inches in the back of his arm. It broke his arm in three that time, it was body parts—a hand here and leg there. When places and exited out of his elbow. So, I start [immobilizing] his

FDNY FDNY Ladder 118 Ladder 131

Joseph Vernon Scott Robert Leon Peter Christian Agnello Cherry Davidson Regan Smith Jr. Vega Regenhard 35 49 33 48 48 36 28 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter arm.He’s regaining strength.We gave him everything.He says he 8,” an FDNY supervisor that responds to special conditions, at also was hit in the back by something. His bullet-proof vest Washington and Vesey streets,near 7 World Trade.I also linked up stopped it from going through his chest. with a BLS crew.A lot of private and volunteer units were now One of the first pictures I saw in the periodicals that came pulling up to the scene.We had people that didn’t have radios. out, I said to my parents and my family,“I don’t know why I’m Communication was difficult. Some people not used to doing 9- still standing because I was parked right in front of the building 1-1 calls were taking this job. [in the photo].”And knowing where that debris was going and Some crews were saying,“We can’t leave; we gotta wait to be what it looked like afterward,I still to this day wake up and won- told what hospital to take the patients to.” der why I’m here. I said,“You don’t gotta wait for nothing. If they’re talking, put them in your ambulance and just go. Just go!” Ernestina (“Ernie”) Nyquist, EMT-P, St. When I was on Washington Street, somebody came and said Vincent’s Manhattan, Unit 02 Victor they wanted us in one of the buildings. I said,“They want us to Paramedic Humberto Rubet and I were sitting go into that building? We were pulling burned people out of a in our unit in front of the hospital and all of a basement. We cannot go into that building right now.” If sudden Berto and I saw a huge ball of smoke. Humberto and I would have gone in there, I don’t think we The first plane had struck the World Trade would have come out. Center. I said,“Oh shit, Humberto, just go!”And We were trying to save as many as possible.The Conditions 8 NYQUIST he flew to the scene. boss and I were trying to get people with broken patellas, En route, I said to Humberto,“How are we ankles—whoever couldn’t run—put into ambulances. gonna handle this?”We knew it had hit the 80–90th floors,so we Then I got a feeling of impending doom. I ran into Will Neate knew we would have tons of patients coming out. I had never from Lenox Hill. I was really upset and told him I had to find my experienced anything like this before. I’ve been a medic for only partner.“This is not a safe scene. I’m getting my partner, and we three years. I said to Humberto,“I’m scared.” need to be at least a block or two away from this.”I asked Will, He said,“I’m gonna tell you what to do,I’m gonna protect you. “How do I get back to Humberto?”The Conditions 8 boss said,“I Stay with me. Follow my lead.” We got there and parked at can’t get him over the radio.” Church and Vesey,near 5 World Trade and Borders bookstore.We I thought, “I’ll get him over the air myself.” I transmitted, didn’t even get out of the ambulance. People just opened our “Humberto, 2 Victor.Where are you? This is Ernie!” doors and said,“Come with us. Please come with us.” Then I heard Humberto on the radio,“Come back to Church They brought us to a guy burned from head to toe. I said to and Vesey; I’m here!” him,“I know this is going to be a strange question, but I have to I went back to Church and Vesey, and I met him,“Humberto, know what’s going on in those buildings. For everybody’s safety, before we do anything else, we really gotta get this ambulance can you please just tell me where you were.”He looked at me out of here and go the other way.” and said,“I was in the basement of the North Tower.” Humberto said,“Just let me find out what’s going on.”He defi- I said,“My God, Humberto, these people are coming out from nitely had a lot of control that day. He was definitely holding up the basement.What is going on in that building?” for me and trying to get as many people as he could get to run Within three minutes, we were all blocked in. Ambulances down Church Street.People were just watching him.I remember 65 were leaving, fire trucks were coming, people were running in him saying to two or three people,“Go! You’re holding up.You all directions. It was chaotic. It was hectic. need to go.You need to get out of here.” Humberto handed me my hard hat and said,“Here’s a hard hat.” One woman said to me,“You transport these people.” “A hard hat? I need so much more than this.” I said,“If they can walk,they can go to the hospital.They need Within seconds,it felt like the whole ground was shaking,and to walk.We can’t just transport people that can walk.”People run- I was running for my life. A second plane had struck 2 World ning were trampling each other. It was chaos. Trade. The debris flying over my head was incredible. I saw a Humberto got behind the wheel, and—all of a sudden—we mailbox near a building that had construction scaffold next to it. heard over the radio,“Mayday! Mayday! The building is coming I ran and stayed under the scaffold and behind the mailbox. down! Mayday! Mayday!”I looked at Humberto,and he looked at The debris lasted so long. Humberto and a paramedic student me. I screamed,“Humberto, this is gonna be the hardest thing, went behind the ambulance. They later told me the cars that but we gotta go. Put your foot on that gas and go.” were near them on Church Street were crushed. I remember turning around, and all you saw was this big cloud I ran about three blocks and told myself,“Get out of here.” I of soot and smoke. It was just so hard for him because he heard wanted to, but then I thought,“I can’t be running this way.I gotta people saying over the radio,“I can’t get out; I’m trapped!” go back.”I was petrified to come down Church again because I felt I said,“Humberto,please,you gotta go.You have to go!”At that like I was going to be hit with debris.I wound up with “Conditions point I thought the building was gonna come down on top of us.

FDNY FDNY FDNY Ladder 132 Ladder 136 Ladder 166

Andrew Michael Thomas John Sergio Michael William X. Jordan Kiefer Mingione Vigiano II Villanueva Cawley Wren 36 26 Age unavailable 36 Age unavailable 27 61 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter, Retired I thought,“We’re all dead.” tissue injuries, burns, smoke inhalation—just everything.A cou- There were people jumping on our ambulance.We had a full ple of people started having seizures on the street.We were try- load of people in the back. People just jumped in; others were ing our best to set up a traditional MCI area. I was assigning jumping on. Humberto was trying to tell people,“You’re gonna supervisors to [each] of the sectors. get hurt.You gotta run.You gotta get off the bus.”He couldn’t go A couple of police officers came to me and said,“You need to fast because people were jumping on. It was a mess. send people inside the lobby because [some of the injured] can’t We went up four blocks and stopped near Franklin and Varick get out.They’re too hurt.” streets.Humberto started to set up a new triage area because we It was hard, but I said,“No, I’m not sending people in there still had injured people appearing.[A short time later],he looked because it’s too dangerous.”Not because I thought the buildings at me and said,“Ernie, we gotta go back.” were going to collapse, but [because] I was concerned for our And I was like,“We’re going back?” people.The debris [was] falling close and [there was] smoke and So we went back down. We were about a block away from they didn’t have their protective clothing or training to go in where we were originally,and all of a sudden,right in front of us, there, so I didn’t send anybody in. I’m kind of glad for that World Trade 1 started to fall. Humberto had to back the ambu- because about 10 minutes later, the first building fell. lance up to try to get away from this. He said,“Ernie I’m gonna We were only there 40–45 minutes before [the South Tower] run somebody over.” collapsed. We were just starting to get [comfortable with the] I said,“Humberto, we gotta get out.” pandemonium. I already [had been] thinking that corner was I thought the whole call took 10 minutes, but someone said it becoming overwhelmed, and we needed to get a bigger boat. I probably took three hours.The first time I got in contact with my was thinking of [using] a few hotels as a triage area. But just as I husband,when I got back to West Street,was around noon.My hus- had those thoughts, the first [tower] came down. You heard it band’s a firefighter at engine 243 in Brooklyn. So I thought,“We’re first—that monstrous roar. I didn’t know what it was. It was just both gonna be down here.”I was thinking,“We’re both dead.” a tremendously loud, rumbling, thunderous, growing-in-strength I think we did an incredible job by directing people away sort of roar. People were moving away from it in a wave. I took from there.I think more people would have just stood there and one look over my shoulder and saw the cloud of smoke and looked in amazement if they didn’t have people constantly debris. It was coming right down.You had no choice but to run. telling them, “You gotta go. You have to run.” I can’t believe That cloud was so big, and it seemed to envelop so much.As 25,000 people made it out alive. you were choking and not able to breathe,you thought,“I simply My supervisor and I went there that night. I felt like I was in will not have time to get out of here.” shock from the whole thing.I think I went back a little bit too soon It got completely silent.There was eerie silence after the col- because it really hit me about the number of people that were lost. lapse, like a snowfall at night. I didn’t know if I was up, down. I didn’t know if I had turned around the wrong way. I was chok- Janice Olszewski, captain, FDNY EMS ing. I couldn’t breathe. I was feeling and kicking my way,and the I had just been promoted, and it was my first only thing I heard was one or two or three people saying,“Help week in my position. I was sitting at my desk, me! Help me!” and people were running by me. I thought,“I need to help somebody.”I couldn’t help anybody 66 Simultaneously, our pagers all went off. [The because I was dying, and I needed to get out of there. I couldn’t pagers] said,“Plane hit the World Trade Center.” see them or possibly know where they were calling from.That’s I didn’t really believe it, so I ran down the hall the only thing I remember hearing—people calling for help. OLSZEWSKI and looked out the window. I saw the hole in I was dying. I was going unconscious. I figured that if I passed 1 World Trade. out in that cloud, I would suffocate. I found the will from some- A lieutenant and I went to Vesey and West streets.There was a where,and I stayed on my feet.I stayed conscious.I kept groping cluster of my supervisors in that area. We ran to [Chief Jerry and feeling. I bumped into some kind of vehicle. It was perpen- Gombo]. He immediately said, “Go to the other side.”We ran dicular to the way I was going, so I figured I had hit the next down Vesey and ended up at Church and Vesey.We went one intersection. So I turned left, and I followed along the car.Then I block over [to Fulton and] started setting up on Fulton and saw a red traffic light.That’s the only thing [I saw] through all the Church in front of the Millennium Hotel. We met up with Lt. dust and darkness—one single red traffic light. Rene Davila as he was setting up that corner. That was a fabulous point of reference. It sucked the world It was pandemonium. We had a lot of units arriving from all back into perspective.I knew I was standing up.I knew I was on directions.As a captain, I was the highest-ranking officer on that a street,and I could follow it.So I staggered toward the light,and corner.People were being evacuated out of the [towers]—both of then I saw another one,so I followed that.Slowly but surely,it got them.They were streaming out,and the cops were directing them lighter. I made my way out of the clouds and into brilliant sun- to our triage corner … with all sorts of injuries; you name it: soft- shine. It was Broadway. I [had gone east on] Fulton and hit

