Note from Tony Palmeri: My younger brother James works in a building directly across the street from the World Trade Center. I still have not heard his voice, as phone service to NYC is still difficult, but he did send Kristen and I an e-mail. The information in the note is quite disturbing, so delete this now or save the message for a later time if you are not yet ready for such eye-witness accounts of the tragedy. James' e-mail address is: james007p@yahoo.com and his web site is www.jpbody.com
Hi Tony and Kristen!
Very nice to hear from you and thanks for your concern. I work directly across the street from the tower that the 2nd plane hit. We had already been evacuated when the 1st plane hit, but no one knew what the noise was. I was actually in the bathroom when the first strike hit and a man came in the bathroom and announced that the building was being evacuated.
I didn't even have a chance to go back to my desk and get my briefcase. I wasn't so concerned about that because I never expected not to be able to get into my building again.
As we were filing down the stairs (I'm on the 16th floor), the 2nd plane hit and this actually caused my building to shake. NOW I knew something bad was up. When I made it to the lobby and walked toward the revolving doors, all I could see outside was a sea of people in hysteria. When I walked out and looked over my left shoulder, I saw the 2 towers ablaze. I could not believe my eyes. As minutes went by, I saw sights that I will never forget. I saw people climbing out of the windows from what had to be at least the 80th floor of the 2nd tower which is closest to me and jumping. You can see the flames on the floors where they were jumping from. I should have been running uptown, away from this mess, as did all of my coworkers. But something makes you stay, it's weird, just the disbelief of what's happening around you seems to cripple you. All of the people were in hysterics around me trying to reach their loved ones to tell them they were ok. I was trying to call Mom but couldn't get through. I knew she must have been frantic. The cell phone coverage was very sporadic but I finally reached Mom, who was out of control. She saw the whole thing on TV and knows exactly where I work.
Suddenly, without any expectation I'm sure, the 1st tower started to crumble. It was amazing. People, cops, fireman, EMS workers, all started running in my direction away from this giant structure crumbling. I was still letting people use my cell phone who weren't able to get through to anyone on theirs. A bunch of people including myself ran to what we thought was a safe distance at this point, several blocks from the inferno. But minutes later, I was looking at the fire (in the only tower left standing) start to intensify. This was the tower with the huge antenna atop of it. I was looking at the building when all of a sudden I saw the antenna start to sink lower. This tower was collapsing as well. NOW, everyone started running for dear life because the smoke from this tower was chasing us like a tornado. A mound of smoke at least 3 stories high was engulfing the whole area. We all walked at the edge of the water on the west side of Manhattan because officials were screaming about gas leaks. I walked all the way to midtown (about 30 blocks), to another phone co building where a colleague works and waited until train service was restored to get home.
I will never forget what I saw. I am usually very strong nerved but no one could avoid shedding tears when you see helpless people still alive jumping to their deaths. Or seeing a building crumbling with countless people still inside. What I am not looking forward to hearing is the names of the victims. I have a friend who is a firefighter who I have not heard from since the disaster. I have not been to the gym yet but I knew a bunch of guys who work for several brokerage firms in those buildings.
There is such an overwhelming feeling of emptiness now that these buildings are gone. Every day I'd go into the mall in the trade center at lunch to buy a drink, a newspaper, to Duane Reade drug store, to the GAP, to Sephora, to the magazine stand, to have a bite with a friend, to the record store, or just sit in the courtyard on a hot summer day between the 2 towers taking in some sun. The path that I took every morning en route to work is gone. The sight on a hazy or overcast morning of looking up at the 2 towers and not being able to see the top, almost like they are reaching the heavens, will never be seen again.
My building has a lot of damage. A gaping hole in it's side and a lot of structural damage. Last I've heard, it may have to be destroyed. They've already asked if we have anything there that is worth someone risking their lives to get. I couldn't say my keys, checkbook, pictures or personal files are not replaceable. I'm still alive and that's enough.
Thanks again for your concern. I must say that it was a great feeling to hear from friends that I haven't heard from in ages just to see if I was ok.
Let me know what's new with you guys. Bye for now.....
James