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    1. Historical Incidents

    One Week After Terrorist Attacks, Site Clearance and Facilities Restoration Continue

    Sept. 18, 2001
    Washington, D.C., September 17, 2001 -- On day seven after the terrorist attack on New York and Washington, President Bush will visit the Pentagon site, and FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh will go to New York. Responding to and recovering from these attacks have posed an unprecedented challenge, but progress is being made on removing debris and restoring services.

    Source FEMA

    Washington, D.C., September 17, 2001 -- On day seven after the terrorist attack on New York and Washington, President Bush will visit the Pentagon site, and FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh will go to New York. Responding to and recovering from these attacks have posed an unprecedented challenge, but progress is being made on removing debris and restoring services. "FEMA is here to provide support and assistance to the city and state for the response phase and long-term recovery," said Federal Coordinating Officer Ted Monette, speaking at a briefing today in New York. "We will be here for as long as it takes." The New York Stock Exchange will open this morning. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) prime power team completed providing technical assistance to Consolidated Edison in their effort to restore power and set up generators for the opening of financial markets today. The team will monitor the situation and provide technical assistance throughout the opening day and as necessary thereafter to ensure adequate power. Donations have been pouring in from all parts of the country. The New York City donations hotline has received 50,000 phone calls. Four warehouse sites, with a total of 200,000 square feet, have been established in New York to accept unsolicited donations that have been collected to support the recovery effort. Three staff have deployed to assist with donations coordination efforts. Allbaugh has written all governors to request that those sending donations do so in cash instead of items. In other areas of disaster operations: Debris removal: The FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is coordinating and providing assistance to the city of New York on debris removal. The biggest concern is the recovery of human remains and criminal evidence within the debris. FEMA and USACE will continue to provide technical assistance to the city in performing efficiency reviews of the debris collection, processing and disposal. A U.S. Army demolitions expert was requested to assist Urban Search and Rescue teams in planning for precision demolition of ruins of the World Trade Center. Norfolk Southern Railroad has offered New York state and city officials free transportation of non-hazardous debris from the World Trade Center. The railroad has also arranged to provide up to 1,000 heavy-duty rail cars that will be staged in the northern New Jersey area. At the debris removal site, there are decontamination units for people and equipment involved in debris clearance. Air quality remains good. One member of the Urban Search And Rescue Indiana Task Force was injured in New York, Sunday, Sept. 16, and was treated for burns to the arms, hands and face. Transportation: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the only major airport in the nation that remains closed. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation said the airport will remain closed indefinitely. The Federal Aviation Administration has restricted small aircraft from the airspace around JFK Airport out to a radius of 30 miles. Temporary flight restrictions are in force for a 3.5-mile radius and 3,000 foot ceiling around the World Trade Center. In the New York vicinity, all major airports are open to traffic. General aviation to within five miles of major airports remains closed.

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