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Personal Account
In a message dated 9/11/2001 2:18:49
PM Eastern Daylight Time, Daniel writes:
It was a day that started like
any other day. It was a sunny, bright September day as I was driving to
my office in Jersey City, NJ, directly across from the Hudson River from
the World Trade Center. As I was driving in, I noticed that smoke was
billowing from one of the Towers and thought there certainly must be a
fire. I turned to the radio but there was no immediate news report as
to what was happening, then they broke their broadcast to indicate that
a small plane had run into the Tower. Thinking that it must be a similar
situation to when a B-17 flew into the Empire State Building in 1945 and
thus an accident, I continued on. As I was on a ramp looking at the flames,
I noticed another plane that flew directly into the other Tower. This
was no accident. I got to the office building directly across the Hudson
and stood with others as we looked on in disblief. I went to my office
on the 6th floor and my colleagues were looking at the windows. We watched
as people jumped and as the south Tower collapsed. We were then told to
evacuate the building. I headed down the fire escape and to the parking
lot and into the car. Driving out, there were jets and helicopters flying
overhead which was frightening since the building next to us was a high
rise 50+ story building. As I headed west, I looked over and saw the second
Tower collapse.
I am home now, one person
from my office is still unaccounted for who comes through the PATH in
the WTC. The people who work in the NJ office and live in NY are stranded
in NJ since they closed the tunnels and access to the City. We are calling
friends who we know from our shul and town since dozens work in the City
and the WTC.
To say it was horrific would
be an understatement and there are no words to describe the carnage and
surreal nature of this attack which is, by all accounts, happening across
the country.
I drove in this morning and
could see the World Trade Centers standing in the distance. In a flash,
the towers are down and the tragedy and loss of life are a reality. Still
hard to believe.
Certainly our worst nightmare
has come true. This means war against someone, damn them.
Stay safe. Gd bless.
Dan
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