FDNY Rescue 1

Joseph Gary Terence William Kenneth Angelini Geidel Hatton Henry Marino 63 Age unavailable 41 49 40 Firefighter Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter Broadway. bricks.Then I said,“I hate to say this,but they’re all dead.You’re not My instinct was to not go back right away and [also to] stop going to get a lot of patients.You’re going to get maybe rescuers people from going in. I was thinking, “Everybody I was there later on.”It really hit me—the magnitude. with is dead.”You were convinced that somehow you made it I [later] saw a picture of the Millennium Hotel where we set up out,but nobody else did.I just assumed everybody else was dead: [initial triage]. I was stunned at the devastation.There were over- all the chiefs and supervisors. turned shells of cars burned out, destroyed.The windows of the I was trying to stop vehicles from going down the street hotel were blown out. It looked like a war zone, like it was toward [the Trade Center].Half of them went [past me].Some of bombed.You think,“How did I get out of that?” One of our FDNY them recognized me and stopped. I told them, “You guys, paramedics,Carlos Lillo,was lost in that area.There are pictures of [shouldn't] go right back. Let’s treat people that come out right him in that area with us. It’s so hard to come to grips with that. here.I’m still not comfortable with where we are.We need to go [When I finally got home], I wandered around my apartment. farther north.”I jumped in the back of an ambulance, sucked on I bumped into things, literally.I didn’t know what to do. I would some oxygen and then gave it up after a minute to somebody start to do something, forget what I was going to do, and just go else. I got back out, and I was walking when there was a rumble to do something else, forget that. Just completely dazed and again.That’s when 1 World Trade fell. shocked and stunned and exhausted and still having the inhala- I was still on Broadway, and I ran from another cloud now. I tion problem. It was just a combination of emotions. I slept like had to jog away. I got three blocks up, and more ambulances two hours and got back up. I was too wired, too much adrena- were coming toward me. I was again trying to stop them. I line, too much thinking of what the hell just happened.And all jumped in one of the ambulances that stopped for me. I said, the people who had died, and all the people who they still did- “Turn around and drive.They were like,“But, but … ” I said,“No, n’t know were dead or alive. I came back into work. Just to help turn around and just drive.”So we went to White Street and set out in any way,to contribute to this massive thing. up a casualty collection area to treat people. I told crews,“Get out your water; get out your oxygen, because that’s what they’re John J. Peruggia, deputy chief, FDNY going to need—the people coming out of there.” I was on the Staten Island Expressway on my We must have treated 30–35 patients. I was trying to regroup. I way to work in Brooklyn. One of my staff could hardly talk. I couldn’t breathe very well. I was covered in— called and said a plane [had] just hit the World covered in—the dust. People were trying to make me go to the Trade Center. I was listening to the [AM/FM] hospital. But I wasn’t listening. I just needed to do my job. radio,and all the radio antennae are on the top I remember saying at the time to whoever was listening to me of [1 World] Trade Center, so I thought every- babble,“I don’t know what happened,but there’s gonna be thou- PERUGGIA thing was OK. I told them to stay at [FDNY sands of casualties here.” [But] you had very [few patients] in EMS] Headquarters [in Brooklyn], and that I’d between [collapses]; [they] were either crushed by what had be there in 10 or 15 minutes. happened or got out and were relatively all right. I turned on my [department] radio and heard them assigning Finally I got a radio. I heard,“Supervisors should report, and the EMS units on Citywide.At the same time, reports began to come Command Post is now at Chambers and West Street.”I jumped in over the radio: “Explosion at the Trade Center. ... Reports of a an ambulance,[and] they drove me toward that area.I got out and plane hitting.” 67 saw one of my bosses who physically pushed me back in the As I made my way,I saw the amount of fire and smoke.I knew ambulance and said,“Go to the hospital.”I must have been a mess. it was not a Cessna or a small plane.I called my staff person back I asked him,“Where do you want me to go? What do you want and told him he and anyone around should go to the World Trade me to do?” He looked at me like I was crazy and said,“You are Center, and I would meet them there. I was one of the first EMS going to the hospital and that’s that.”That same ambulance took officers on scene in ’93, so I knew the confusion that would be me to NYU Downtown Hospital. happening and that they would need a lot of help. There was an army of doctors and nurses at NYU. They No sooner did I hang up the phone than I got paged to call opened up the back door and an entire team of doctors and nurs- the Operations Center. They notified me that OEM was being es surrounded me. I was attacked with patient care.They were activated for a crash into the World Trade Center.I asked them to doing everything. They started a line, gave me oxygen and 12- page two of my staff and redirect them to OEM,on the 23rd floor lead. I looked around. of 7 World Trade . I wanted to say,“Where are your patients? How many have you In the [Brooklyn]-Battery Tunnel,the news put out a report that treated from the incident?”And [then I] remembered, this was another plane had hit the second tower [2 World Trade]. I knew about two to two and a half hours later. I finally asked, “How this was clear, deliberate and had to be some sort of terrorist many did you treat?”They said,“12.” attack. I got goose bumps. I panicked because I’m thinking,“They Twelve? Twelve? I couldn’t believe it. It hit me like a ton of methodically just calculated two attacks to the Trade Center, and

Dennis Michael Gerard Patrick Brian David Mojica Montesi Nevins O’Keefe Sweeney Weiss 50 39 46 44 29 41 Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter I’m in this tunnel. If they did that, they could blow up the tunnel.” into the lobby.Everyone in the lobby headed toward the loading When I saw the light at the end of the tunnel—no pun intended— bay.They had closed the garage doors [to the outside],and every- I said,“Well,at least I could swim from here.” one was OK there.We told them to find their way out and walk As soon as I exited the tunnel, I parked. I wasn’t even going to west toward the water. try to get close. I put on my helmet and turnout gear and started I took up a position between 5 and 6 World Trade.I was direct- to make my way north.I had heard about the Command Post over ing people to stay along 6 and take the outside escalators at 5 to the radio, so I was going there and then to OEM. go toward Vesey and Church Street. I knew we had ambulances I was walking over aircraft parts, pieces of building, body parts. and other resources at Church that could give them medical People were screaming and running past me.A few people yelled, [assistance]. As we evacuated people from the plaza, I realized “Cross the street! Cross the street!”Bodies were coming down.As the South Tower had collapsed. I was there in ’93 and participat- I got closer I saw [FDNY] Chief [Peter] Ganci and [Citywide Tour ed in all the post-incident stuff for that.They told us,“These build- Commander] Dan Nigro standing across the street from [1 World] ings won’t come down;they can withstand anything.”So I could- Trade Center at what appeared to be a Command Post. I checked n’t believe it [had collapsed].All those people in the building. I in with Ganci—who I reported to.I said,“I’m going over to OEM.” knew in the back of my mind [they couldn’t have survived]. He put his hand on my shoulder and said,“Peruggia, be careful Me and Phil decided to go back to the Command Post.As we going around the corner.There’s a lot of stuff coming off the build- did,I wanted to go through 7 World Trade to make sure everyone ings.”I didn’t realize that would be the last time I’d ever see him. got out.We went back over the pedestrian walkway to 7 World I proceeded to OEM with a fire captain.When we got to the Trade.In the street-level lobby,we saw that everyone was out.We mezzanine level [of 7 World Trade],they told us the building was went through the loading bays and saw all the EMS equipment. being evacuated because of reports of a third plane.Various rep- We exited the loading bays onto Vesey and proceeded onto West resentatives from the different agencies were trying to group Street back toward the Command Post. together in the lobby to figure out where to safely move OEM.At At West and Vesey there were injured firefighters. I saw some the same time I saw some EMS people outside working on some EMS people operating on Vesey between West and the water— victims. I moved them in the lobby and told them to set up an FDNY, Hatzalah, some hospital units. They started treating the operational sector there, where it would be safer. Capt. [Mark] firefighters.We said,“Let’s get them away from the site.”Fire and Stone was in charge of them. One of my staff, [FDNY EMS Capt.] stuff was falling around us.A Hatzalah ambulance was on fire.A Abdo [Nahmod], didn’t have his [personal protective equip- few minutes went by,and I heard that sound again. I knew what ment]. So I put Abdo in charge of that sector and sent Stone to that represented now. Command Post because he had his equipment. I ran north on West, hoping to make it far enough so nothing Subsequent to that, the security people from 7 [World Trade] big [would] land on my head. I hadn’t gotten far when I heard opened the loading docks so we could move the few injured someone yell,“Chief! Chief!” I saw a fireman standing near an people there. I think they had three patients in the loading bay. engine. He screamed,“Get under the engine!” I heard muffled That area was protected by the building and the pedestrian walk- sounds, screaming and then absolute silence. I thought I was way,so nothing could fall on it.Also, the façade of 7 World Trade buried. I thought,“I hope someone’s going to find me.That I’m for two or three stories is all glass.So if anything had crashed into not going to suffocate. That the tank of water above my head 68 the façade, it would have crashed glass into the lobby. won’t rupture and drown me.” I thought about the last words At that point I went outside the building to see what was going [spoken] when I left my family that morning. on. I saw [Commissioner Thomas] Von Essen and briefed him on Maybe 10 or 15 minutes went by.Then somebody pulled on the situation. He asked where the mayor [of New York City, my leg. It was an ESU cop and a firefighter. “You OK?” They Rudolph Guiliani] was headed. I told him he had left the building helped me. I went to the truck to rinse my throat and eyes. I to head up West Street. He asked where Ganci was; I told him grabbed a multi-trauma dressing and threw it inside my helmet [Ganci was at] the Command Post.Then Chief Nigro passed by. I because my head was bleeding. did a face-to-face with him.He was doing a perimeter survey of the I ran into Mike Butler, the chief of fire prevention. He said the damage.Then I went back into the lobby to see if we knew any- Command Post had been wiped out. “I need to set up a Command thing on the third plane, where were we going to move, etc. Post for fire,and you need to stay with me and set up a Command There was a screeching sound—a sound like a jet plane.I saw Post for EMS,” he said. Initially, we were going to establish the this huge cloud of smoke and debris heading our way,and I bar- Command Post on West and Warren,but we moved it up one more reled through the revolving doors.The dirt and debris and the block to West and Chambers.My portable radio wasn’t [working]. pressure of the collapse broke the windows and threw me to the I went over to an EMS command vehicle and tried the radio,which floor. Everything was dark.We couldn’t breathe.We heard a few worked. I told the Citywide dispatcher to hit the alert tones and people screaming. I thought a third plane had just hit.We saw a clear the frequency. I told them that unless they were in contact little bit of light; they had opened the door from the loading bay with someone of a higher rank than me on scene who was going

FDNY Rescue 2

William Daniel Peter John Kevin Lincoln Edward Lake Libretti Martin Napolitano O’Rourke Quappe Rall 44 43 43 33 44 38 44 Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter to take command of the operation, I was going to assume com- a row—and so was one of the city’s MERVs. mand and give them direction. One of the officers in charge asked us to get our equipment, They said,“10-4,sir,standby.”To me,that meant they weren’t talk- set up the MERV and wait for patients to be brought over. We ing to anyone else.They cleared the frequency and said,“Proceed.” worked with a couple of medics from Lenox Hill and an EMT I assumed command of EMS operations and reported that fire that works for the city and drives the MERV. and EMS command were established at West and Chambers. I People were jumping [as we set up], but for 20 minutes from asked anyone not operating in the immediate vicinity to respond when we got there, no patients were coming over to where we to Chambers and West for an assignment and any ambulances not were.We just watched and waited for something to happen. involved in the immediate vicinity to respond to Chambers and All of a sudden, I heard this roaring noise. I thought it was a jet West Broadway,which I was going to make a staging location. flying overhead.Out of the corner of my eye,I saw one of the tow- I asked them to begin a roll call of EMS chief officers and their ers start to shake and smoke,“Oh my God, it’s coming down!” resources. That’s when we found out that [Chief Walter] Initially, it sounded like a dull rumble; then a roar that every- Kowalczyk and Chief [Francis] Pascale were at Chelsea, Chief body thought was a jet. Remember how they did the sound [Jerry] Gombo was over at police headquarters, and Chief effects with the dinosaur screaming in Jurassic Park? It sounded [James] Basile was at South Street Ferry. sort of like that—the sound of the metal ripping and tearing. A few minutes had gone by,and I was face-to-face with [Chief Everybody bolted west.I ran behind a movie theater complex Pedro] Carrasquillo. He had heard me on the radio.A couple of [on the north side of Vesey]. Mostly small debris—dust and supers showed up;Chief [J.P.] Martin showed up.Actually,he was smoke—blew past. I kept going in a northwest direction, cross- part of the task force I had initially called for that was preparing ing a vacant lot.Then the precipitant came. It was a brownish, in Brooklyn. He had seen everything fall [from his location] and grayish, really fine ash. I thought, “I wonder what the hell’s in thought everything was wiped out. Just prior to hearing me, he this?” I grabbed my handkerchief and threw it over my face. I was going to set up the Command Post on the Brooklyn side of walked to the Hudson River, looking for our guys. Our vehicle the Brooklyn Bridge, but instead he made his way over to was still on Vesey Street, but everything was covered in dust. Chambers with his task force. I grabbed my stretcher and was going to get my equipment Over the next hour we tried to begin to get organized, to see out of the MERV.A lot of EMS personnel had come back to the who was where. I had Kowalczyk come to West and Chambers. scene by then and were picking stuff up, getting ready to move. I asked Carrasquillo to go to the site and see what EMS people All of a sudden the same thing started all over again. I heard that were doing and to send freelancers up and pair them with same dull roar. Everybody bolted toward the river again. It took supers to establish incident command with EMS. another half an hour before I could go back to Vesey to see what Walter made his way down, and I relinquished command to I could salvage.This time when I returned, my vehicle was gone. him. I became the operations officer. I found out from [Deputy Chief] John McFarland [who was assigned to West and Vesey] Charlie Wells, deputy chief FDNY EMS that Pete Ganci was dead.They let me know that they had found I went to Barclay and West Streets. I parked, looked up and start- [Ganci].I went over and gave Nigro that information,and he pro- ed putting my bunker gear on. I realized that both towers were ceeded down to Vesey Street. free burning.Usually I just put a jacket or pants on,but [that day] I was there until the following day.My car survived but was cov- I put everything on. I even strapped my helmet to my chin, 69 ered in four inches of ash.It was the only time I put my lights on— which I never do. I realized this was going to be something you to drive home to see my family. never really dealt with before. It just looked like too much. High- rise towers, free burning like that. Ben Shelton, EMT-P, St. Vincent’s I proceeded [south] down West Street [and] instinctively start- Manhattan, Unit 07 William ed to strategize:This is where we would begin to establish four Ken [Jaimes] and I were tied up on another job medical sectors. I got to the Command Post and Chief [Walter] when things started going down.A minute after Kowalczyk said to establish a medical treatment sector at Liberty we gave an available signal, they sent us to the Street and West Street.So I proceeded down West Street,past the site.We went down 7th Avenue, passed by the Marriott, to the corner of Liberty and West. hospital and saw Louis [Garcia]. He was wide- When I arrived there, there were two or three FDNY EMS SHELTON eyed and said,“It’s horrible; it’s just horrible.” ambulances and about 10–15 [other] ambulances.They were all We figured the safest and quickest access hugging the World Trade Center side of Liberty and West. I was the West Side Highway.An FDNY EMS officer directed us to announced who I was and that I was assuming command of this stage on Vesey Street just west of West Street.We entered Vesey,did particular corner as a medical treatment sector.I told everybody a U-turn and faced out toward West, in line with other units.A lot to get in their vehicles and go to the west side of West Street and of units were already there—at least 20–30 ambulances parked in Liberty and set up to receive casualties.

