World Trade Centre crash

[Katie G]

I feel sick.  I simply cannot function today.  



I have not gotten anything done.  Nobody seems to care.  The office is silent.



(In addition to all those affected by this hideous act, I found myself thinking about people who live in areas where terrorism is an everyday occurance.  My God, how do they face each day?)  

[countrigal]

I agree Did... it sure brings it home hard, don't it?  Makes us aware of what we had so well.



I've heard from YankeeStarbuck and she's fine.  To quote... "I'm fine, for now".  So that about sums up the feelings of shock and disbelief going through everyone, especially those from around those areas that were hit.



How am I supposed to get through class tonight when I haven't been able to get a thing done today at work?  I feel helpless, sitting here when so many are in need of help.  Going to donate blood as soon as possible, that is one small thing I can do for now....

[marieh2000]

We have not accomplished anything today either.  Every TV and radio in the office is on.   Our area is also having a run on gasoline, don't know if its panic or what, but the lines to get gas are unreal (they also had a fire at a gas refinery in a neighboring town, that could be what's causing the panic).

 

[northcarolina]

I am sick, just sick over this.  I've been in tears all day.  I've finally had to walk away from the tv - because I am just so overwhelmed.  We, as a nation, have all been affected.  Whoever thought that something of this magnitude could happen here?  My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone - as we are all victims.  We (America) have lost our innocence and it is a black day.  My heart is broken and I am at such loss - how do I explain this to my child?  How do you tell your child that there are people in this world who can do something like this?  I'm sorry to ramble - I am in such a state of shock.



Again - all TAAer's in the affected areas - please, please check in and let us know you are ok and know that you are all in my prayers.



nc

[divinemsm]

I was just about to leave for work this AM when I saw the Today show carrying live footage of the World Trade Center on fire.  Then I saw the second plane hit the other tower ... shocking.  I had to force myself to quit watching TV and leave for work.



All the way there, I was thinking about our company's CFO (who's one of the people I work for, and whose office is across the hall from me).  He was supposed to fly to our office on Long Island this morning, through Chicago.   I kept hoping he wasn't on one of the planes that hit the WTC towers.  (We later heard from him ... he was stuck at Midway.  In early afternoon, he called from the train station in Chicago -- he's taking a train back to STL later today.  Lord knows when he'll get his car back -- it's in a parking lot at the STL airport, which is shut down.)  



Meanwhile, our CEO is stuck on Long Island.  Thank God/dess. (He was in Manhattan yesterday on biz, but went out to the Island last night.)  Somehow, his assistant managed to get him a Southwest flight back here tomorrow afternoon.



It's just sickening.  My thoughts and prayers are with those of you in NY and DC.

[tlc2559]

We too, have all been watching tv today and listening to the radio.  I've been holding in tears.....this is so unbelievable.



My SO has family members that work for the CIA and for quite awhile today we didn't know where they were...fortunately, they were on vacation somewhere else.  He also has family some 30 miles by car / 2 mins by air from where the plane crashed in PA.  His BIL saw the plane fly over.



My son's college professor let them out of class today because this was all any of them wanted to talk aobut.  He told them to go home and watch the coverage, because it will be something they will never forget.



What a terrible, terrible day.  My heart and prayers go out to everyone.  I think of all those people who possibly didn't make it out, all those children that may not have parents tonite.....it just makes me cry.  This is another tragedy that everyone will remember where they were and what they were doing.



I hope all of our TAA people in that area are ok.



Praying for them, the victims, and the emergency workers and volunteers.



tlc

[bethalize]

Julie AKA Jewels6567-check in with us, please, just to reassure us, as we know you're in Washington.

sueg22 - you're from NY aren't you? Energizer -living in Penn State and working in NJ?

I'm sure I'm making a needless fuss, but I'm used to a much smaller scale of things, so AFAIK all of your work in the same ten square miles.



I think this is the beginning of a new era.

[phoenix55]

I just got home from a conference I arranged where unfortunately, 75% of our participants worked and/or lived in the city.  All the while trying to get them home or somehow help them get in touch with family, I've been thinking of you all on here.  I was so glad to see those familiar names and that you're okay; for those we haven't heard from yet, I'll be including them in my prayers along with the friends and family of my coworkers.

[countrigal]

I realise that checking in with this site is the last thing on those peoples minds that might be in some way affected directly by this tragedy...but until we hear from you all we're going to worry and pray for you.  Please, as soon as you can, let us hear from you in some small way.  We are a family here, and I am finding myself checking in every 5 minutes or so just to see if any of our members from the affected areas have responded.



Hoping and praying to see all our familiar names here soon... and standing behind President Bush and his words (to paraphrase) that no matter where the perpetrators of this hide, they will be found and taken to task for putting America and the world through this.

[sueg22]

Bethalize and others,



I am okay.  I work on Long Island, but we have our worldwide headquarters about a block away from the WTC Complex.  I was on the phone with someone in that office while this happened and my boss was there today for meetings.  We evacuated our NYC downtown buildings about 11AM.  Thankfully, the folks that I know in our two headquarter buildings are okay.  It took my boss quite a while to get out of Manhattan today (the car was in there with the boss) and I'm sure it was just awful trying to get out.  This is all just so surreal -- I have spent all day calling people I know who work in the area (and being in the NY financial biz, I know plenty of them).  I am soooo thankful that the people I know and love are okay, yet I am so saddened that so many don't know where their family members and loved ones are.  They are now saying there are at least 200 firefighters missing.  The tremendous toll that this will take on this area is unfathomable.



