A diary of New York tragedy

Sarah moved to New York City in October 1998 when Macy's department store sponsored

her visa to work for as a manager of human resources in the corporate offices in Herald Square. In January this year she left Macy's to begin work for digital solutions company Razorfish Inc. as manager of human resources. Sarah lives in the Gramercy area of Manhattan with her American boyfriend, Maurice.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001

I live in the Gramercy area of Manhattan with my American boyfriend, Maurice. We had just returned the previous day from vacation in Vancouver, Canada, so we were actually asleep in our apartment as the horrific attacks were taking place in downtown Manhattan.

The first we heard about the attacks was a voice-mail message just after 9am, New York time, from my mum saying something had happened to the Twin Towers and it looked pretty bad. We immediately jumped up and turned on the TV to see them on fire, and presumed that there was an accident of some sort.

It only took about two minutes to discover that this was a terrorist attack. We were just stunned, as we are now. Then the phone started to ring from friends and family outside of New York State. Most local NYC phone lines have been down most of the time. Maurice's first instinct was to go and see what was happening and get plenty of bottled water, as at this point the Pentagon had also been attacked and we had no idea what would come next.

As he left, I began trying to call close friends who work in World Trade Centre One on the 96th floor; at the same time I filled anything I could with water, just in case. It didn't seem like an over-reaction to think that something could happen to the water supply.

Unfortunately, it was impossible to get through to anyone at that time. I then began e-mailing people in the hope that someone may respond.

Maurice returned to the apartment shocked at what he had witnessed in the streets. People were obviously very upset, shouting and screaming as they tried to head uptown. He then heard someone say "it's gone down". As he turned, he could see in the distance just dust and smoke.

Not long after that he saw the second building, WTC One, also fall to the ground. By 11am, friends who could not get home to outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens arrived at our apartment. We also had two friends, who had just moved into an apartment a few blocks away from the World Trade Centre, come to stay. They had no idea if they would have an apartment to return to.

Most of the day, we just sat watching the events unfold in front of our eyes on the TV in utter disbelief and shock. Although we had not managed to get in contact with anyone in the UK via telephone, e-mail seemed to be working reliably. It was our main source of communication.

At least seven of our friends worked for one insurance company located on the 93rd to the 102nd floor of the WTC One. As the day unfolded, via e-mails from numerous people, we discovered that none of them was in the building at the time of the attack and so had escaped the carnage. Maurice's ex-boss also worked up there and we have not heard of his whereabouts yet. We discovered that almost all of our friends were actually late for work and missed the attack.

One friend worked in WTC One and lived just minutes away. We were told he was somewhere in Manhattan after he was evacuated from his apartment. I discovered from a mutual friend, in Canada, that he had made it to a command centre uptown. We got the address and hitchhiked uptown to find out the address did not exist. We had to return home.

As Tuesday unfolded, panic turned into utter shock and devastation. One friend in our apartment was frantically trying to reach his sister who works close by, but who had a meeting that morning on the 67th floor of World Trade Centre Two.

We discovered during the afternoon that she had made it down to the 55th floor before her building was hit by the second hijacked plane.

Even after this, she continued, and escaped unharmed from the burning building.

The streets on Tuesday night were unlike anything NYC has ever experienced. There was little to no traffic, and in our area, where we could usually see the Twin Towers dominating the skyline, there was nothing but smoke.

In Gramercy, the streets, restaurants, bars and pubs were full of people. The feeling was no longer of panic or terror. The feeling was of devastation, sadness and much anger.

We went out to eat in a local restaurant with friends who were staying with us, unable to return to their home. We were just hoping that the international media was also showing scenes like we were experiencing, that maybe the people who did this to New York could see that, at least in some areas, people were trying to continue with life and were determined to band together and overcome what had been thrown at us.

Wednesday,

September 12,

2001

I doubt anyone in the NY vicinity had a full night's sleep. Wednesday has been calmer and there is no longer any fear in the air. Again, we did not go to work, although some businesses were beginning to open today and most businesses and schools uptown will be back at work tomorrow. I managed to finally call my parents in the UK as well as many other family members and friends in the North-East and London. It was so good to hear their voices and reassure everyone.

More friends here contacted us, all making sure everyone is accounted for.

Tonight, I managed to speak with our friend who was in the command centre, and learned that he was fine and had made it to a relative's house in Pennsylvania today. He told me that, although his close friends and family who worked in WTC Two were miraculously spared, many colleagues are still missing, and from their 1,700-strong technology department, so far, 1,200 are still unaccounted for. And that is just one company.

Outside today, traffic was again very light. Mostly it was fire-fighters, aid workers and, on Park Avenue, army vehicles.

As the wind changes direction, we can now smell smoke in our apartment, which is just another reminder of what has happened to one of the greatest cities in the world. People are joining together tonight to unite in parks for vigils and services, for those still missing and for those selflessly helping. We just really feel helpless. All we can do is support, give blood and offer to volunteer whenever we are needed. Going to work is the last thing on anyone's minds right now, but most businesses above 14th Street will resume as normal tomorrow. I will not be going to work tomorrow.

I know I am fortunate that no one close to me was hurt in the attack. As I write this to you, I feel like I am writing about fictional events. I know it is a clich, but it seems like a bad Hollywood movie. Unfortunately, it's not a movie and my experiences are not even close to most New Yorkers. I can't begin to put myself in their shoes.

I take comfort in the fact that the UK is united behind the US in this time of need. People here are proud and thankful to have the British as an ally, and all the American people I know greatly respect Tony Blair and were comforted by his speech.

I do believe, as most everyone here does, that New Yorkers and everyone in America will overcome this evil atrocity, and I think everyone here will be stronger and more united as a consequence. I know this is little comfort for anyone who has lost a loved one, or who is still searching for someone, but right now it is this that keeps everyone focused on the rescue effort and then the rebuilding of the city.

One thing I am certain of is that this city will be rebuilt and will be a stronger place in the end. A homeless person on the street stopped me a few weeks ago, and what he said rings out to me right now and rings true. He said: "I love New York, not just for the good but in spite of the bad."

Right now, it's impossible to see any bad in New York or New Yorkers. The tragedy has brought out the best in everyone in the worst possible circumstances.