FDNY FDNY Rescue 3 Rescue 4

Christopher Thomas Thomas Raymond Donald Gerard Peter Blackwell Foley Gambino Jr. Meisenheimer Regan Schrang Nelson 42 32 48 46 47 45 42 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter [FDNY EMS] Deputy Chief Robert Brown and his aide, EMT the side of the Marriott. Jason Katz, and I directed units to re-deploy to the west side We never got into the South Tower.[When we ran],we actually because there was debris falling on Liberty Street. We felt they ran about 10 feet past the South Tower and got into the Marriott. were a little too close to the complex to be safe.We weren’t envi- The reason why we weren’t killed was because the South Tower sioning any collapse [at this point]. My first impression was, the collapsed [to the] east. If it went west, it would’ve crushed us. buildings were gonna burn all day and burn themselves out. We got the group to West Street and told them to just run Within a minute, I saw a fireman running toward us from down Liberty until they got on a boat.There was nobody around Liberty Street. It was Timmy Brown from Rescue 3. He came right on West Street.The 15–20 ambulances,about four or five engines up to me,“Chief! Chief Charlie! Come upstairs! Fifty,100 casualties and six ladder companies, were all on fire. in the South Tower lobby!” You couldn’t see. It was like a snowstorm, but the snow was I said,“Give me a brief description of their injuries.” gray and black. I made it back to the middle of West Street. Now, He said, “Fractures and burns.” I said, “OK, fine. Let me [put one by one, everybody started to regroup.There were a couple together] a triage team.We should be able to get a lot of them out paramedics and EMTs who were hysterical. We grabbed them in fairly quick order.” and got them to snap out of it.A couple EMS officers were also I turned around,“All right,get your helmets on.I’m gonna take upset, but we got them composed and back into a leader role. 10 people and go into the south lobby and perform triage.”[But] I said,“All right,let’s get the gear out of the back of all the ambu- nobody had helmets except for the 18 Charlie crews. So I said, lances that are burning and let’s go to the front of [the] World “You [two], come with me.” Financial Center. We’ll set up another medical treatment sector I told Chief Brown, “Bobby, I’m taking this 18 Charlie crew there.”We got a significant amount of gear.Then, people started with Timmy,we’re gonna go into the South Tower.We’ll assess it. coming. If they were walking and there were no obvious signs of I’ll get back to you right away with what I’m gonna need.” bleeding, we told them to keep walking to the marina. We got maybe a third of the way, alongside the South Tower There were buildings and vehicles on fire on Liberty Street.As and I stopped them and said,“Timmy,Timmy,we can’t go any fur- we moved people down Liberty Street toward the river, Bobby ther because there’s debris falling in front of us.” Brown yelled something to me.Then,all of a sudden,I could hear He went,“No, no, no, it’s all right, just stay close to the wall.” a sound.Bobby heard it before me and had this look of utter fear Right after that we felt this horrible vibration and shaking.We on his face. He just started running.Then I started to run.We got instinctively ran back in the direction we came from.We tried to to the World Financial Center façade, and the next thing we felt find a doorway into the South Tower but couldn’t find one.We was this strong wind again. kept running. Finally, we found a door.We bailed into it and felt The wind picked us up and blew us through the plate glass win- this horrendously powerful velocity of wind, followed by dark- dows. I was able to crawl off to the left side.There was a fire lieu- ness.Then we were hit with dirt and debris. tenant from hazmat operations that I know well. I go,“Stan, Stan! That [wind] picked me up. I felt like I was rolling in a wave at Just go this way! Left,left!”We went left,found a huge pillar and hid the beach. I felt myself rising off the ground. It lasted a good 45 behind it.Then the whole thing repeated itself all over again. seconds, with this horrible, horrible sound [like] a train coming We stayed for a minute while this long, high-pressure debris through the subway station at full speed with a jet engine on it. came at us. And this horrible sound again, this train with a jet 70 It stopped and there was dead silence. You couldn’t hear a engine on it. When it stopped I couldn’t breathe at all. It was thing. It was the most horrible moment because you could hear totally black,I couldn’t see.It felt like somebody had just opened nothing—not a breath.You couldn’t breathe.Your ears,your nose your eyelids and poured dirt into them. and your mouth were filled with dirt, debris. I spit everything out. I was lying on top of Stan. So, I rolled It turns out I was picked up off my feet and was up at the ceil- over, wiggled off to the side and told him,“Stan, I can’t breathe. ing, about eight to 10 feet off the ground and under debris. Give me some of your air.”He took his mask off, and we started I was upside down. I started to wiggle, and I fell. Every time I buddy breathing. wiggled, I fell. So, I found a girder and I held onto it. I kept falling We went outside and across this courtyard. I was looking and finally hit the bottom. around, trying to see, calling out for 18 Charlie, EMS, fire, anybody. I started to burrow and hit a wall. So I burrowed up and was Everybody was walking around in a daze. No one was talking. able to stand. I could see light.Then, all of a sudden, I saw a bunch I kept throwing up. Not being able to see, I stumbled into a of heads start to pop up at the same time. deli. I went into their refrigerator and started pouring whatever I got on top of this girder and started walking across, pulling I could find on my face, washing my mouth out.All of a sudden, people up.There were 50–100 people in this area, which turned a voice behind me goes,“Buddy can you help me?” out to be the Marriott Hotel’s restaurant. I looked toward them I turned around and (grayed out with a thick three or four inch because I heard a clicking sound.“Click, click. Click, click. Click, coating) was the form of a person lying on the floor. I didn’t see click.”It was the flashing light on a pumper that got pushed into him when I climbed through the window. I said,“Hey,sure.I’ll help

FDNY FDNY Rescue 4 Rescue 5

Peter Kevin Terrence Brian William Durrell John Carl Brennan Dowdell Farrell Hickey Mahoney Pearsall Bergin Bini 30 46 45 47 38 38 39 43 Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter you. I’ll get you out of here.” I had the student help me get the stretcher, all the bags and All of a sudden,he said,“Are you Charlie Wells?”I turned around the boards.Al parked the bus up on Vesey Street, a block in.We and it was Dave Handschuh, a New York Daily News photogra- got separated.While he was parking the ambulance,they herded pher.He said the towers came down.He said he photographed the us down West Street.We were all in amazement.I didn’t ever take first tower coming down and got hit by debris. I said,“The towers my eyes off the top of the building. I could have walked over came down?”I couldn’t fathom it. someone, wouldn’t ever have known. I’m watching the top of He had a fractured tib-fib. He said three firefighters got him in the building, pushing the stretcher. The medic student was in the deli. I grabbed him and started dragging him out the door. front of me, dragging me along with the stretcher. I was hesitant There was nothing to splint him.I said,“Just cross your legs and I’m to go farther because I had left Al behind.He [finally] caught up. gonna drag you out head first.”He screamed when we went over We made it to Liberty and West, which is at the base of the the lip of the broken door.A couple of firemen and a cop came South Tower.We were there for 10 minutes watching the top of over and we picked him up and moved him all the way to the the building.We were all in the street or on the corner—12, 15 marina.We got him on a police harbor unit and that was the last I units.You could see people coming out of the buildings, two at saw of him that day a time.There was a walkway with covered glass—like an awning I ran into Assistant Commissioner Steve Gregory. He said, over it.You saw the bodies hitting the awnings.The blood was “Charlie, we lost [FDNY Chief] Pete Ganci.The whole command dripping down these awnings. post was wiped out.”I told him I was going to try to corral EMS I looked at Al and said, “Wow, we’re really too close.” The personnel and re-establish a command sector for EMS operations. [FDNY EMS] captain said,“OK,we’re gonna back up,’cause we’re I ended up on Vesey Street where ambulances were running, a little too close.”Then somebody was running around saying, but they were locked up.We had to break windows. I told people “Terrorists hit the Pentagon.” to get into an ambulance,find their way to West Street,start getting We started back up to this building, and there was a bridge casualties and head north. there—an overhang. I only got a couple of feet when I heard,“Oh The EMS chiefs had a briefing in the Embassy Suites.I got there my God!”And everybody in my peripheral vision started running. after them.I called my wife.I just wanted to let her know I was all I didn’t think at the time it was the whole building.I ran under- right but that it was gonna be a long day.I told her,“Something ter- neath the bridge, looking at the columns, the size of the cement rible happened down here. I can’t really talk too much.” columns:“My God, I hope it supports the building falling down.” I spent the next hour gathering EMS resources, relocating People were scattering.I lost Al.I was with three or four people, ambulances to the south toward the Staten Island Ferry to estab- between a Suburban and a car parked underneath this bridge.I got lish a medical sector and moving crews that were in between as low to the ground as I could.You heard it come down. Seconds buildings and behind the World Financial Center. later it went from day to night. It was like somebody took a hand- I went east to Broadway.There was a large contingent of fire and ful of dirt and just threw it in your mouth.You couldn’t breathe. EMS personnel being mustered and staged with Drs. Kerry Kelly You couldn’t see.Your eyes were filled, your nose, everything. and [David] Prezant from the fire department’s medical office.We Then I went into this one building that I knew was facing set up a sheltered triage and treatment center in an office building west.I said,“There’s light;there’s light.Let’s go to the light.”So we near Broadway and Reade streets. We had desks brought down crawled on our hands and knees over this debris,holding hands. from the upper floors to use as stretchers. In about a half an hour We got to a fire truck.You could only see six inches in front of 71 we had a very defined medical treatment center for orthopedics, you. I got to the bumper of the fire truck, and I looked out and ophthalmology,cardiac [problems]. saw a red light on the top. I got to the back of the fire truck, and I was able to stand up.That was a relief in itself because I thought Robert Wick, EMT-P, Flushing Hospital we were trapped. Medical Center, Unit 52 X-ray I had so much stuff in my eyes. I could just make out shapes. I I was with Al [Toro,my partner].We were com- got a little farther, and I found an ESU cop lying facedown on the ing down Church Street.When we got four or ground.He was gagging and coughing on the debris.I helped him five blocks away, the streets were covered up to walk a block.That was where the water was—New York City with debris, and cars were crushed.We got to Harbor.Harbor Patrol started putting everybody into the boat.I got Chambers and Church, and we saw a nurse on to help this cop.I actually sat there and put the regulator on an WICK holding up a bag. I told her to get in. oxygen tank. I used the cop’s Leatherman [tool] to tighten it We drove to West Street and Vesey. There down.There was still a lot of smoke,and you could hardly see any- weren’t many civilians walking around. It was all fire and EMS thing.They took off across the water [toward New Jersey]. personnel, police. There was an FDNY captain there—Karin We got to the other side and then the other building fell down. DeShore from Battalion 46—who directed us,“Park your ambu- I saw the cloud. I [originally] didn’t think the whole building had lance. Leave your keys.” fallen down. I thought it was just the top part.

