ONLINE EDITION FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

News

Wednesday, Sept. 12 - A deep sense of shock and sadness pervaded the communities of Nassau County today, in the wake of yesterday's terrorist strikes on America, which are being described by President Bush as "the most devastating terrorist attacks in the nation's history," and "an act of war."

Many residents of this New York City suburb are now fearing for the lives of friends and family members believed to be inside the World Trade Center when the Twin Towers were destroyed by two hijacked American Airlines passenger jets that crashed into the buildings yesterday morning. An estimated 50,000 people worked in New York City's Twin Towers, certainly many of them from Nassau County, and residents are only beginning to comprehend the magnitude of the casualties.

In addition to the employees at the World Trade Center, and the passengers in the hijacked jets, many of the estimated 400 New York City firefighters and police officers believed to be killed when the Twin Towers collapsed are from Long Island. As of 10:45 a.m. today, only a few survivors and 80 bodies had been recovered, while thousands were believed to be amid the rubble. Victims' families and friends, in a desperate attempt to locate their loved ones, have also flocked to the wreckage.

The destruction of the World Trade Center was among a coordinated series of attacks on America's greatest symbols beginning at approximately 8:45 a.m. yesterday; the Pentagon - America's center of military operations - in Washington D.C. was also hit by a commercial airliner yesterday morning, and at least 800 people were killed there. Close to 300 passengers and crew members were killed in four commercial passenger jet crashes involved in a carefully calculated, multiple airline hijacking used to carry out the unthinkable attacks. A total of about 20 hijackers, armed with knives, reportedly disabled airline crew members and operated the jets as missiles in their suicidal missions. In addition to the crashes at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, a fourth jet, apparently diverted from an attempted attack on the White House, crashed in Somerset, PA. Indeed, yesterday was a dark day in U.S. history - in the history of the world - and the attack was an affront to the freedom that is the heart of America.

President Bush, in an address at 11 a.m. this morning, called the attacks acts of war, and said that the enemy will be conquered. There have been over 700 tips to the FBI as investigators search for the perpetrators. "The deliberate and deadly attacks that were carried out against our country yesterday, were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war," the president said. "This is an enemy that tries to hide, but it won't be able to hide forever. This is an enemy that thinks its harbors are safe, but its harbors won't be safe forever."

The commander in chief said the government is open for business, but not business as usual, as the US military is on full guard. Based on US intelligence information, he said he believes the perpetrators are finished with a carefully executed attack, although he added, "We are operating on heightened security alert.

"We will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms," he assured. He vowed to rally the world against the shadowy enemy behind the attacks, and anyone who harbors that enemy.

Bush said he has requested emergency funding from Congress to help recover victims, help the citizens of New York City and Washington D.C. respond to the tragedy, and to protect national security. "We are prepared to spend whatever it takes," he said.

He added, "America is united. The freedom-loving nations of the world stand by our side. This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail."

Some believe Osama Bin Laden, the militant fundamentalist financier harbored by the ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan, was behind the attacks, and following the attack, Senator Orrin Hatch said US Intelligence had intercepted communication from a suspected terrorist tied to Bin Laden reporting that the attack had been executed. However, federal officials have indicated that the perpetrators are unknown, and that we are at war with an unknown enemy. This morning, there were reports of arrests of suspects tied to the attack, in New Jersey and South Florida.

Emergency personnel from Nassau County have rushed to New York City to assist search and rescue operations at the World Trade Center, and those concerned for loved ones are also on the scene - seeking information and overwrought with worry and grief. The entire metropolitan area seems to have pulled together in the midst of this tragedy, and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Governor George Pataki and federal officials have expressed resolve in overcoming the attack.

"We're not going to let these cowards scare us," said Mayor Giuliani. "We're going to rebuild. We're not only going to rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than we were before."

Governor Pataki said this morning, "We will get through this. America will get through this. We will not be intimidated. We will not lose our freedom."

Pataki also announced this morning that additional National Guard and State Police will be sent to New York City by tonight to assist in the response effort. "All state personnel and resources at our disposal are committed to helping New Yorkers in response to this unspeakable and horrific tragedy," he said. "Thousands of state and Guard personnel and state troopers have been dispatched to New York City. More are on the way. We will continue to work with the White House, the mayor's office, and the appropriate state, local and federal emergency authorities to ensure the most coordinated and effective emergency response possible." US Navy ships are also on guard in New York City's harbors.

Approximately 360 victims of the World Trade Center attack were taken to St. Vincent's Hospital in lower Manhattan yesterday. As of noon today, 50 bodies were recovered, as well as some survivors, including five firefighters. Many people trapped in the wreckage have also been contacting family and emergency personnel via cell phones.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is also saying this is a time of war for our country, and called the attacks an act of war against civilization. According to CBS News polls, 60 percent of Americans expect that, like Pearl Harbor, yesterday's incident will pull this country into war.

