Historical Incidents

FEMA Updates WTC And Pentagon Activities

Sept. 24, 2001

Source FEMA

Washington, D.C., September 24, 2001 -- Federal agencies continue to support the efforts of state and local governments in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A total of 6,269 federal personnel are working in direct support of operations in New York and Virginia. This includes 1,506 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Urban Search and Rescue task forces. Here is the latest information: New York As debris removal operations gain momentum, the chief engineer of the New York Port Authority briefed federal communications experts on the possible threat to telecommunications conduits beneath the World Trade Center (WTC) should a slurry retaining wall fail. Some engineers and disaster responders fear the wall could fail when debris is removed from the sub-floors of the WTC. Latest reports indicate 101,164 tons of debris have been removed from the WTC site to a landfill on Staten Island. FEMA has given a mission assignment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to arrange for the dredging of the area on either side of Pier 6, which will be used to load steel being removed from the nearby WTC site. Officials report as of yesterday, 261 bodies have been recovered from the World Trade Center (WTC) of which 194 have been identified. The number of injured is 6,408 of which 415 remain hospitalized and 6,453 persons are currently registered as missing. All shelters in the New York area have closed. Remaining people will be accommodated on an individual or family basis, either in the form of long-term shelter, temporary housing or returning home. The latest report indicates 8,386 New Yorkers have called FEMA's toll free teleregistration phone number to register for assistance. Nine FEMA and two non-FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task forces are assigned to the WTC site. Five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, a Medical Support Team and a National Medical Response Team are providing medical services at five operating clinics within five blocks of WTC site. Four Disaster Mortuary Teams are operating a field mortuary facility at LaGuardia Airport. Virginia All Urban Search and Rescue task forces at the Pentagon site have demobilized. At the Pentagon, officials report 125 dead or unaccounted for, not including 64 aircraft passengers. To date, 118 remains have been recovered and transported to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for identification. A Medical Support Team is positioned in the nearby suburb of Rockville, Maryland.