Michael Andre Harvey Douglas Louis Jeffrey Nicholas Allan Fiore Fletcher Harrell Miller Modafferi Palazzo Rossomando Tarasiewicz 46 37 49 34 45 33 35 45 Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter what he did,” says Cecilia.“I hope for all the paramedics out there, that because of Carlos and because of Ricardo Quinn In Memoriam [who also died], that they’ll realize their job is as dangerous as Honoring EMS personnel who that of firefighters and police officers.” Twenty-four-year-old Yamel Merino,EMT, made the ultimate sacrifice, worked for MetroCare Ambulance for more than three years. Dispatched from the Bronx not for family or friends, as part of the 9-1-1 response, she was on West Street when the South Tower collapsed. but for strangers “Yamel never refused an assignment or re- quest. ... It happened because Yamel was MERINO where she wanted to be, in the middle of the By Keri Losavio biggest attack in our country’s history, helping strangers,”says James O’Connor, MetroCare vice president. Three hundred and forty-one FDNY firefighters and officers died Merino, the single mother of an eight-year-old son, was hon- in the line of duty on Sept. 11 while responding to the World Trade ored by the New York State Ambulance Association as its EMT Center attacks. You’ll find their names, ranks and photos begin- of the Year in 1999 and MetroCare’s EMT of the Year in 2000. ning on p. 10. “Yamel was always the first one up and always ready to go,” Many paramedics and EMTs who worked as firefighters or says Al Kim, MetroCare director of operations. “That was police officers, who had full-time jobs in the towers or who vol- Yamel.” untarily went to the scene also died that day. However, only eight providers were part of the official EMS response. Richard Pearlman, 18, volunteer, Forest Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corp., joined the corps Twenty-four-year-old Keith Fairben,EMT-P,New as a dispatcher when he was just 14 years old. York Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) EMS, was in At 18, he joined the Senior Corps. According one of the first units assigned to the World Trade to Bryce Friedman, vice president, Forest Hills Center after the North Tower was hit.After caring Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Pearlman was a for patients at Church and Fulton streets, he and good kid, and the volunteer ambulance corps his partner, Mario Santoro, proceeded into the helped give him direction and focus. He was PEARLMAN South Tower.“Keith was fully aware of the dangers studying for his EMT certificate. FAIRBEN that existed and willing to put his life on the line On Sept.11,Pearlman was delivering documents to 1 Police to help others,”says Jack Delaney,director of EMS, Plaza, as part of his day job working for an attorney, when the 72 NYPH.“He rose to the occasion.” first plane hit Tower 1. He traveled to the World Trade Center Although he was a fun-loving prankster,according to Delaney, in a police car and called his parents on the way.Photos taken Fairben could switch gears easily and seriously focus on his as- on scene show him helping with patient care near the South signments. He had worked for NYPH since Sept. 14, 1998. Tower before it collapsed. “If we could have a lot more like him, we’d have a lot FDNY paramedic Carlos Lillo, 37, worked out of stronger volunteer corps,”says Friedman. Battalion 49, Astoria, Queens. A New York native, Lillo received his paramedic training at Booth Forty-year-old Ricardo Quinn was a paramedic Memorial Hospital (now New York Hospital of with Battalion 57, FDNY EMS, in Bedford- Queens). He worked for FDNY EMS (and NYC Stuyevesant, Brooklyn. He worked for FDNY EMS prior to the merger) for 16 years.On Sept.11, EMS (and NYC EMS prior to the merger) for Lillo was treating patients on Church Street,facing nine years.The Army Airborne Division at Fort LILLO the North Tower. Manuel Delgado, EMT-P, FDNY Bragg awarded Quinn a Certificate of Ap- office of medical affairs, remembers seeing Lillo preciation for his assistance in training their QUINN crying as he treated patients on the street.“My wife is in there,” paramedic students. “He loved what he did,” Lillo told him. His wife, Cecilia, worked for the Port Authority says Quinn’s wife,Virginia.“He was proud to wear the uniform.” on the 64th floor. He never knew she made it safely out of the Ricardo, who was well-known for his sand sculptures, met North Tower. Virginia at Jones Beach when their two sons started playing Carlos and Cecilia met at a New Year’s Eve party in 1997.At together.“It was love at first sight,”says Virginia.“He was warm the time of the attacks, they’d been married for a little more and generous and a great father.”They were married for 12 than a year.“We spent three wonderful, beautiful years togeth- years and have a nine-year-old son together. er,”says Cecilia.“I wish we could have spent more.” Quinn loved working with children. This past summer he “Carlos always had a smile on his face. He was atypical [for had shoulder surgery.When he went back to work, he was on a paramedic]; you kind of get cynical in this job,”says Delgado. light duty and spent time teaching kids about public and fire “But Carlos never had anything bad to say about a patient. He safety. was the quintessential paramedic: caring and thorough. He’d Sept. 11, on his way into the South Tower via the Marriott be the one you’d want as your partner.” Hotel lobby, Quinn witnessed his friend, Scott Beloten, EMT-P, “He loved the streets; he loved his job and was proud of Maimonides Hospital Ambulance Department, have four of his fingers cut by falling metal. Only after Quinn ensured his friend- But Schwartz was also proud of their two children. His 20- was being adequately cared for did he go on ahead to continue year-old son is following in his father’s footsteps and studying to caring for others. be a paramedic. A task-force supervisor, Schwartz was on West Street in front Mario Santoro, 28, EMT-P,New York Presbyterian of the South Tower walking toward the triage area when the EMS, was working overtime Sept. 11, covering tower collapsed.“I had spoken to him right before he went to for Fairben’s regular partner. the [Trade Center]. He had the adrenaline pumping. He was “Mario was extraordinarily proud of what he excited,”says Patricia.“It was important to him to help people. did, extraordinarily proud of what the depart- He still had enough sense to call me, but ment did. He shared that with anybody and helping was what he was supposed to be everybody who would listen.” says Delaney. doing.” SANTORO “He’s made the department very proud of him.” According to Delaney, Santoro was very Thirty-year-old David Marc Sullins,EMT,had involved in his community,coaching basketball and football. He worked at Cabrini Hospital EMS for almost also spent as much time as possible with his wife and two-year- two years. His wife Evelyn says, “He was old daughter. determined to become a paramedic. He was planning to enroll this spring.” SULLINS Mark Schwartz,50,EMT,was EMT supervisor and On Sept.11,Sullins was working a double shift.He was last seen assistant vice president for Hunter Ambulance in the South Tower, triaging a patient. His partner went back to and a member of the Metro New York Disaster their ambulance to get supplies, and then the tower collapsed. Medical Assistance Team. His wife, Patricia, “For patients in life-threatening situations, he would always describes him as “a big teddy bear. He was say things to make them fight, to strive [to live],” says Evelyn. everybody’s friend.” Sept. 19 would have been “For young patients, he carried toys in his trauma bag.”He had their 25th wedding anniversary. Matchbox cars for the boys and Barbie figurines for the girls. SCHWARTZ Schwartz had been an EMT for 19 years, the Sullins leaves two sons, ages two and five. last 14 with Hunter Ambulance. “It’s still not real.When I’m at work,he’s at work.When I’m at home,he’s still Keri Losavio is senior editor of JEMS and managing editor of EMS at work—because work was his life,”says Patricia. Insider. She has more than 10 years publishing experience.

Valuable Sources of Information ...

Journals JEMS ... from a company FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE you can count on Newsletters EMS Insider for quality and EMS Manager & Supervisor Conferences credibility EMS Today EMS Insider Symposium EMS Technology Symposium Company Officer Development Experience

Continuing Education myWebCE.com

Online Information www.jems.com

For more information about the Jems family of products: JEMS and FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE Call: (888) 456-5367 EMS Insider and EMS Manager & Supervisor Call: (800) 266-5367 x6649 Conferences Call: (800) 266-5367 x6638 or www.jems.com Unsung Heroes Responders who tended their home fronts on Sept. 11 kept the New York 9-1-1 system running smoothly Even as the worst attack on American civilians played out in By Blaine Dionne their own backyard, many New JACKSON CRAIG PHOTO York emergency workers remained in their coverage areas.

Every Tuesday for the past three years, New York Presbyterian Manhattan’s Upper East Side where employees had called 9-1-1 Hospital paramedics Alex Massac and Scott Strong have worked for a coworker suffering an anxiety attack. She was having diffi- together.Tuesday, Sept. 11, was no exception: The crew before culty coping with the magnitude of the situation, and her them is always good about leaving them a clean bus,and by 0730 coworkers were afraid for her safety. HRS, they were waiting for their first call of the day. It was an “We entered the room where her office was. It was all cubi- uneventful morning until around 0846 HRS, when they were at cles,”Strong recalls.“She was on the phone with her minister,and the intersection of 66th Street and York Avenue and first received she wouldn’t let go of the phone. She wouldn’t budge; she was 74 word a plane had hit one of the 110-story World Trade Center like a solid rock. Every muscle in her body was tense.” towers. Suddenly,the woman began screaming,sprang from her chair, When the flood of subsequent radio reports confirmed it and began thrashing on the floor. She was experiencing what was no false alarm, Massac and Strong immediately requested could best be described as an emotional seizure. permission to join their comrades at the World Trade Center “She must have been flailing around for 10 or 15 minutes; the complex. Because they were about 70 blocks north of the site, height she was obtaining off the floor was pretty amazing,” however, dispatch instructed them to stay put and cover their Strong says.“We couldn’t communicate [verbally] with her, but immediate 9-1-1 area. she would make eye contact with us.All we could do was clear “[Being told to stay put] was disappointing initially when the away the furniture [so she wouldn’t injure herself] and wait. She first plane hit,”Massac says.“But then the second plane hit; we knew what she had to do. She did it; then she calmed down.” sort of took a deep breath and thought this could be terrorism. Massac says dealing with a person in such a state proved frus- We’re always taught that terrorists will do something once,[then trating. “We couldn’t console her,” he says. “Once she calmed launch a second assault or detonate a secondary device] to kill down, we realized why she needed the help. She couldn’t get the rescuers. So at that point we said,‘We need to just hold off home to New Jersey.She had family in the Trade Center, and her now and make sure we understand what’s going on.’” [office] building had a perfect view down the island of They didn’t have much time to hold off. Approximately 10 Manhattan [from the intersection of 39th Street and 2nd minutes later, dispatch sent them to an office building in Avenue], and you could see the building on fire.”

FDNY Safety FDNY SOC FDNY Battalion 1 Battalion Special Operations

Robert Charles Raymond Michael Patrick Timothy Crawford Kasper Downey Russo Waters Higgins 62 54 63 44 44 43 Firefighter Battalion Chief Battalion Chief Lieutenant Captain Lieutenant And so it went the rest of the day.Most of their calls were for patients experienc- ing anxiety attacks. Massac and Strong spent anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour with each patient, until they knew the patient would be all right.They were para-therapists in addition to being para- medics, a role in which they were both proud and uneasy. Proud because, to a degree, they helped people who were suffering, but uneasy because they could- n’t use the medical training they’d accu- mulated throughout their careers on one of the bloodiest days in American history. “Not having patients [from the World Massac Strong Trade Center incident] was frustrating,” Strong says. “Here we are with all this training and no [physically injured] patients. And essentially everyone we knew was down there except us. We wanted to be there,but at the same time, we were relieved we didn’t have to be there.” From 0846 HRS until 1800 HRS, when they were finally relieved from their unit, Massac and Strong’s coverage area swelled from their normal 30 blocks to more than 70.They would cover the area between 23rd and 57th Streets and 6th Avenue to the Hudson River—basically the entire Upper East Side of Manhattan. They worked a double shift in the field, and then as many hours as they could later that evening. Strong worked in the Presbyterian comm center, and Massac remained on standby at the hospital,help- ing to organize the food and provisions that had poured in from neighboring communities. According to FDNY EMS officials, an average day in New York yields 3,000 to 3,500 9-1-1 EMS calls. On the 11th, there were approximately 4,100. In Massac and Strong’s case, the vast majority of those extra calls were anxiety attacks.These two medics alone responded to roughly 14 anxiety calls during their double shift. Massac and Strong are among the unsung heroes of Sept. 11.They represent those rescuers who maintained their regu- lar coverage areas and responded to the emergency calls that kept coming in.Many EMS and fire personnel continued to serve New York’s broader needs on Sept. 11. It’s often tempting to pull resources to respond to major incidents, but New York’s EMS response system ensured that adequate service was maintained to all coverage areas at all times. Thousands of New Yorkers can be grateful these dedi- cated professionals stayed the course.

Blaine Dionne is assistant editor for JEMS and FIRERESCUE Magazine. After the Fall Local, state, & federal rescuers search for survivors amid rubble

By Nancy J. Rigg

When the World Trade Center towers collapsed on Sept. 11, early estimates placed more than 10,000 people in or around the site, including hundreds of emergency responders who rushed to the scene when the towers were struck. Although efforts to locate and rescue survivors trapped in the rubble began immediately,the task proved daunting because 89 mem- bers of FDNY’s command staff were among those reported missing. The New York City Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides interagency coordination during major emergencies. For the response on Sept. 11, FDNY,OEM , NYPD and other key city agencies worked together under a uni- fied command structure, with FDNY in charge of fire and res- cue operations at the Trade Center site. OEM staff members had to evacuate their offices,located at MIKE COPPOLA PHOTO 7 World Trade, when the structure caught fire after the first After the first tower collapsed, FDNY recalled hundreds tower was hit.Despite the destruction of the city’s Emergency of off-duty personnel to help establish command and Operations Center (EOC), OEM personnel continued operat- assess potential rescue strategies. ing even as they secured an alternate location and set up a new EOC.At the request of the New York City Mayor’s office, O’Connell, who works on Rescue 3 in the Bronx, was called OEM contacted New York state and federal agencies, request- back to work and arrived on scene just as the North Tower ing additional resources,including the immediate deployment plummeted to the ground.Although he had prepared to face at 76 of Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Teams from the least a partial collapse of the towers,“We never anticipated the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). whole building coming down,”O’Connell says. OEM sponsors New York Task Force 1 (NY-TF1), the city’s FDNY Battalion Chief John Norman was at home when multi-agency USAR team, which responds to major structural recalled. From a USAR perspective, Norman explains that collapses under FEMA. OEM personnel learned soon after the developing an immediate strategy for searching such a vast attack that all members of NY-TF1’s upper command, scores of rubble pile—with more than a million tons of pulverized,smol- FDNY special operations rescue personnel and more than a dering debris and heavy steel—would have been a challenge dozen members of NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit were for even the most experienced structural collapse specialists, missing or had been killed, leaving a huge vacuum in the city’s such as Ray Downey, chief of FDNY special operations com- technical rescue operations and command capability. mand. Unfortunately, Downey was one of several FDNY USAR specialists among the missing.“The hit we took was absolutely incredible,” Norman says.“We lost people at the upper com- Rescue Ops in an Urban War Zone mand level, including the chief of the department and two To fill its staffing void and launch effective rescue operations, assistant chiefs, as well as the entire upper echelon of our FDNY mounted an unprecedented total recall of all personnel USAR task force.” shortly after the first tower collapsed. FDNY Firefighter John According to Ray Lynch, OEM’s deputy director for NY-TF1,

