By: fireengineering.com Staff
As reality sets in and exhaustion increases, World Trade Center rescue workers brace for a trying day of anticipated overwhelming sadness-and anger. Their experience tells them that each passing hour reduces the chances of finding live victims. Their indomitable spirit and disciplined training keep them working feverishly because of hopes that they will find some of their brothers and sisters and other victims of these despicable, senseless acts of violence against innocent people alive.
Rescuers are employing dogs, listening devices, and thermal imaging cameras in their rescue efforts.
Yet, the signs are not good. A triage center set up in anticipation of receiving casualties in need of medical treatment has been converted into a morgue. The city of New York had received the 6,000 body bags it originally ordered from the government. A second order for 5,000 more has been placed.
EMS workers relate a scenario in which amid the 1,000 workers engaged in rescue-recovery operations, there seems to be an orange body bag every 10 feet. They lament that they have nothing to do because the victims being recovered are not alive.
Eyewitnesses describe “Ground Zero” as being dust-covered and foul-smelling and filled with knee-high piles of papers. The WTC ruins are still releasing smoke.
Mayor Guiliani says some 300-plus firefighters are missing. More than 3,500 civilians have been confirmed missing.
