I was at work. We were watching repeated coverage of the first tower burning. At the time, they were saying it was an accident. Then the second plane came into view. Someone gasped, "Oh my God." There was an explosion. I said, "That wasn't an accident. It's terrorism." After the shock of it, I called my counterparts in NYC, just 12 blocks away. The woman who answered the phone was crying. There were people weeping and yelling in the background. I said, "Just get to hell out of there, KD. Drop the phone and get out." She said they couldn't. They were evacuating buildings, but they had to wait their turn. They were gathered around the windows, watching the towers burn. I stayed on the phone with her for over an hour, getting updates. When the first tower fell, there was a collective gasp, then more crying. Finally, they were told to leave the building. They had to walk home, because there were no subways, taxis or buses running. KD said she was covered in white ash by the time she got out of Manhatten. People were walking along like zombies, not saying anything, not looking back, just trying to get out of there. I can't even begin to imagine what was going through their heads.
Cathy
http://www.cathycowette.com