FDNY Squad 1

James Brian Gary Thomas Peter Robert Amato Bilcher Box Butler Carroll Cordice 43 37 37 37 42 28 Captain Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter “The fire department, police department, Port Authority and other agencies within the city quickly regrouped and did a tremendous job under the circumstances.” When 7 World Trade,which had been gutted by fire,collapsed just after 5 p.m. on the 11th,OEM did not lose radio communications.“We were able to coordinate all of the city’s agencies and call for addi- tional resources,”Lynch says. For overall command and control purposes, FDNY divided the 16-acre impact zone into quadrants, using major streets to identify the boundaries and assigned sector chiefs to each sec- tion.With significant fires burning, firefighting was one of the top priorities.Additionally,rescuers conducted a “hasty search” in all surrounding buildings impacted by the collapses to SAWICKI ED PHOTO ensure as many survivors as possible were located. Based on Heavy equipment, cranes and a sea of local, state the assumption that only a few specific locations within the and federal personnel worked around the clock to primary collapse zone might offer survivable void spaces, rescue or recover victims. Highly sensitive cameras FDNY incident command treated these specific areas as sepa- aided the search. rate rescue sites and began assigning FDNY, state and federal USAR resources to them. “We knew we had three key areas lems or safety threats for people in other areas because they’re where there were a lot of people missing, including the North not part of a coordinated system,”Norman says.“It took a few Tower, the South Tower and the Marriott Hotel,”Norman says. days before we eventually gained control over this through As one of the surviving FDNY USAR specialists, O’Connell tightened security,but I had to throw a few people out, telling was assigned to the primary rubble pile. “We went right to them not to come back or they would be arrested.” work,”O’Connell says.“Searching voids, that’s my job.The first Within hours of the collapse, select personnel joined FDNY spot we started searching was between the two towers.” crews on “bucket brigades” located throughout the impact zone, removing vast layers of pulverized debris. Ironworkers and construction workers with heavy cranes and equipment Overwhelming Response were integrated into the operation to handle the heavy steel A multitude of operational difficulties challenged rescuers: the girders that fell like “pick-up sticks,” according to O’Connell. threat of additional terrorism, fire, communications problems, Tons of debris was taken to the Fresh Kills Landfill, where heavy smoke, choking dust, unknown chemicals, as well as a NYPD detectives and FBI agents searched for evidence,human flood of unsolicited volunteers offering assistance. “This was remains or personal artifacts officials hoped to return to the one of those ‘you all come’ events,”Norman says.“Red lights, victims’ families or survivors. 77 blue lights, green lights, yellow lights, pink lights—any color By Sept. 12, FEMA USAR task force teams had joined with lights within driving distance were here. Some of the conver- FDNY personnel for one of the largest and most complex gent volunteers came for the right reasons and contributed technical rescue and recovery operations ever mounted. positively,but the overwhelming response put an extra burden on our command staff that we didn’t need.” With responders’ agendas ranging from noble to purely self- FEMA Supports Locals serving, rescue officials accepted offers of help carefully.“The FEMA began developing the USAR National Response System number of unsolicited volunteers was an amazing, but danger- in 1989 to quickly deploy qualified personnel to disasters ous thing,”Lynch says.“If a chief from a department shows up nationwide. There are 28 USAR task-force teams, each com- with 20 people in turnout gear, you’ve got to be really careful prising 62 fire-rescue specialists, structural engineers, medical because you can end up with a lot of people—who may not professionals, logistical and communications specialists, have the right training—losing their lives.” canine search teams and incident support teams (ISTs),which “I’m trying to run the search and rescue operation, and I’ve serve as liaisons with local jurisdictions in command of an got people on the site who I’ve got no communications with, operation. no control over, who are doing things that are causing prob- Dave Webb,FEMA’s National USAR unit chief,was in Virginia

Edward Michael Michael David Matthew Stephen D’Atri Esposito Fodor Fontana Garvey Siller 38 41 53 37 37 34 Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Dave Webb, FEMA’s National USAR unit chief, was in Virginia the FEMA IST in New York. According to Endrikat, IST operations Beach, Va., conducting weapons of mass destruction training when chief,“When FEMA comes in, the whole goal of the USAR program the first tower was hit. Webb immediately began activating FEMA is not to take over an incident, but to assist the local agency, which USAR task forces. “The official way that federal response must be always maintains jurisdiction over the incident.” triggered is that a local government tells the state they are over - “Regardless of the size of an incident,” Shariff explains,“there are whelmed, and if the state can’t provide enough assistance, the certain steps you need to take to get the process started.” governor makes a request to the president for a federal disaster Logistically, moving USAR resources into NewYork was a challenge declaration. But we do have some latitude under the Stafford Act compounded by restrictions on commercial air travel and access that allows the president to take preemptive measures when he to military transport aircraft, now involved in a state of war. Shariff, deems it necessary,” Webb says. who served as the planning section chief, and other IST members With airspace shut down nationwide,Webb rented a vehicle and from Utah and Colorado, jumped on a plane that had been rushed back to Washington, D.C., to coordinate the federal USAR approved to transport blood products to NewYork. When they got deployment to New York City and the Pentagon. “Between 9 and to the Javits Convention Center, the site selected by OEM to house 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, we activated eight USAR task forces,” he says. FEMA assets, Shariff was impressed. “New York had an organized “Because of the lifesaving nature of the mission, we didn’t wait structure in place, which made integrating our resources into the around for the bureaucracy.We acted on verbal agreements and fol - system easier,” says Shariff. “In spite of the devastating losses they lowed up with the appropriate paperwork as soon as we could.” had suffered, for New York to pick up and go on so quickly was IST members were immediately deployed to New York and the amazing.” Pentagon, although the logistics of moving personnel from as far Within 24 hours of the attack, PA-TF1, MA-TF1 and OH-TF1 were away as Colorado and California proved challenging for FEMA staff ready to assist in search operations on the rubble pile. Endrikat, members. Maryland (MD-TF1) and Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) who represented the FEMA task forces, and Norman, who repre - were deployed to the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania (PA-TF1), sented FDNY, worked closely to coordinate USAR operations. Massachusetts (MA-TF1), Ohio (OH-TF1) and Indiana (IN-TF1) “[Norman] was responsible for the development of strategy and were activated via ground transportation to New York. operational planning for the New York Fire Department,” Endrikat The IST is the overhead or management team responsible for says,“and I was responsible for all the federal task forces. Our strat - the federal USAR task forces. Lt. Fred Endrikat, Rescue Company 1, egy had to be in sync. Whatever New York determined the priori - Philadelphia Fire Department (PA-TF1), and Capt. Alim Shariff, ties were for any given operational period, we would try to assist Cunningham (Colo.) Fire Protection District (CO-TF1), served on them with whatever they needed.”

Are you Certified? The opposing fire investigator is...

Since the landmark Daubert and Kuhmo Tire court decisions and the introduction of NFPA 921, it is more important than ever for Fire Investigators to have the right certification credentials. The National Association of Fire Investigators has the oldest and largest National Board Certification Program for Fire and Explosion Investigators. Since 1983, thousands of qualified Fire Investigation Professionals have be- come Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators through our program. Contact the National Association of Fire Investigators for more information.

National Association of Fire Investigators 7684 1 5th Street East, Sara sota, FL 34243 1 - 8 7 7 - 5 0 6 - N A F I w w w . N A F I . o r g dinating search-and-rescue operations,making sure we got all areas covered and ensuring that this was done safely.”The nature and size of the collapse was unprecedented, compounding search opera- tions.“With the exception of the perimeter, the collapse was a vir- tual pancake.There weren’t many areas that had large, survivable voids,”Norman says. A few survivors were rescued during the first 36 hours follow- ing the attack, which motivated everyone to search as many voids as quickly as possible. “We knew the primary areas where we were likely to get any survivors were the staircases and elevator shafts in the two towers and the Marriott Hotel,so we targeted those areas,” Norman says.“Most of the accessible voids were searched within

the first 48 hours.” AAP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS/U.S. NAVY/PRESTON KERES Technical rescue specialists erected a high-line rescue rope from the bottom of the primary rubble pile to the top. The Maps, Equipment, Dogs in Demand line helped move heavy rescue equipment and personnel— Getting copies of maps and building plans of the Trade Center com- including search-and-rescue dogs. plex was an essential first step to coordinate search operations.“In 1972, I had worked on the original buildings as the fire-protection designer,”Norman says.“The drawings the Port Authority gave us going into areas that had been searched two and three times,” were the exact drawings I had looked at 30 years ago; they had my Norman says.“One of the things we’re working [on] for the New scribbling on them.FEMA’s support staff scanned the drawings into York City Fire Department is to implement the FEMA marking sys- a computer and started to generate maps we could use to target tem for future operations.” areas that needed to be searched.” FEMA task force technical search specialists with high-tech The situation on the rubble pile was dynamic. With no stan- equipment, including listening devices, search cameras and canine dardized marking system shared by FDNY, the FEMA USAR task teams, were “the most in-demand of all our resources, along with forces or volunteer rescuers, there was frequent duplication of the structural engineers,”Endrikat says.“Because the site was so big search efforts amid the constantly shifting debris. “We had people and the task so massive, we would send our canine and technical

Inc. Technology For The Fire Service 4-Way4-Way HydrantHydrant Valve!Valve!

Inc. Technology For The Fire Service

201 E Jarrettsville Rd. Forest Hill MD 21050 Ph: (800) 638-2079 Fax: (410) 836-5138 Visit our website at: www.humat.com * Largest Waterways * Factory Support something in a room that was sheered off, zoom in and see a sweater, a glove or a pair of boots.We never found anyone alive, but we did locate remains.” On day two, Michael Kurtz, medical specialist with PA-TF1, noted one unique contribution by PA-TF1 technical rescue specialists, who erected a high-line rescue rope from the bot- tom of the primary rubble more than 100 feet to the top to move heavy rescue equipment, search dogs and personnel more efficiently. “It was very sobering when the body of a New York City fireman was recovered by the New York guys, placed in the Stokes litter basket and brought down from the top of the pile,” Kurtz says. “It stopped the whole operation. The litter with a flag draped over it was lowered down, and every- body—from crane operators to people on the bucket brigades—stood up, took their helmets off and quietly saluted as the Stokes came down to the bottom of the pile.”

FEMA Stands Down PHOTO AP/WIDEPHOTO WORLD PHOTOS/U.S. NAVY/PRESTON KERES A total of 20 of FEMA’s 28 task forces were deployed for seven Rescue workers formed bucket brigades to clear to 10 days each in New York City and rotated shifts over a peri- debris and rubble from the World Trade Center site. od of five weeks to support local search-and-rescue opera- tions. There was never an official transition from rescue to search components in with New York firefighters to locate vic- recovery efforts, but when it became clear that all potential tims,”Endrikat says.“The structural specialists made on-going survivors had probably been located, the FEMA USAR teams assessments of void spaces and other structural hazards stood down. FDNY continued the recovery operation in con- throughout the operation.” junction with other local resources.IST members Endrikat and Firefighter Lou Brasten (Rescue Company 1, Philadelphia Fire Shariff remained in New York for more than 40 days to assist Department, PA-TF1 search team manager) and firefighter Rich on-going operations and help rebuild NY-TF1. Benditt (Rescue Company 1, Philadelphia Fire Department, PA- “People who worked side-by-side with the FEMA task force TF1 rescue specialist) worked with engineers from several fed- teams were dazzled by their capabilities and their great level 80 eral agencies, including the Department of Justice and of dedication and training,” Norman says.“This is one legacy Department of Energy, to test cutting-edge robotics, listening that will go a long way in our job.” devices and search cameras during void search operations.“A lot Endrikat noted that as after-action reports are prepared and of this equipment is classified,”Brasten explains. personnel who served in New York have had time for reflec- “The robots were not very useful due to the nature of the col- tion, numerous lessons learned will be evaluated to improve lapse” Benditt says,“and because it was almost impossible to get future operations.“We have no historical perspective for any everyone on the rubble pile to quiet down, listening devices incident like this anywhere in the world,”he says.“If you step proved of limited use.”Benditt indicated that several new search back and take a look at the magnitude of the incident, the cameras being tested by engineers were valuable to rescuers, sheer number of people who were lost, including firefighters particularly those that offered color images, not just black-and- on the operational end of it, who had a strong background in white.“One camera had a lot of potential,”Benditt says.“The engi- technical rescue and special operations, New York did a neers modified a color search camera that allowed us to zoom to tremendous job.” 20 power, move the head left and right 180˚ and rotate it 360˚. None of our current search cameras has this level of resolution. Nancy Rigg is a writer, documentary filmmaker and public education We could look across half a block with this camera, pick out consultant in Los Angeles.