{{sigh}}



Thanks for your concern, I am glad to see that others are okay -- hold your loved ones close and tell them how special they are to you.   May God have mercy on us all.  

 

[sueg22]

Oh, and my brother who is at a government agency in Washington is fine, as are my two cousins who work at the Pentagon.  I figure I've never mentioned these folks here before, but good news needs to be shared!  

[chris68]

My Uncle works in Manhattan and he reported back to my mom this morning to let her know he was okay.  I had forgotten that mom said he lived in NYC now and where he was located.  At the time of his posting he said it was very erie outside cause everything had been closed down, but happy to report that he was okay.



Chris68

[kohinoor]

My heart goes out to all of you in America.



When I heard about this tragedy yesterday afternoon in the office I tried to check in with you but could not get into the net. I wanted to tell you how much we all here in Germany feel with you. I wish we could help you in some way in this hour of need.



We watched tv last night till midnight, tears in the eyes, not able to believe what we saw. And when they showed those Palestinians dancing in the streets I wanted to hit them right into their laughing faces. No cause in this world, politically or religious or whatever is good enough to have thousands of innocent people die for it.



I pray for the victims of this act of terror and I hope that those responsible for this will soon be found an punished.



Don't remain in this state of shock. Thats what those terrorist want. Stand up an fight. Show the world what you are: a proud and strong nation with strong people ready to defend themselves and the world and freedom you believe in.



We all are with you.



Kohinoor

[julianagermany]

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the people who died in this terrible attack and the ones who lost their beloved ones.



I followed the broadcast all day yesterday and saw this horrible scene of the World Trade Center collapsing over and over again. I was shocked and couldn't believe what I was seeing. I keep on thinking of this horrible tragedy and as probably all of us, really hope the people responsible will be found and punished without any more innocent people dying.



As KohiNoor just wrote, we all feel with you - all Germany is in shock and disbelief, we all cannot understand why this has happened.



I feel quite helpless and would do anything to support the victims of this terrible act. Does anyone know if an account for donnations has already been set up for the victims and their families?



I hope none of you have been affected and also that they will be able to rescue some survivors in the ruins.



I pray for all of us that this will come to a peaceful end.













 

[msmarieh]

I was happy to get word this morning that my brother who works at the Pentagon is safe and sound.



The company where I am temping set up large screens with live tv coverage in our office cafeteria yesterday so we could watch the events. Ended up letting us leave after lunch as no one was getting anything done anyway.



I have volunteered with Red Cross disaster services for almost 10 years and sadly have seen many horrendous things but nothing on this scale. Unbelievable how sick some people can be.



My heart is indeed going out not only to the victims and their families but to the emergency workers. The devastation was so great that they will find few bodies and many body parts. It's a horrible horrible experience. I have known rescue workers that were served ground beef after plane crashes and became physically ill almost to the point of a nervous breakdown. We have actually established food guidelines at disasters for this very reason: no ground meat products, no red or brown products to remind people of blood (for goodness sake don't serve chili!), etc. The Red Cross, Fire departments, police departments and other emergency personnel have trained for this type of disaster year after year but they still never truly expect to use their training. I myself have cross trained in preparation for not only natural disasters, but nuclear accidents and terrorist attacks.

Certainly they pray that it does not become necessary.

If you want to help, there are several ways you can (and some ways you SHOULDN'T!).



1) DO donate blood. Contact your local Red Cross, LifeSource, Hospital, etc. However, be prepared for very long lines. With all the coverage, people know this is one of the few ways they can help and they are overwhelming the centers this week. The reality however is that the blood supplies will be needed for weeks. Consider waiting a week before you call so that they will have a steady stream of incoming blood, rather than a flood of blood initially. Most of the current supplies will be sent to NY. Locally collected blood will most likely remain local to replenish the lost supplies.



2) DO donate money. Contact the Red Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW. This is one of the most effective methods of helping. They use the  money in a variety of ways: providing meals for the victims and emergency workers, assisting with burial and other expenses of the victims, helping any displaced families with their short term emergency needs, acting as a disaster welfare inquiry liaison to reunite victims and families. I would also request that you donate to the GENERAL disaster relief fund, NOT earmarking the funds specifically for NY. I know after the LA earthquake they ended up with a ridiculous amount of money that had to be set up for earthquakes, but was far in excess of what they needed. They cannot then use the money where it would do the most good. In Oklahoma City, the Red Cross was the lead agency that worked with local agencies to distribute the funds collected fairly and appropriately.



I have not yet heard of condos/apartments in that area, but I would imagine that they have been affected as well.

3) DO stop and send up a prayer to whoever it is you pray to. We can never have too many prayers.



DO NOT help by sending used clothing, blankets etc. There are several reasons why the Red Cross prefers to use money to purchase new articles of clothing when possible rather than providing used clothing: 1) It is a point of pride for the families when they have lost everything to be able to buy something new; 2) It helps to rebuild the local economies that are often affected if not devastated during disasters; 3) It allows consistency of service to disaster victims.



IF the emergency service personnel need anything, they will publicize the request. Exceptions would be corporate in-kind donations such as truckloads of bottled water, cleaning supplies, etc. They will be happy to take these, but will need to plan for their receipt and distribution in advance.



DO NOT show up on the emergency site to offer assistance if you live locally. If and when they need volunteers they will put out the call. The reality is that they need TRAINED volunteers who already know what to do. While your concern is appreciated you are actually just becoming one more individual to be worried about at the scene and one more obstacle to the emergency personnel being able to move about freely.



Deep in prayer,



Marie