9-11-2001

Just got home from work...figured I'd give you guys another update.

Normally, on Tuesdays, I have meetings in 2 WTC, 82nd floor from 9am - 1pm, for which I usually go into work early (around 8:15 or so) to 1 WTC to pick some work from my desk & then head over to 2 WTC. This particular morning, my plans were no different. Only difference was I didn't feel like getting up when the alarm clock went off and continued to snooze. Eventually, I woke up again around 8am & realized I was a little & started to rush to get out.

1 stop before the WTC subway stop (Chambers St), the train stops midway and the conductor announced something about the usual delay up ahead...and an explosion at the WTC (8:50am). He continues to mention if you want to get into WTC, just get off at the next stop so I figured it wasn't that bad. Actually, for a minute there, I pondered what it would be like if it was another big explosion at WTC (similar to the one in '93 that many coworkers had told me about). I thought that would be weird but we'd shut down work & I'd get more time off etc... THe other side was that we'd then have to setup a Disaster Recovery site & that work would suck... Anyway, after a minute of picturing this, we arrived at Chambers St & I decided to get out there due to these train delay issues, etc. This is an underground train (for those that dont know) that leads right into the WTC so I never actually stepped outside. While I'm walking the subway corridors towards the concourse level of WTC, I'm passing a few exits that lead into the street. I actually made it to the entrance of WTC but noticed police blocking it with the sealed tape, etc...and then I became concerned about the severity of the situation. Still, I wasn't sure what was happening & had to walk back towards one of those street exits. As I walk past one of them, I hear an explosion, feel the blast & see the dirt/dust/etc coming in through the exit. It was at that moment that it hit me that something is seriously wrong. THe next thing I saw was everyone who was exiting the subway started running back in, people screaming, everyone running the opposite direction....I even saw some poor guy tumbling down the concrete steps as other people walked/jumped over him, careless of his condition. Realizing the mob situation, I decided I really couldn't help him and started to go with the crowd.

We get to the next exit and everyone is eager to leave but does so cautiously not knowing what waits outside. I eventually get out & notice the streets have broken glass, bricks, concrete, etc. I didn't have a view of the WTC so I kept walking, as being led by the police. I get about 2 blocks away, turn around & see the WTC on fire, with holes in the side of the building, flames/smoke bellowing out from the side engulfing the upper half of the tower. Still, I was pretty calm (for some reason) so I continued to walk another block and stopped there after meeting with a few coworkers. We started sharing stories of what we just experienced, etc. One of my cowokers had the unfortunate experience of seeing 4 people leap from the windows to their deaths. This is when it started to sink in a little more but still, I'm ok & fairly calm...not fully aware of the situation. Perhaps something exploded in that floor? Maybe a bomb? I didn't know until later that it was a plane.

At this time (9:15am) I realize that Lu's probably going crazy & decide to try to call. Obviously, no cell phones were working. We decide to use a payphone & the ones nearby had lines of people so we decide to walk a few blocks hoping to get quicker access to a pay phone. About 3 blocks later, we realize every pay phone has a line. We noticed a store was open & they had a cordless phone. We offered to pay them $20 to make a quick phone call but they said no...they wanted to close & leave. Leaving no other option, we get on the pay phone line. At this point, we're about 5-6 blocks away from WTC. About 30 minutes later, I get in touch with Lu, re-assure her I'm ok & ask her to update everyone else who I cant get in touch with, etc... Unfortunately, I couldn't stay on the phone long since there was a huge line & everyone was trying to keep conversations short so others could use the phone to convey the simple message that they are ok to their loved ones, etc.

After this, we decide to go into a Starbucks (10am) to get some tea/etc to try to relax. We're sitting there, seeing the mobs of people walking by and about 10-15 minutes later, we see everyone starts running and we hear another loud noise. At this time, we didn't have a view of the WTC so didn't know what happens. Some people opened the doors & were yelling to everyone to get out & run! I started yelling to my coworkers to get out as they are in the back of the store waiting on a bathroom line... We get out, start heading away, turn around and see a huge cloud of smoke approaching. Fortunately, we stayed ahead of it.

This is where things get a little blury...I'm not sure what happened but later realzed that was the building collapsing (2 WTC). Apparantly, I hadn't heard the 2nd plane even hit the building... But what we did see will be etched in my memory always. Mountains of smoke, flames, dust, etc. coming from everywhere; mobs of people running, screaming, crying; many people running with video cameras; others stopping to take pictures. We continued to walk for another 15-20 blocks, constantly turning around to see what was happening.