FDNY Squad 18

Eric Andrew David Timothy William Manuel Lawrence Allen Fredericks Halderman Haskell McGinn Mojica Virgilio 44 40 40 34 43 37 38 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter AUGUSTUS Fire Tool®’s SPECIAL "RIG-READY" PACKAGES

☛ Penetrates exterior surfaces of metal, wood, or composites easily with a single overhead swing. ☛ Discharges extinguishing agents directly into Compartmentalized Spaces, Ideal for Car Fires. ☛ Designed for the SAFETY of all FIRE SERVICES Personnel. ☛ Eliminates the need for immediate time consuming risky Forcible Entry Operations. Made in ☛ All “RIG-READY” Packages include the U.S.A. mounting devices and Hose "WHIPS". ☛ Hoseline Packages also include Shutoff and Smooth Bore Tip. Series 200 Stock No. ☛ Maximizes the effectiveness while AGT 240 Minimizing the volume of extinguishing agent required. ☛ Precision Machined in the USA from high strength stainless steel. ☛ Reduces firefighters exposure to flames, smoke, NEW! harmful gases, and associated hazards. ☛ Two (2) year warranty on all piercing nozzle tools. 1” Ball “D” Handle Shutoff with Smooth Bore Tip AUGUSTUS FIRE TOOL® Series 100 CORPORATION

122 Laurel Avenue • Island Heights, NJ 08732-1425 Toll Free: 888-299-9333 Tel. 732-288-9333 • Fax: 732-793-7865 www.augustus-fire-tool.com FDNY resurrects its battered apparatus fleet

By Bob Vaccaro PHOTO STEVE SPAK STEVE PHOTO UTH PHOTO DAVE LAGR DAVE PHOTO PHOTO ED SAWICKI ED PHOTO

FDNY Squad 41

Thomas Robert Michael Michael Richard Gregory Cullen III Hamilton Healey Lyons VanHine Sikorsky 31 43 43 32 48 34 Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter The Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center left a gaping hole • 16 Suburbans; and in the heart of FDNY. Hundreds of responders lost their lives, and • 22 sedans hundreds more have spent each day since then grieving their Various reports have estimated the replacement cost for all personal losses and rebuilding the department. these rigs at $47 million to $50 million. Part of this rebuilding process involves replacing FDNY’s Fortunately for the millions of New York citizens who rely on burned and battered apparatus fleet. Although not nearly as dev- FDNY for fire protection,FDNY’s Fleet Services Division had pre- astating as the loss of a brother firefighter, losing a rig is tough. pared for such an event and immediately began pushing new and spare vehicles into service. Several apparatus manufacturers also stepped up production efforts to help FDNY rebuild its ail- Massive Dispatch ing fleet as soon as possible. These combined efforts had the Moments after American Airlines Flight 11 ripped into 1 World department back at full strength less than four days after Sept.11. Trade, emergency dispatchers received a flood of radio and tele- phone calls reporting the carnage. At 0846 HRS, the Manhattan Communications Office (CO) transmitted a first-alarm assign- Spare Wheels ment for 1 World Trade at Manhattan Box 8087. (FDNY still uses Replacing FDNY’s damaged rigs proved a major undertaking. a box system to locate emergencies. All intersections in New According to Tom McDonald, deputy commissioner of FDNY’s York are identified by one specific box number, and most inter- Fleet Services Division, the department had excellent contin- sections still have an actual alarm box a person can use to report gency plans in place prior to Sept. 11. He says FDNY kept as an emergency.) By 0859 HRS,CO had transmitted a full fifth-alarm spares approximately 10% of its total number of ladders, includ- assignment for Box 8087. ing rear mounts and towers, and roughly 20% of its pumpers. In Additional alarm assignments occurred in rapid succession. addition,the department kept another 22 spare pumpers—com- CO transmitted a third alarm for Brooklyn Box 1377, located at plete with hose—in reserve.These vehicles, located throughout the entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel on Brooklyn’s side, the city’s five boroughs in various firehouses,were put into serv- to form a staging area. When United Airlines Flight 175 hit 2 ice immediately following the attacks.“If it were not for the hard World Trade,CO transmitted a fifth alarm assignment for 2 World work of [my] people—some who came in from retirement and Trade at Box 9998. CO subsequently transmitted a second alarm worked hour after hour putting equipment back into service— for Manhattan Box 50, located at West and Albany,to fight anoth- the department would not have been able to recover so quickly,” er structural fire at the World Trade Center complex; a second McDonald says. alarm for Box 2033,located at Battery Park City;a single alarm for Staten Island Box 8000, located at the ferry terminal in St. George;and a single alarm for Manhattan Box 320,located at the New Rigs Brooklyn Bridge. The incomprehensible vehicle losses FDNY endured required How many FDNY vehicles sat on scene before the towers col- more than back-up apparatus, however; the department needed 83 lapsed? Multiplying all the World Trade Center-related alarms by new trucks.Offers to bolster FDNY’s pared-down fleet poured in FDNY’s alarm dispatch protocol (see sidebar p. 84) indicates a from numerous manufacturers. In the end, FDNY stuck predom- minimum of approximately 141 apparatus filled south inately with its usual manufacturer—Seagrave Fire Apparatus. Manhattan the morning of Sept. 11. “While [we were] happy with all of the offers that came in,[we] Where were these vehicles located? Most of the responding decided that it was best to stick with [our] long-time apparatus apparatus lined the streets for a two- to three-block radius builder, Seagrave,”McDonald says.“This was due to saving time around the World Trade Center complex,within easy striking dis- on training firefighters on a new type of apparatus, as well as tance for the 110-story Twin Towers. Seagrave having the specs already in-house.” The waves of broken steel, concrete, flame and wind released On Oct. 8, Seagrave received an order from the City of New during the towers’ disintegration wiped out 96 FDNY vehicles. York for 54 heavy-duty custom fire trucks.The order, valued at Apparatus destroyed include: $25 million, includes 17 rear-mount aerials; five tractor-drawn • 18 1,000-gpm pumpers; aerials; four high-pressure pumpers; three squad pumpers; and • 19 ladder trucks; 19 1,000-gpm pumpers. Six Seagrave custom chassis will be • 11 support units (rescue trucks, hazmat tenders, high-rise shipped to Aerialscope, a Seagrave affiliate, to build five tower units, etc.); ladders. • 10 ambulances; “All of the replacement apparatus has been ordered and is

FDNY Squad 252

Tarel Thomas Peter Patrick Kevin Coleman Kuveikis Langone Lyons Prior 32 Age unavailable 41 34 28 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter being manufactured right on schedule,” says George Kanaugh, marketing and sales manager for Seagrave. Contrary to popular rumor, Seagrave did not halt production of other apparatus to FDNY Fast Facts accommodate FDNY’s replacement order. “We already had 29 rear-mounts, nine 95' towers and one 75' tower on order [from other customers] before Sept. 11 … that will be fulfilled on FDNY protects more than 8 million people in five time,”Kanaugh says.“No other business has been turned away.” • In order to accomplish these demanding production goals, boroughs covering 320 square miles. Seagrave added a third shift to its production lines.“Our employ- • The department responded to more than 29,281 ees [are] working overtime to complete this large order of 54 structural fires and 31,058 non-structural fires in additional pieces of equipment,”Kanaugh says.“In addition,many 2000. of our employees are multi-tasked.This means they can work on • FDNY EMS units responded to 1.2 million medical the aerial ladder line, the pumper line and other areas.This saves emergencies in 2000, 400,000 of which were criti- a great deal of time and also ensures the same quality on all cal/life threatening. pieces of equipment that are manufactured.” • The department employs approximately 11,400 offi- On Jan.22,Seagrave’s first four replacement fire trucks left the cers and firefighters, 2,800 emergency medical tech- company’s factory in Clintonville (Wis.) bound for New York nicians and paramedics and 1,200 civilians. City.The trucks included two custom pumpers, a tractor-drawn The Bureau of Fire Prevention performed 181,328 aerial and a 100' rear-mount aerial that features a custom, full- • body memorial mural. All of Seagrave’s replacement units will inspections in 2000. carry a custom bronze-cast medallion inscribed “Dedicated To New York’s Bravest—9-11-01.” The company will continue to deliver replacement apparatus to FDNY through late fall. E-One also took orders for new trucks from FDNY.The com- pany will manufacture five 26' heavy-duty, walk-in rescues FDNY’s Alarm Dispatch Protocol mounted on tandem-axle Cyclone II cab/chassis; two 15', non- walk-in tactical support units mounted on International 4x4 cab/chassis (these vehicles will include rescue cranes and quick- First Alarm: deployment rescue boats mounted atop the bodies); two walk- in, high-rise units mounted on Mack MR cab/chassis (each will Second source call: three engines, two trucks, have a breathing-air cart assembly that carries equipment for one battalion chief, rescue and squad companies; high-rise building fires); and one satellite pumper mounted on a Working fire (10-75) call: four engines, two Mack MR cab/chassis. This unit will have a 4,000-gpm trucks, one fast truck (a rapid intervention team), water/foam turret and two 2,000-gpm monitors. two battalion chiefs; 84 Second Alarm: four engines, two trucks, one battal- It’s on Us! ion chief, field communications unit, tactical support Several manufacturers are donating apparatus to FDNY. E-One, unit, rehab unit and other special calls as needed for example, donated a 19' aluminum rescue body to be used as a decontamination unit. The vehicle will be mounted on a Third Alarm: four engines, one truck, one battalion Freightliner FL80 two-door cab/chassis donated by Freightliner trucks. chief; Seagrave, on behalf of its employees, donated a complete cus- tom pumper.Ferrara Fire Apparatus built a pumper on an Inferno Fourth Alarm: four engines, one truck; chassis with money raised through a statewide fund-raising cam- paign in Louisiana. Dubbed the “Spirit of Louisiana,”the pumper Fifth Alarm: four engines, one truck; was crafted by Ferrara employees who donated their own time High-rise office building (10-76) call: four to complete the rig before Christmas.The vehicle, Engine 283, engines, four trucks, three battalion chiefs, addi- was assigned to Brooklyn’s busy Brownsville neighborhood. tional rescue companies with hazmat, collapse Pierce donated a rescue vehicle built on a Kenworth chassis— units and squad companies. the truck will be assigned to the second piece of Haz-Mat Company #1 in Queens. Luverne Fire Apparatus teamed with

FDNY FDNY Tactical Squad 288 Support 2

Ronnie E. Joseph Jonathan Ronald Adam Timothy Joseph Gies Hunter Ielpi Kerwin Rand Welty Mascali 43 32 29 42 30 Age unavailable 44 Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Lieutenant Firefighter Firefighter Firefighter Your mission is made possible with S&S Fire Apparatus. Builders of the finest stainless steel fire apparatus that fits your department’s needs. InIn OrderOrder ToTo CompleteComplete YourYour MissionMission YouYou WillWill NeedNeed TheThe Following:Following:

Infinity Fiber Composite Elliptical Tanker

Outland Total Interface Apparatus Stainless Steel Pumper Apparatus

Attack1 Light Rescue Attack1 Lite Pumper Apparatus Brush Apparatus

Additional Items Needed: • UNLIMITED TIME ELLIPTICAL TANK WARRANTY • STAINLESS STEEL BODIES, COMPARTMENTS AND TREAD PLATE • LIFETIME GLASURIT BASF PAINT WARRANTY • LARGE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS • ATTACK1 FIBER COMPOSITE BODIES

