Port Authority and September 11th
Poster Number
42
Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was established as the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and the first interstate agency created under a clause of the Constitution permitting compacts between states. The Port Authority is many things, owning lands including the World Trade Center in both New York and New Jersey, and controlling almost all of the bridges, tunnels and airports in the region. Ernesto Butcher, the Port Authority's Chief Operating Officer, discussed what had to be done immediately after the Towers came under attack. Since the Port Authority is in charge of most of the public transportation in the greater New York City region, information about what was still running needed to get out to the community. Butcher remembers, "The first think I thought of when I saw the Towers being hit by the airplanes was, 'Oh my God. All those people.' I wanted to grieve, but what you are in this kind of situation, you need to go into automatic mode, and try to turn off your emotions until your business is attended to" (March 15, 2003, Phone Interview). September 1 1th was a day full of news releases for the Prot Authority. Ernesto Butcher sent out another news release for staff assigned to the World Trade Center. The Port Authority deployed more than 150 of fleers to assist in rescue operations at the horrid crash site. Butcher remembers deciding to close all Port Authority Marine Terminals, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and the Port Authority Airports, Newark, Kennedy, and LaGuardia. "I understood the danger that we were all in at that point. None of us knew if there was going to be another attack or not, so all public entrances and exits had to be closed in order to ensure the safety of everyone" (March 15, 2003, Phone Interview). This new generation will ask "Where were you on September 11 ?" instead of, "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?" It was a day that will forever change all of our lives, and a day in which the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was able to shine. The horrible event brought a nation together.
Location
Pacific Geosciences Center
Start Date
26-4-2003 9:00 AM
End Date
26-4-2003 5:00 PM
Port Authority and September 11th
Pacific Geosciences Center
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was established as the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and the first interstate agency created under a clause of the Constitution permitting compacts between states. The Port Authority is many things, owning lands including the World Trade Center in both New York and New Jersey, and controlling almost all of the bridges, tunnels and airports in the region. Ernesto Butcher, the Port Authority's Chief Operating Officer, discussed what had to be done immediately after the Towers came under attack. Since the Port Authority is in charge of most of the public transportation in the greater New York City region, information about what was still running needed to get out to the community. Butcher remembers, "The first think I thought of when I saw the Towers being hit by the airplanes was, 'Oh my God. All those people.' I wanted to grieve, but what you are in this kind of situation, you need to go into automatic mode, and try to turn off your emotions until your business is attended to" (March 15, 2003, Phone Interview). September 1 1th was a day full of news releases for the Prot Authority. Ernesto Butcher sent out another news release for staff assigned to the World Trade Center. The Port Authority deployed more than 150 of fleers to assist in rescue operations at the horrid crash site. Butcher remembers deciding to close all Port Authority Marine Terminals, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and the Port Authority Airports, Newark, Kennedy, and LaGuardia. "I understood the danger that we were all in at that point. None of us knew if there was going to be another attack or not, so all public entrances and exits had to be closed in order to ensure the safety of everyone" (March 15, 2003, Phone Interview). This new generation will ask "Where were you on September 11 ?" instead of, "Where were you when Kennedy was shot?" It was a day that will forever change all of our lives, and a day in which the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was able to shine. The horrible event brought a nation together.