Eventually, we got far enough, to what we thought was a safe distance & decide to stay here, trying to spot other coworkers & band together. We had a somewhat obstructed view of the towers but we could definetly see the smoke, flames & antenna from 1 WTC. About 30 minutes later, I noticed I couldn't see the antenna on 1 WTC any longer & wondered if I actually saw it there in the first place. I asked the others and got mixed responses. Minutes later we received confirmation that 1 WTC also collapsed! Hence the additional black smoke, flames, etc.

I again decide to call Lu & get in touch with her after another 20 minute payphone line. Keeping it short, I state on walking uptown, back home, etc...& will be a few hours since I'm not sure what we're doing. I did get in touch with a few staff over the phone but not long enough to understand what we were doing. As I'm about to hand up the phone with Lu, a few coworkers ask me to have Lu call their family since they couldn't get through. WIthin 1 minute, I gave Lu about 4-5 phone numbers of people to call...including people I didn't know from the street. I'm sure I would've kept going with the list had I not been disconnected.

At this time, we decide there really isn't much we can do or work so we continue to head north bound. I'm with 3 other coworkers at this time who eventually came back home with me since no transportation was available for them to get home (NJ, LI, etc). We get home around 1:30pm after walking ~ 4 miles in a semi-dazed condition, discussing the situation, making jokes, etc...still not understanding the severity.

While home, we obviously watch the news,etc.. and look out the window (we have a view of the towers from home) but of course, at this time, there were no towers left but just smoke... After a few hours, we get a call from work saying they need everyone to come in to NJ (our Disaster Recovery site) to assess the damage, start the rebuilding process, etc. I'm not sure why but I said ok and off we went back to work around 5pm.

We get to the ferry stop (38 St & West Side) and see the line extending up to about 54th St! Despite trying to explain the situation to mgmt, they insist we try to come in so we wait on line. About 2 hours later, we get across the Hudson and into NJ, where someone is waiting to pick us up. As we get off the ferry, they ask for all people who were in a 10 block radius to get off first. We get off, as instructed and proceed until we reach this de-contamination area they setup. It was unreal. They had tents setup with health dept (?) workers in lab-type white jump suits with masks & hoods. Each person had to go in the tent and be hosed down by 3 guys spraying ice-cold water from hoses...all while fully clothed of course. Given no choice about the matter, we proceed to get soaked....which was supposed to remove whatever we could have been exposed to (asbestos?) from the WTC smoke, debris, etc.

At this point, I've seen people trampled on, building blown up, mobs running, chaos, screaming, crying....now I'm getting soaked...great...just what I need after a long day. Go back to work in completely wet clothes. We eventually get to work and keep working until about 2am, at which time I have no real or safe way to get back home so I'm forced to stay in a some what nearby hotel in NJ.

After 5 hrs sleep (maybe), I head back in to work around 9am today in NJ...begin the rebuilding process, assessing the damage, planning the steps, etc... I left work about 8pm, got home around 9pm. It took me approx 30 minutes to write this update....I'm going to sleep now only to get back up & head to work tomorrow at 8am.

AND, I'm the semi-fortunate one since I have most of my staff still at work now; some of whom will be there all night, as we are working in shifts to get systems restored.

These are the times when being in the technology field sucks. Is the money really worth it? I know I'm dismayed know but I also know I enjoy the work, the accomplishments, the rewards, etc.. when things are good.

As far as I can tell, all the technology staff from DKB are safe. We have about 6 staff from the business side unaccounted for. In the grand scheme, 6 out of 500 is pretty good. I can't say the same for the people at 2 WTC - Fuji Bank. They have much more people unaccounted for...one of which is a technology person, who everyone is pretty sure didn't make. The kicker is that this guy was in the room that I was going to for the 9am meeting!

I also know a few people from Morgan Stanley that were killed. They were on the same floor that the plane crashed into. Can you imagine their horror? Perhaps it was quick & painless but still.....

At this time, I'm sure most of you have a better understanding of the whole story, the attrocities, etc. than I do since I have not been near a TV for more than 20 minutes in the day nor do I care to at this point. For some reason, I'm still not very upset about the whole thing - I'm sure it will kick in later when I have time to settle down & realize what happened...maybe that's why I wanted to go back to work...who knows. Either way, I'm fine now & will be fine later & dont believe I have much to really complain about considering all the casualties, the families who have lost, the children who are now missing a parent, etc.

I hope this letter finds you all safe...at home.