WEB: WWW.SSFIRE.COM • E-MAIL: [email protected] 4353 W. 1900 N-48 • FAIRMOUNT, IN 46928 ssfire.comssfire.com TOLL FREE 800-451-7180 Spartan Motors to build and donate a pumper built on a four- door Spartan Gladiator chassis. American LaFrance donated a heavy rescue truck built on a Condor chassis.And finally,General Safety Equipment, a branch of Rosenbauer America, donated a

heavy rescue truck built on a Mack Trucks Inc. chassis. SPAK STEVE PHOTO Ordinary citizens are also helping pick up the tab. For exam- ple, Akron, Ohio, and its surrounding communities initiated a fund-raising campaign that raised $1.4 million in just one month. The community arranged to pay Seagrave for one of the nine 95' tower ladders it built for FDNY.The ladder truck was recently delivered and assigned to Ladder 163 in Queens. Remaining FDNY Apparatus Destroyed on Sept. 11 money from the Akron fund was used to purchase two new FDNY ambulances and three NYPD police cars. Bank of America, which lost three employees in the World MP8818 Spare E-210 FA97031 Amb. 217 Trade Center,raised funds through its staff across the nation and MP8912 Spare E-4 FA97047 Amb. 302 donated three pumpers to FDNY in its employees’ memories. SP9374 Engine 55 FA97148 Amb. 311 At the end of the Civil War, New York firefighters donated a SP9401H Engine 6 FA97179 Amb. 506 hose carriage to firefighters in Columbia, S.C., after Columbia SP9402H Engine 10 GM9166 RAC 3 spare burned when Union troops took the town. Columbia pledged SP9404H Engine 34 GM9445 spare pool then to return the favor if New York City ever needed similar help,and the town didn’t forget.Students from Columbia’s White SP9405H Engine 65 GM9458 Div. 11 Knoll Middle School launched a fund-raising drive that eventual- SP9602 Spare Sq-252 GM9739 spare pool ly collected $520,000 in donations from all over the country and SP9703 Engine 15 GM9744 Batt. 12 used the funds to purchase FDNY a new fire truck. SP9709 Engine 21 GM9745 Batt. 1 SP9723 Engine 204 GM9756 Batt. 6 SP98014 Squad 1 GM99039 EMS Getting Its Fleet Back SP98021 Engine 1 GM99117 SOC When the hijackers took down the Twin Towers last September, SP98032 Engine 76 GM99118 Safety they delivered a terrible blow to FDNY in lives lost and, to a SP00017 Engine 7 GM99126 Batt. 46 much lesser degree, apparatus destroyed. FDNY proved resilient SP00029 Engine 202 GM99130 Batt. 48 in getting its fleet back to full strength thanks to the depart- SP00030 Engine 28 GM99154 EMS ment’s contingency plans, its members’ hard work and the gen- SP00035 Squad 18 GM99168 Batt. 4 erosity of apparatus manufacturers and ordinary folks. SL8904 Ladder 8 GM99172 Batt. 9 SL9403 Ladder 132 GM99175 Batt. 7 FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE apparatus editor Bob Vaccaro has 27 years of fire- SL9406 Ladder 10 GM99180 Batt. 2 86 service experience. He has served as a firefighter, line officer and chief SL9411 Ladder 11 FS9359 EMS of department with the Deer Park Fire Department on Long Island. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office®. He has a SL9413 Ladder 3 FS9708 spare pool bachelor of science degree in business management and economics, SL99008 Ladder 113 FS9711 Operations with a concentration in fire protection administration. SL01002 Ladder 4 FS9716 SOC SL99012 Ladder 101 FS9720 Operations SL99013 Ladder 20 FS9724 Haz-Mat SL00002 Ladder 5 FS01041 EMS SL00003 Ladder 6 FS010142 Chief of Dept. ST9402 Ladder 105 FS01045 Chief of Ops. ST99001 Ladder 18 FS01047 Dep. Comm. ST99006 Ladder 9 FS20003 Div. 1 ST99007 Ladder 1 FS20004 Div. 3 SR9601 Rescue 1 FS20008 Div. 11 SR9602 Rescue 2 GS9147 OEM MH 9705 High Rise 1 GS9313 Comm. MH9706 High Rise 2 GS9332 BFI Ferrara completed and donated the “Spirit of IM98002 TSU 1 GS9345 PIO Louisiana” pumper to FDNY before Christmas. FERRARA COURTESY PHOTO IM9101 TRV (SQ.1) GS9350 Operations IH9704 MSU 4 GS9353 spare-pool MS9304 Satellite 1 GS 9520 BFI GM8931 FCU spare GS9522 BFI Seagrave GM98005 HMT Sq-18 GS9534 Fleet Services added this GM98006 HMTSq-252 GM9555 EMS full-body GM98009 HMT R-5 GS99004 EMS mural to FM8963 Shop Truck FDNY’s new Source: Fire Apparatus FM9161 Shop Truck Journal 100' ladder. FA94030 Amb. 295 PHOTO COURTESY SEAGRAVE COURTESY PHOTO Setting the Standard in EMS Education

Just Published

Winner of the 2001 National The only First Responder EMSC Heroes Award for The leading EMT-B text text to fully integrate the Innovation in EMSC latest CPR guidelines! for 30 years! Product/Program Development Visit www.emtb.com Visit www.FirstResponderTraining.com Visit www.PEPPsite.com

AAOS Continuing Education Series

The only training program designed to meet the needs of the recertifying EMT-B! The leading Palm-based interactive resource, providing instant access to all the most vital EMS information. Includes: • Medications • Medical • ACLS Algorithms Calculators and ECG strips • Dosages The first nationally recognized online • Acronyms • Trauma training programs: • Treament • Burns • Adult CPR • First Aid Modalities • APGARD • Adult and Pediatric CPR • Professional • AED Rescuer CPR Visit www.EMSZone.com Visit www.SafetyCampus.com

Call: 1-800-832-0034 Fax: 1-978-443-8000

40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776 Visit www.jbpub.com today!

The year 2001 had been a challenging one for many manufactur- ers and service providers in the fire and EMS industry. A soften- ing economy, lagging stock market and an overall uncertain A Little Help financial future forced many vendors to work especially hard to maintain the bottom line. Then the world changed on Sept. 11. Business forecasts and from Friends economic concerns took a backseat. Across the board, vendors put their businesses on standby and rushed equipment, supplies, Emergency manufacturers apparatus, ambulances and people to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In unprecedented fashion, manufacturers and serv- ice providers came together to give all they could. Their donations donate money, equipment likely totaled more than $100 million in cash and supplies. It’s impossible to tell all their stories, but we gathered reports & apparatus from many of them to share herein. We also want to recognize the efforts of vendors whose stories aren’t mentioned in this report. By Jeff Berend

Apparatus & Ambulances Pierce Manufacturing is donating a replacement air-and-lighting- support rescue vehicle to FDNY.Built on a Kenworth chassis to FDNY specifications, the truck bears a special 9-11-01 vehicle identification number. Pierce also loaned a fire truck to a group of Salt Lake City firefighters who toured 16 states to raise money for families of the fallen.The group drove the vehicle from coast to coast in October and November, raising $130,000 for The Fallen Fund. The employees of Spartan Motors gave blood and wrote per- sonal checks totaling $12,000, which the company matched. Still not satisfied they’d done enough, Spartan employees proposed Pierce Manufacturing loaned this fire engine to a something more: They would donate their time on nights and group of Salt Lake City area firefighters who toured weekends to build a replacement fire engine to FDNY specs. 16 states, raising $130,000 for the families of fire- Spartan CEO George Sztykiel called subsidiary Luverne Fire fighters lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. Apparatus President Jeff Lautt, who’d been thinking along the 89 same lines.The manufacturers teamed up with several suppliers, plete custom pumper to FDNY to replace one of the destroyed who donated warning lights,sirens,pumps,tanks and other com- units. The company also organized several fund-raisers, held a ponents. Spartan and Luverne covered the rest.Their collective blood drive and created a special Sept.11 memorial mural for one efforts resulted in a pumper to be delivered in March. It replaces of the rigs delivered to FDNY (see p. 92). one of the almost 100 vehicles FDNY lost on Sept. 11. Marion Body Works donated a Long Four Door 20" raised roof, Seats for both the Pierce and Spartan/Luverne rigs were donat- severe-duty cab.The cab shipped from Marion for final assembly in ed by 911 Seats.W.S. Darley donated an EM 1,500 gpm two-stage October, and the completed apparatus was delivered to FDNY in midship pump for placement on the Spartan/Luverne apparatus January. Marion employees donated their time to complete the and contributed $7,500 to the National Fallen Firefighters project. Foundation. R-O-M Robinson Shutters spearheaded a number of fund-rais- Among the many units destroyed in the Trade Center collapses ers to replace a battalion chief’s response vehicle. In addition, were two of the four FDNY Mask Service Units (MSUs). Early R-O-M hopes to raise more than $100,000 in donations. Wednesday morning,Sept.12,Tom McDonald,FDNY deputy com- Marque Ambulances worked with a group of South Bend,Ind., missioner, called Eddie Smith, director of sales and marketing of fund-raisers to donate an ambulance to Cabrini Medical Center, Hackney Emergency Vehicles. His plea: Provide at least one new which lost two ambulances in the Trade Center collapses. The MSU as soon as possible.The units can store 286 SCBA bottles, fund-raisers purchased the ambulance below cost from Marque, which were critically needed for the rescue-and-recovery efforts which displayed the ambulance at fund-raising events. at Ground Zero.Hackney responded with an unprecedented plan to compress its normal production schedule of six to eight months to 30 days.Amazingly,the company produced the unit in EMS Supplies just two weeks; FDNY took delivery on Oct. 1. In Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Laerdal Medical Corp. immediately did Minutes after the Trade Center disaster, Seagrave Fire what seemed natural: It organized a blood drive. More than 150 Apparatus rallied to complete a previously ordered 75' FDNY Laerdal staff and local residents donated blood during a 12-hour tower ladder for immediate delivery the evening of Sept. 11. period.In addition,Laerdal donated 19 skids of emergency equip- Seagrave also sent staff to New York.They spent seven days work- ment—airway management, spinal immobilization, monitoring ing side by side with FDNY mechanics to help repair damaged and more—to the World Trade Center site.With the help of UPS apparatus. In just eight days, Seagrave personnel delivered seven and a New York State Trooper escort,the supplies arrived in New previously ordered rigs, including rearmounts and pumpers. York City within hours of the tragedy. Normally, it would have taken two to four weeks to finish the Ferno donated its Millennia backboards to assist in the rescue- units. Seagrave announced on Jan. 14 that it will donate a com- and-recovery efforts at Ground Zero.After working with customers Workers at MSA’s Jacksonville A blood drive organized by Laerdal Laerdal Medical Corp. sent 19 skids facility assemble Advantage 200 Medical Corp. sent blood to those of supplies with a State Trooper respirators. in need. escort to the Trade Center site.

to delay and reschedule orders and with employees working nonstop to meet demand, Ferno donated additional equip- ment to the disaster sites in New York and Virginia. Ferno employees even drove the supplies to the World Trade Center site from Wilmington, Ohio. Supplies from Ferno’s mortuary product line were also donated and used in the efforts to respectfully search for, handle and identify the remains of many Trade Center victims. Medtronic Physio-Control’s relief efforts totaled $1.2 million: $200,000 for the American Red Cross, $500,000 to the Twin Towers Fund and the $500,000 balance in equipment donated to the Washington, D.C., Fire Department and FDNY. Medtronic also provided loaner ambulance equipment and sent five service techni- cians to New York. They spent seven straight days repairing equipment. Cardiac Science worked with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in King’s Point, N.Y., to gather Survivalink AEDs for deliv- ery to Ground Zero. Cardiac Science also rushed in spare electrodes to help with any cardiac emergencies. Aether Systems Inc.,in conjunction with Cingular Wireless,donated 500 RIM devices (handheld communications devices) that were used by the New York Public Safety Department, including police and fire per- sonnel, at Ground Zero. MidAtlantic Medical Legal Consultants assisted at the Pentagon in several ways. First, the company assembled and distrib- uted commemorative lapel pins for the MD TF-1 USAR team and family members. MidAtlantic also designed and distributed T-shirts honoring the Pentagon emer- gency responders with the motto,“We are proud; we are brave; we are one.” The company made identical T-shirts for the providers’ children. Alliance Medical donated respirators and other protective equipment to rescuers. It also donated funds to the Firefighter’s Association of Missouri to replace its Fallen Hand Vario tool, which was used to open elevator and Firefighter Memorial statue, which was ambulance doors and lift concrete for fibre-optic place- given to New York City. ment. • Matjack sent 100 various Matjack airbags with acces- sories to the WTC site,as well as 30 cots with blankets, pil- Fire & Rescue Equipment lows and sheets.The company also sent 100 cases of water Along with an initial company-sponsored bottles. donation of $100,000 to the IAFF fund,MSA • Onan Corp.gave a 20-kW PTO generator for a General Seagrave designed a matched its associates’ and retirees’ dona- Safety Fire Apparatus truck donated and delivered to FDNY. custom bronze-cast tions to the fund. It reprioritized a number • Sterling Rope Company and PMI donated rescue rope medallion to mount of existing orders and shipped more than to assist in the WTC rescue efforts. on the front of all $3 million (three truckloads) of product to • Angel-Guard Products donated its Rescue Shovel to cabs designated as replacement units New York City, Washington, D.C., and the FEMA team based in Beverly, Mass., as well as to a for those destroyed Somerset, Pa., within 48 hours of the general equipment drive for World Trade Center rescuers. on Sept. 11. attacks.The company sent SCBAs, thermal- The company’s contributions totaled more than $3,000. imaging cameras, respirators, protective • Allison Transmissions employees donated $23,098 eyewear, gas detection instruments, hard hats and more. Globe Firefighters Suits donated $5,000 cash to the American Red Cross,300 pairs of leather firefighter gloves to FDNY and 100 suits of special emergency response gear for the rescue teams.The company also shipped 300 EMS suits and 400 turnout suits to the Pentagon rescue efforts and rushed numer- ous other orders to other departments assist- Custom designed, ing in the clean-up efforts. exactly the way you want it. Premium quality from Other Contributions the leaders in all-aluminum • Lion Apparel made a monetary contri- rescue and fire apparatus. bution to the IAFF 9-11 fund. Marion has been building in • Waterous Company made a significant contribution to the 9-11 Firemen’s Relief all-aluminum since 1964, Fund and the United Way and matched longer than anyone else employee contributions dollar for dollar. in the industry. • Wehr Engineering/Glas-Master made Midship And Rear Mount Pumpers monetary contributions to the 9-11 Fund We set the standard – and and will continue to donate a dollar for custom tailor it for you. each rescue knife sold until Sept. 11, 2002. • Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. sent a cash donation to FDNY. • Fire Facilities made contributions to the American Red Cross and the 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund. • Kussmaul donated equipment for CREATE YOUR apparatus donated to FDNY. Enclosed Top Mount Pumpers DREAM VEHICLE. • Duo-Safety Ladder Corp. donated a 24' Our Idea Books contain 900A two-section aluminum exterior ladder hundreds of truck blueprints. Divided by truck style, size, with safety shoes for mounting on a Ferrara and chassis make, we offer fire truck built, donated and delivered to Rescues And Rescue Squads possibilities you may never Combination Squads FDNY in December. have thought of. • Fire-Dex donated $3,100 to the IAFF fund, delivered in person to the IAFF’s Richard Duffey. Fire-Dex also delivered sev- eral hundred pairs of firefighter gloves to FDNY. FEATURING SPARTAN MOTORS • Ajax Rescue Tools donated five 911-RK PREMIUM CUSTOM CHASSIS & CABS Super Duty Air Hammer Rescue Kits to FDNY.These were personally delivered by www.marionbody.com members of the Franklin Park, Ill., Fire Department, who volunteered their efforts in the recovery operations; • American Rescue Technology sent its RESCUE & FIRE APPARATUS MARION, WI 715.754.5261 toward Sept. 11 victim relief. This was TFT trucks and two Paratech trucks and matched by Allison’s parent company, driven 17 hours to New York by employees General Motors.In addition,Allison has hon- of the respective companies. ored all requests for free transmissions for • Cutter’s Edge donated saws and other vehicles donated to New York City. equipment to the Trade Center site. • Code 3 produced and shipped new • Within minutes of the tower collaps- light bars to FDNY and sent an installation es, Total Fire Group decided to build and crew to help restore old fire apparatus to segregate a stock of almost 400 FDNY-spec service. Code 3 employees donated $5,750, Ben 2 helmets.The company surveyed the and the company brought the total to roster of units that likely responded and $15,000 for the Widows’and Children’s Fund produced specialized helmet fronts for Seagrave personnel created a of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. those who died. Employees worked Sept. 11 memorial mural for one of the rigs it delivered • Task Force Tips (TFT) teamed with around the clock. Tragically, 343 helmets to FDNY. Paratech Inc. to deliver Paratech inflatable with the specialized ID fronts would be bags to the Trade Center site.The donated needed.With permission from then-FDNY Paratech equipment was loaded onto two Commissioner Thomas Von Essen,Total Fire Group worked with both FDNY unions to deliver the customized helmets to families of the fallen for the memorial services. In all, Total Fire Group donated more than $90,000 worth of FDNY-spec Ben 2 hel- mets and fronts to the families. Total Fire Group also delivered PRO Boots to the Trade Center site and a tractor- trailer load of the boots to the Pentagon site within 24 hours of the disaster. Additionally, the company donated truck- loads of respirators, work boots and work clothes to rescuers. FDNY called in many retired firefighters and officers to assist the department in mak- ing official notifications and to care for fami- ly needs. Total Fire Group acquired their names and donated several thousand dollars to supply the retirees with needed dress uni- forms.Total Fire Group also raised $25,000 for direct donations to FDNY families.