In a prepared statement released on Tuesday, Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta expressed sympathy to the victims' families. He said, "I have offered the assistance of Nassau County resources to the mayor and the authorities of New York City. In Nassau County, our Emergency Management Office is at Level 3, the highest level of county preparedness." He added, "With regard to police services, we have doubled our police patrols, and have provided special surveillance for those buildings and facilities which we have determined are particularly sensitive during these circumstances."

A joint statement was released by Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and Glen Cove Mayor Thomas Suozzi, the Democratic candidates for county executive in the primary election canceled yesterday. "Our prayers go out for the safety of those in the downtown Manhattan area and in Washington, D.C.," they stated.

"It's just absolutely horrendous, this was an incomprehensible act," Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray said. "And it really hits home when it happens literally in your own backyard."

Murray said that she heard the news soon after she left a local elementary school where she was casting her vote in the primary which was later cancelled. "It was a spontaneous outpouring of grief in a public place," she said. "We were all in there, Democrats, Republicans, it didn't matter; we were all Americans.

"I think that's what a majority of New Yorkers were doing yesterday (Tuesday)," she said, saying that this was a time when people needed to be together. "I think we were shocked into a reality that we had never expected."

Murray added that her office staff attempted to make themselves as available as possible to local residents who needed assistance in locating numbers to call.

"We're going to do whatever we're needed to do; trying to put [callers'] efforts in the right direction," Murray said, in regard to residents calling in hopes of finding out contact information for loved ones, blood donations and emergency volunteerism.

Senator Kemp Hannon's office also joined in the effort, organizing contact numbers in case the senator's constituents call and are in need of help trying to locate their loved ones or want to make any donations.

"All our prayers are going out to the families," said Legislator Dennis Dunne in response to the tragedy.

Several local officials noted that any members of the community who would like to give blood to help save lives of injured victims should call 1-800-692-5663 or 1-800-933-2566.

"This horrific act of cowardice strikes at the very heart of our community. We have seen the loss of great people that were close friends and family members. This tragic loss will have an effect upon our lives forever and will never be forgotten. I hope and pray for the families that the memories and thoughts of their loved ones can give them the strength to endure the terrible pain of this catastrophic event," said Town of Hempstead Councilman Gary Hudes.

"This is a community of caring, thoughtful people that are immediately lending support in every way possible to those in need," Hudes added. "I am extremely proud of our firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, municipal workers, blood donors, military personnel, volunteers, friends and neighbors that are doing everything possible to aid in this monumental effort."

"As the city, state and nation search for answers to these horrific acts, we must join together as a community to send our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families and friends of this enormous tragedy," said Assemblyman Marc Herbst. "Considering the proximity of this tragedy we all know families, friends and neighbors whose lives have been dramatically altered by this chain of events and we must keep them in our thoughts.

"We must also acknowledge the heroics and selflessness of the hundreds of firefighters, emergency medical personnel and police who responded to help these innocent victims," Herbst added. "My thoughts and prayers are with those firefighters, emergency personnel, police and other victims who are still missing at this time.

"I commend the commitment of President Bush, Governor Pataki, Mayor Giuliani and other local officers to work together in a search-and-rescue effort, as well as the effort to rebuild in the wake of these unthinkable attacks," he said.

In the midst of the chaos, officials in the Levittown and Island Trees School districts used every measure to keep children calm and safe throughout the school day.

All schools in Levittown held regular dismissal although after school programs and activities were cancelled, with the exception of the after care LAP program. A counseling center was available for students between 3 and 8 p.m. at Levittown Memorial Education Center on an as needed basis.

"We [were] meeting with our administrative staff to try to be as prepared for tomorrow (Wednesday) as we can possibly be," said Robert Davis, assistant superintendent for instruction. He added that the after schools programs at Abbey Lane and Gardiners Avenue were kept in session although all other after school activities were cancelled.

"Elementary staff [stayed] later in the afternoon in case parents [were] having trouble getting out of the city to pick our children up," Davis said.

"In the wake of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, I ask all Levittown residents to join the school district and me in offering our hopes, prayers and compassion to our neighbors who may either themselves be or have relatives or other loved ones involved in this tragedy," Superintendent Dr. Herman Sirois said in a letter to parents and guardians of students in the school district. "I would like to take a moment to assure you that all Levittown schools are making extra efforts to maintain a safe, comfortable and nurturing school environment for all our children," he added.

Levittown administrators added that school personnel would be prepared on Wednesday to deal with children's responses to the feelings that will arise from "this catastrophic event." In addition, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, the district activated the Crisis Management Team in each school to assist students who were affected either personally or generally by the situation.

In Island Trees, schools were kept in session as usual and all after school activities, with the exception of after care, were cancelled so students could go home to their families. Buses operated as they would each day, and students who were unable to go home were looked after until their parents could pick them up.

A crisis team center was set up for Wednesday so students could speak to somebody about their feelings on the situation which occurred the day before.

"We feel that it's in the best interest to keep the kids in a safe, calm, environment," said Superintendent of Schools Richard Segerdahl on Tuesday.

All local officials and school administrators were looking out for what would be in the best interest of the community, helping residents cope with their losses and grievances. Moreover, they looked toward the most important issue of all, the safety of local children.