The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

President Bush delivered an address to the nation, acknowledging citizens’ heartbreak and anger and assuring the American people that the government was in operation and that the terrorists responsible for the attacks would be found and held accountable. Vice President Dick Cheney was flown to a safe bunker that evening.

People whose families were involved in the tragedy reeled from their losses. In other cases, people tried to track down news of family and friends from colleagues; confusion and misinformation ensued. People checked hospital lists in person or by phone, hoping for good news.

FDNY workers returned to firehouses, only to find that whole companies were missing, presumed dead. Others made their way home through quiet streets, covered in dust, to reunite with ecstatic and relieved family members.

Boats that had been shuttling people from Manhattan island began the reverse journey, delivering relief supplies and rescuers.

Emergency workers scoured the site for survivors; this was an overwhelming job in the acres of destruction. The PAPD’s William Jimeno heard voices and called to them. The FDNY’s Scott Strauss, the NYPD’s Paddy McGee, and civilian ex-paramedic Chuck Sereika lowered themselves into the hole in the rubble and worked to free Jimeno, which took three hours.