Outpouring of Support The outpouring of donations—people, money, equipment and apparatus—by America’s emergency manufacturers fol- lowing this horrible tragedy was unprece- dented. In the midst of a challenging economy, many vendors helped however they could. Competitors worked together. Employees worked tirelessly. Companies gave selflessly. We’ll never know everything fire and EMS vendors did to help. Much of it was behind the scenes. But these companies came through when it counted, and that’s all that really counts.

Jeff Berend is Publisher/General Manager of JEMS and FIRERESCUE Magazine.

Editor’s note: The information in this article was obtained directly from the manufacturers. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, OUR COUNTRY BEGAN MOURNING

THE LOSS OF HUNDREDS OF YOUR PEERS,

BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, WHO DIED BECAUSE THEY PUT OTHERS’ NEEDS FIRST.

WE ARE HUMBLED BY THEIR SACRIFICE

AND INSPIRED BY YOUR CONTINUING, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. With sincere appreciation to all the organizations who sponsored the “Courage Under Fire” supplement:

Access CardioSystems Medtronic Physio-Control Allison Transmission MSA/Cairns Helmets AristaTek National Assoc. of Fire Investigators Augustus Fire Tool Company Old South Manufacturing CET Fire Pump Mfg. Pathfinders Rescue Equipment Chelsea Products Petzl America Danko Emergency Equipment Co. Pierce Manufacturing Desi’s Fire Equipment Publisher’s Press EMCO Industries, Inc. S&S Fire Apparatus Co. Eye Safety Systems, Inc. Seagrave Fire Apparatus Ferno Skedco, Inc. Fire Facilities, Inc. Spartan Motors Fouts Bros. Fire Equipment Spiewak Garden State Battery Tempest Technology Hartwell Medical Traverse Rescue Hero’s Salute Wehr Engineering Humat, Inc. Welch Allyn Jones and Bartlett Publishers Workrite Laerdal Medical Corp. Zumro, Inc. Marion Body Works No gears. No fears.

INTRODUCING WELCH ALLYN DURASHOCK.™ THE FIRST GEAR-FREE, SHOCK-RESISTANT ANEROID SPHYGMOMANOMETER. For 100 years, aneroid sphygmomanometers have been made revolutionary is DuraShock’s design that the thin, lightweight gauge the same way: with gears so delicate, virtually any actually snaps directly into the cuff and rotates 360° for significant shock to the instrument required recalibration easy readings on either arm. DuraShock is accurate to or a new gauge. But now there’s DuraShock. Its ±3 mm Hg and engineered to stay that way. See how revolutionary gear-free design meets the current AAMI DuraShock can put your fears to rest. For information on SP9 Standard for shock-resistant aneroid sphygmo- DuraShock, contact your local ADC distributor today. manometers, and makes the gauge ideal for use in active medical DuraShock. Shock-resistant environments where it may be handled roughly or dropped. So design. Foolproof readings.

Welch Allyn DuraShock is available in partnership with: American Diagnostic Corporation (800) 232-2670 [email protected]

© 2001 Welch Allyn, Inc.; Welch Allyn and DuraShock™ are trademarks of Welch Allyn, Inc. Testaments Anonymous reflections on Sept.11

I don’t think any firefighter that day thought twice about entering the Twin Towers. As firefighters, you never think twice about advancing into the jaws of death; it’s instilled in our blood and character. AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS/GRAHAM MORRISON PHOTOS/GRAHAM WORLD AP/WIDE

As I sat there looking at the final resting place for many of these men, I felt as if the dead were asking me not to forget them … to keep their memories with me for the rest of my life. I made 96 them a promise that I would remember them every waking day until I finally join them. PHOTO DOUG KANTER DOUG PHOTO PHOTO STEVE SPAK STEVE PHOTO

This incident changed me for the better. I’ve always been a very responsible person. I like to do things all by the book. Now, I’m starting to see life a little bit different. I now know that I’m not totally in control of certain things. So I’m taking things easier now, without all that

anxiety that I placed on myself. CIRONE WILLIE PHOTO From left to right: Steve Zakheim and Al Kim, both of NEWS DAILY YORK NEW PHOTO MetroCare Ambulance, and an unidentified police officer initiate care for firefighter Kevin Shea. Firefighter Richard Nogan points toward Albany Street as an exit AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS/CHAO SOI CHEONG SOI PHOTOS/CHAO WORLD AP/WIDE route. Shea’s neck was fractured in three places. If anything good can come from this tragedy, it would be the knowledge that the spirit of Personnel Band Together these brave men will be with us for eternity. to Save Fallen Brother

Kevin Shea is among those who count themselves lucky to 97 be alive. After the World Trade Center’s South Tower collapsed,Steve Zakheim, chief operating officer for MetroCare Ambulance, firefighter Richard Nogan (Ladder 113) and Al Kim, vice pres- ident of New York City operations, MetroCare Ambulance, crawled south on West Street to get away from fires burning in the debris.As they moved through the black cloud of dust that blanketed the area, the men saw the outline of a body beneath the debris, about 40 feet from the pedestrian South Bridge that had protected them when the towers crumbled.It PHOTO STEVE SPAK STEVE PHOTO was Shea—an FDNY firefighter who had been injured near When the list of guys missing came out, it Albany Street.Although he was alive, he had a broken neck. took me three or four days to go through it. Daily News photographer Todd Maisel, who was nearby After two or three pages, I had to stop. Guys taking photos of the incident, witnessed the trio’s efforts to I’ve known for 23 years were killed, over a treat and stabilize the injured firefighter and put down his hundred men—and I know them. camera to assist. He and Zakheim retrieved a backboard and other medical equipment from nearby damaged, burning ambulances. Maisel then retrieved his camera and captured Shea’s rescue on film. The group immobilized Shea, moved him to the lobby of a building on Albany Street and left him with a female doctor I can still smell the Trade Center and a group of firefighters.Shea had been rescued just in time: sometimes—in my car, in clothes that I wasn’t the North Tower collapsed minutes later.“I was glad we got wearing down there. I go to my closet and put Shea out of the area,”Kim says. Shea later learned he was the three or four jackets on before it finally doesn’t only member of FDNY’s Engine Company 40, Ladder smell like the World Trade Center. Company 35 to survive that day. Dear Helpers of the Government: Thank You! New York school children reach out to emergency personnel When the children at St.Andrew Avellino School in Queens want- ed to show their appreciation to New York City’s firefighters, EMTs and paramedics after Sept. 11, they put a little time and a lot of care into creating colorful cards. Children from Ann Beloten’s kindergarten class crafted the first set of cards for Ann’s husband, Maimonides Hospital paramedic Scott Beloten, who responded to the World Trade Center collapse (see his account on p. 28). Soon second graders joined in, creating a large poster for Scott. Finally, the school’s two sixth-grade classes made cards for 25 firefighters and paramedics across New York City. Sentiments ranged from “You risked your lives saving people,” to “Thanks to you, our city is safer.”To the left,a sampling of their creative efforts.

98

Goin’ to the Chapel FDNY paramedic pops the question right after attacks By Keri Losavio

Orlando Martinez, EMT, FDNY EMS, was one block away from the World Trade Center when the first plane hit.After he and his partner, Frank Puma, transported a patient who’d been criti- cally injured by part of a plane’s landing gear to NYU Downtown Hospital, he called his girlfriend, Maddalena Passarella, and told her a plane had hit the World Trade Center. “I told her I was OK and that I had to go back in to help more of the night, Orlando gathered everyone in his parents’ living injured people,”says Martinez.“She told me to be safe and call room and thanked them for their love and support.“I reached her as soon as I could.” into my pocket and pulled out a black jewelry box,approached She went into the living room, turned on the TV and saw my girlfriend, got down on one knee and opened the box. I what all of America had been seeing.About an hour later, the handed her a diamond ring and asked for her hand in marriage towers collapsed.She panicked,not knowing whether Martinez in front of the whole family,”says Martinez.“After she flooded was dead or alive. Five hours later,he called to let her know he the floor with crying, she finally said,‘Yes.’” was alive, although very shaken up. When he arrived home “Life is too short,”says Martinez, who had the ring for three about 10 p.m., Maddalena wouldn’t let him leave her sight. months prior to the terrorist attacks.“If I had perished in the The following day,Martinez’s brothers came over and drove Trade Center, my biggest regret would be not having told him and Maddalena to his parents’ house in Brooklyn. His Maddalena how much I love her and letting her know that I whole family—including his pregnant sister who drove four was planning to spend the rest of my life with her.” hours from Pennsylvania—wanted to see him.Toward the end Their wedding bells will ring this October. Because in real life there are no do-overs.

During a working fire, your people need to be working, not practicing. At Fire Facilities, we build pre-engineered and custom designed training towers that offer safe, hands-on firefighting experiences under controlled conditions. Your crew can practice real-life firefighting situations over and over again until they get it right. That way they’re prepared for when they need it most—during a real call.

Wesco® Fire Training Towers

o Westemp® 1200 F Insulating Panels Mobile Burn Rooms Custom Architecture & Engineering for Complete Fire Training Facilities Turnkey Construction Services NEW! FFI Leasing

Call 1-800-929-3726 or email [email protected] for a free video and catalog, and see how real it gets inside a Fire Facilities training tower.

350 Business Park Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 USA www.firefacilities.com As Real As It Gets ™ HeartCode ™ ™ Interactive Learning System SpeedBlocks Head Immobilizer Laerdal Compact Suction Unit You are the true Good Samaritans.

The Good Samaritan logo symbolizes our commitment to every health professional and volunteer who has learned how to save the life of a family member, friend, or stranger in need.

Laerdal Medical Corporation • 167 Myers Corners Road • Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Phone: 877/LAERDAL (523-7325) • Fax: 800/227-1143 • [email protected] • www.Laerdal.com

AED Little Anne™ Training System Laerdal™ SimMan™ Laerdal™ Inflate-A-Shield™ with Laerdal™ LINK Technology Universal Patient Simulator CPR Barrier