In the days immediately following September 11, 2001, our counselors traveled to Ground Zero to help families and early responders deal with the aftermath of the terrorist attack. Here are some of their touching stories.
- I was transported along with two other psychologists and supplies to a 24 hour Red Cross kitchen established in a school cafeteria near the site. Responders came there to get food and other supplies throughout their shifts. We were given masks to wear, but masks make it impossible to talk to anyone. Fires smoldered; high arcs of water were being sprayed on smoking debris and into buildings adjacent to the site. The steel and concrete remains of one of the buildings tilted and loomed over us, looking strangely like lace, but reminding me of pictures of bombed out churches in Germany after World War II. It was like descending into Dante’s Inferno. I saw an almost intact leather executive chair tilted crazily on the side of the multi-storied pile of debris and wondered what happened to the person who sat there. Pieces of filing cabinets were recognizable. Papers floated in the air when disturbed. Twisted metal beams stuck up through several stories of debris. We trudged in and out of the Site all night with garbage bags filled with snacks, fruit, and especially clean dry socks, water and juice drinks, handing them out to the responders digging and sifting through the debris. Huge trucks continuously rumbled into and out of the site in convoys – taking debris away and returning for another load. Over all was the brightest illumination by lights I have seen outside of a movie set. Each trip in and out of the site, we had to walk through decontamination baths to reduce the spread of toxic materials.
- On Friday night (the 14th), I witnessed an amazing sight travelling on Northern Boulevard to the 59th Street Bridge. For miles through Queens to the bridge, people lined the curbs of the street holding candles as tribute and to light the way into the city for the responders. The people were all ages from young children to elderly, all races, colors and ethnic backgrounds. Their differences were forgotten as they united in their grief for those lost, for the wounds to their City and the United States. Many held flags. Along Northern Boulevard are several fire departments. Each had their truck doors open and streams of people were bringing food to the firemen. They thanked them for their sacrifice, losses and determination in the traditional way: bringing food to the grieving and to those we admire.
- We had a police escort on a bus to NYC. It was eerie seeing the city with the haziness still there, in spite of a very clear sky. We had instructions and set up at work stations to await the family members coming to get information about their missing loved ones. The strongest memories are the faces and bodies of these people walking around obviously still in shock, seeming not in focus, in a robotic trance. Yet there was definite pain on their faces. We were able to give information to some if we had it and others continued their search.
- As the weeks passed and we continued working with folks who came to our clinic for services we had a need for sharing the feelings and experiences we were having. We did this at the sites in NYC and at our clinic itself. Many of our staff had been together many years, however never have we come together as in those days. We had a need to debrief, feel support, and tell our stories. For some months thereafter we would all get together – clinicians, medical, support staff – around noon to talk. We have a staff member who helped us to pray – it did not matter what faith – and feel closeness, support, and safety. Just what we needed! I imagine we will have some of that feeling again this year.
- As Project Liberty began to take shape with the cooperation of the Long Island human services network, we played a leading role, working with families and individuals affected by the terrorist attack. What made this all so unique and made our efforts so effective was that we, too, were survivors, helping other survivors to rebuild and move on.
Domestic violence happens in the best of families as evidenced by New York State Senator Monserrate’s recent misdemeanor assault conviction for recklessly injuring his girlfriend (NY Times/February 9, 2010). Domestic violence is an insidious behavior that takes the form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Studies suggest that violent behavior often is caused by an interaction of situational and individual factors. That means that abusers often learn violent behavior from their family, people in their community and other cultural influences. They may have seen violence often or they may have been victims themselves. Domestic violence surfaces when one partner feels the need to control or dominate the other.
