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The day the Angels
Cried
9/11/01
A
brief summary of crisis
Industries is proud to have been asked to partake in the rescue
and recovery mission at the World Trade Center.
We were the first Contractors called in and on site.
At the time of the disaster, was
working for both New York State on the West Side Highway and the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey at the George Washington Bridge. The
Port Authority and New York State almost simultaneously called
to
the WTC site. The Port
asked us to immediately leave the GWB and head downtown.
The State called right after the first plane hit and asked us
to bring our men and equipment to the WTC.
During mobilization, the second plane hit and both World Trade
Center Towers 1 & 2 collapsed shortly thereafter from the attack.
We arrived just as the dust began to settle. We expected chaos
but found amazing control. The
Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, the Fire Department, and
the Police Department were organized and very much in control. Both Towers were being evacuated prior to collapse as well as
the surrounding buildings. People
were running in every direction.
However, the Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical units were
heading straight into the cloud of cement dust.
Their brothers and sisters were in there.
was immediately directed to start rescue cleanup. We were
instructed to move carefully yet expeditiously in order to rescue as
many as we could. Our first
mission was to clear the West Side Highway for Emergency Vehicles.
It was completely covered by Towers 1, 2 and the Marriott Vista Hotel. Everyone
assisted in the rescue including the brave citizens of our City. It wasn’t long before everyone knew his or her roll.
We are proud to say our men and women rose to the occasion.
They each took charge of their duties and performed
courageously.
As of today 11/23/01, our men and woman are still in harms way,
however, you wouldn’t know it to see them work.
They are tired and have been working 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. Our
payroll has jumped from $500,000 a week to $1,500,000 a week and
rising. The buildings all
around are still unsafe and many will have to come down.
My quick guess is that this Event will cost New York a minimum
of 7 or 8 buildings when it is over, not just 4. (See
3D map) There is loose glass in every window all around us.
While the City continually monitors the air, the air quality
leaves a lot to be desired. We
are almost 2 1/2 months and the fires are still burning. There
are all kinds of gasses escaping. We are concerned about the
refrigeration room and the potential for the explosion and or leaking
of Freon gas. The
West Side Highway that we just constructed for the State was buried
under debris. You
couldn't recognize it or anything else for that matter.
2 1/2 months later you still can't recognize it.
All 6 lanes disappeared.
cleaned and opened 5
of the 6 lanes so far for a staging area for Police, Fire, Army Corps
of Engineers, as well as for us.
While is at the forefront of the rescue mission, it would not be possible
if it weren’t for the fact that is blessed with many friends making it all possible and
making us look good. The
Unions, foregoing many work rules and just digging in. The funding of our huge and unexpected payrolls would never
have been possible without the immediate and unquestioned support of
St. Paul Surety our great Bonding Company, our banks, Brooklyn Federal
Savings Bank and Atlantic Bank of New York and the Great people at
General Electric. In
addition, we must thank the Subcontractors and suppliers who are
working around the clock to see that our every need is met and making
us look good. These and
so many other wonderful people, all jumping in and doing whatever they
can do to help. This is what makes America great. This
could never have been done by anyone including
if it wasn’t a team effort of everyone involved.
Thank you and God Bless all of you for your immediate help and
patience.
Everyone knows their job and they do it with precision.
During our rescue attempts, I saw one of our laborers, without
hesitation, tell the Mayor, Governor and their 50 people entourage and
the camera crews to make way for our long trailers and Euclid trucks.
To their credit they moved immediately without incident or
question.
We are handling one of the 4 Quadrant Contracts. We have been contracted by one of the best Construction
Managers in the country, “Bovis” (the Old Leher McGovern). One of their most noted projects was the restoration of the
Statute of Liberty. They
are great to work for, very experienced and efficient.
The area assigned to Bovis / , World Trade Tower 2 and the Marriott Vista Hotel, are the most
sensitive. So you
recognize it on TV, it is the area most photographed.
Tower
2 is the one you saw most of the time..... that is the one with those
big steel fingers sticking out of the ground, and the skeleton like
steel in the background. That skeleton was the façade to the World
Trade Center #2. Soon, we have since cut them down and trucked away.
ALL the trucks and equipment you see working there is either 's
or equipment we have rented. For
the most part, the construction workers, steel workers, demolition men
are ours. This whole
quadrant
is ours. You cannot
believe the danger every one of our men / woman put themselves in all day
long. They work around loose steel beams, loose glass, and equipment
and trucks running in every direction.
Cranes constantly moving large steel girders overhead. Not one worker hesitates for a second. They do their
job of trying to rescue and or recover loved ones.
The Firemen and Women crawl into holes, which could collapse at
any moment. The rescue
workers, one and all, are a powerful and courageous picture of love
and dedication to watch.
However,
to our credit, we were told that as of 10/31/01
has had only 2 of the over 1000 injuries to construction workers at the
World Trade Center.
There are sadly hundreds and hundreds of unused stretchers.
We all know of the fantastic work the Fire Department, the
Police Department, and EMS workers are doing. However,
while I may be a little partial, not enough credit is going to all the
construction workers who are shoulder to shoulder with every man
/ woman there. These are the unsung heroes in my opinion.
But then again, since when do we look for credit, just results.
Results speak for us. Our
area is the cleanest and is moving at an unbelievable pace thanks to
everyone of you. As of today
11/23/01 we have removed all of the WTC Building # 2 that was above
ground and the Marriott Hotel is at ground level. In some places
we are even 30 feet below grade. We are in the process of
securing the Slurry Wall with "Tie Backs". This wall hold back the
river. Once we secure it we will be able to go deeper into the
basement levels of the Marriott and the WTC #2. The other
Quadrants are on about the same track. The field couldn’t do a thing if it wasn’t for our support staff. So
far there isn’t anything that we have asked for that hasn’t been
delivered immediately. Steve and I are proud of every one of you, from
the office to the field.
While
the work is tough, there is nothing tougher for each of us then looking at these
mountains of rubble knowing there are still over 3000 people buried
there and we are almost helpless.
While optimism has dwindled in finding people alive we will
never give up hope until we have recovered everyone we can.
Some of my proudest moments are
when the Police and Fire
continually come up to me and compliment
for their terrific cooperation and the monumental job we are doing, thanks to
you all. We stand side by side with them and look for
our friends and family.
Please continue this very important work in an efficient and safe
manor. The World is watching and the entire World couldn’t be
prouder of each and every one of you. God Bless you, one and
all, and may He keep you safe.
RICHARD A. GRACE
& STEVE KALAIJIAN
Last
Pictures From the Cleanup
Well
It's Over
5/7
Cleanup
(Photos
taken by Marvin Scott, Channel 11 NY News)
WTC
DNA Research
Arial
World Trade Center
Angels
Of Courage
A
Day For Heroes, Living And Dead
The
World Mourns Together
Poem
Dedicated To All WTC Rescue Workers
In
Remembrance Of A Friend...
WTC
Damage Map
WTC
Statistics
BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS OF THE GRACE WORK AREA
MESSAGES
OF LOVE
CLICK
HERE>> 3D
map of World Trade Towers and surrounding buildings and damage
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HERE FOR PICTURES |