New-York, September 11th, 2001
Hi all,
This is from a friend I managed to contact last night. She tells us what it was like for her yesterday... I wanted to share it with all of you. This nightmare is not over.
Please say a prayer for the people who did not make it out of the World Trade Center or who lost their lives saving others.
Carol Raisfeld
I know that I have a Guardian Angel.
I was at my desk on the 36th floor in Two World Trade Center when the first plane hit One World Trade Center. Our building shook, the lights flickered, and then we saw the debris, paper, concrete, bodies, flying past our windows. The debris was hitting so hard. We were terrified. The fire warden for the floor shouted something like "Get Out" and we all rushed to the stairwell. Thank goodness everyone left in an orderly fashion.
When we got to the first promenade, there was total devastation outside. (Or at least what we comprehended as total devastation. Little did he know what was to come.) The security guards and police politely, but forcefully and orderly requested that we go downstairs to the lobby. When we got downstairs, we thought we were safe. We all huddled in a Chase ATM cubby hole. As we were trying to use cell phones to call loved ones, we heard and felt a tremendous explosion. We later found out that was when the second plane hit my building only 10 to 15 floors above. That's when everyone panicked and started running towards the furthest exit.
I lost contact with my coworkers, but was able to get out safely. I just started wandering north. I wanted to get as far away from the WTC and I wanted to keep buildings between me and the line of sight. I figured if an explosion were to happen again, then the building would block any debris.
Hundreds of thousands of people just flowed north. It was orderly and quite. Everyone was in a trance, everyone was in disbelief. Lines 10 people deep were at every payphone I tried to use. I wanted to get word to my husband that I was alive. I finally got to Canal Street and Bowery and found a phone that was free, but it ate three quarters. I tried using
my calling card, but could not get through the phone lines. Finally, I called the IBM Service number and hysterically cried to this poor woman in Boulder, Colorado that I had just survived the World Trade Center Explosion and I just wanted to get word to my husband that I was alive. They tried to patch me through to Rudy, but the phone lines were down.
Finally, they were able to send him a message on his pager.
I walked up to the NY Life Building, where he was. It's on Park Avenue South and East 26th Street. I honestly don't know how I got there. I just wondered aimlessly north. I was fine until I finally saw Rudy. I broke down into hysterical tears and thanked God for being alive and able to hold my husband again.
It took us hours and dozens of tries, but we were finally able to get messages out to family members and friends that we were both alive and well. Rudy sent a message to a friend in NJ to call my Dad in Brooklyn.
We waited until the radio announced that the Long Island Railroad was running again. We left his office around 4:00PM. We finally got home around 6:00PM.
I'll be home for a few days and will keep in touch. I thank God that my Guardian Angel and my mother were looking out for my safety.
Hug your family tonight and thank God you are together.
Hope all is well with you.
Love to all,
Joan