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ga_girl

(205 posts)

73. Driving into DC on I-270

Thu Sep 11, 2025, 07:03 PM

Sep 11

Having just completed a disaster recovery drill, was headed to a site visit for a customer in Northeast Washington, with a planned flight from National back to Atlanta.

Listening to a rock station which broke into WINS 1010 coverage out of NYC. The weather was too clear for me to believe an errant plane hit the north tower. I got to the customer site, but nearly everyone had left. Crested a hill and saw the smoke from the Pentagram. My cell phone was out of service, but used the office phone to call mom and let her know I was okay.

Obviously flying back to ATL was out, so I called my disaster recovery contact to find out where they wanted me - NY state or Washington. Ended going back to my hotel in Gaithersburg, where IBM was in full disaster recovery to clients mode. Ended up doing an actual recovery for a NYC client without documentation.

Stayed a few extra days in Maryland, got relieved by a co-worker, and drove back home.

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Where were you on 9/11? [View all] BigmanPigman Sep 10 OP

sound asleep in So Cal. didnt wake up til the "action" bit was over nt msongs Sep 10 #1

I was on San Diego BigmanPigman Sep 10 #7

Me too. I worked down there temporarily during that time so stayed in a motel during the week. Got up on 9/11 beaglelover Sep 11 #71

Same. A friend from England called me to tell me to turn on the news. chowder66 Sep 10 #19

Getting ready to leave deRien Sep 10 #2

I was in the control room of a department of energy national lab drray23 Sep 10 #3

I recently saw a video of a Bush official BigmanPigman Sep 10 #11

Wow! As soon as you said right next to one that collapsed, and walked through... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #33

At my college registrar's office to change classes, nobody at the front desk but the TV on in the next room. meadowlander Sep 10 #4

Those hospital workers waiting BigmanPigman Sep 10 #12

In the end, people either got out or they didn't. There just weren't that many in between to need all the donations. JHB Sep 11 #42

Watching the Today Show, drinking coffee, on the phone with my sister-in-law. no_hypocrisy Sep 10 #5

Wow. As someone who's spent decades going over the GWB to visit relatives...just wow! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #59

There was a semi-legit fear planes no_hypocrisy Sep 11 #75

I sure wouldn't blame people for thinking that! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #81

1 Mile away from the Pentagon montanacowboy Sep 10 #6

Working at a gas station that day berniesandersmittens Sep 10 #8

7 months pregnant with my first daughter. Dulcinea Sep 10 #9

In my classroom. Heard the news, got a tv hooked up & my students & I watched the second tower get hit ancianita Sep 10 #10

I'm still pissed off at my school district for NOT BigmanPigman Sep 10 #13

I feel you, BP. My kids were 16-17 year olds. IIRC, Chicago Public Schools shut down later that day. ancianita Sep 10 #14

Only recently "60 Minutes" aired an episode BigmanPigman Sep 10 #20

From looking up Chris O'Leary on MSNBC today, I found out the CEO of O'Leary's group is that ancianita Sep 10 #21

That's how it was here in San Antonio. LeftInTX Sep 11 #41

Understandably, especially with young kids! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #60

They banned TVs and news from our local schools that day. They didn't want a repeat of the Kennedy trauma. LeftInTX Sep 11 #40

Sounds like the "they" you refer to, do a lot of censorship. Not cool. It's up to parents what kids see, NOT govt ancianita Sep 11 #46

It was the local school districts. One of the "theys" was my husband. He was the HS principal. He ordered TV's off. LeftInTX Sep 11 #49

Red River, New Mexico czarjak Sep 10 #15

My brother phoned to tell me a plane crashed into the tower. Swede Sep 10 #16

Recommended. H2O Man Sep 10 #17

Was originally scheduled for meeting in Windows on the World unc70 Sep 10 #18

Woah electric_blue68 Sep 11 #35

It was my 2nd day of college at NYU mr715 Sep 10 #22

Wasn't south of Washington Square closed off after the attack? BigmanPigman Sep 10 #23

I was standing on Bleecker and Mercer, so a few blocks south mr715 Sep 10 #24

I know where that is! BigmanPigman Sep 10 #29

Woah! And TY for coming to visit us in support. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #36

Can't remember how quickly they did this but they only let residents, area workers, shop owners below the South side... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #37

Yeah, I have see it was stopped south of Wash. Sq BigmanPigman Sep 11 #43

I guess you can never know untill it happens, and hope that you never face something like that! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #63

Pretty sure the 14th street boundary was a week or two after the attacks RPM Sep 11 #56

South of Canal RPM Sep 11 #55

To clarify.. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #64

Woah. When I went down to look at the site either the firsst time, or when I got off x weeks later at a subway they'd... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #62

At work, in the middle of my morning routine. Xavier Breath Sep 10 #25

On a DOD facility. My job. johnnyfins Sep 10 #26

Started my day waking up listening to WXRT in Chicago. They did a great job. Two popular DJs spent the whole mucifer Sep 10 #27

I woke up listening to WBBM. boonecreek Sep 11 #31

At my job at a psychiatric hospital Chautauquas Sep 10 #28

I was in a work group meeting. boonecreek Sep 11 #30

B4 I read/reply to the thread What Art School did you go to?... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #32

I studied illustration at Parsons and The New School for academics. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #48

At work in Boston edbermac Sep 11 #34

I made audio tapes of Howard's show that day. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #70

I was at work, on Long Island, 30 miles east of the Towers. The departmental secretary started exclaiming "Oh My God".. JHB Sep 11 #38

I forgot that DU was up and running in 2001. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #72

Yes. I'd first signed up that July, and had been visiting for months following links from Bartcop JHB Sep 11 #78

That's sort of what I expected. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #80

Pruning shrubs. It was nice weather like it was today and the past few days in Texas. LeftInTX Sep 11 #39

Was living in Brooklyn, not far from it's downtown... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #44

At work, "doing the job" JustABozoOnThisBus Sep 11 #45

Beijing China Blue Full Moon Sep 11 #47

Wow, and half way around the world! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author Blue Full Moon Sep 11 #68

I had just arrived in the UK for a work trip. Happy Hoosier Sep 11 #50

In my office in the Federal Building in Denver CanonRay Sep 11 #51

Getting ready for work. Still had a TV in the bedroom at that time. maxsolomon Sep 11 #52

I was working nights for a very large hospital corporation in Dallas. markodochartaigh Sep 11 #53

Woah. Certainly could make Sense given all the Unknown Factors then. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #65

That day was a career milestone day for me... Moostache Sep 11 #54

Heading the other direction RPM Sep 11 #57

I had just gotten into my car to go to work. Aristus Sep 11 #58

I was at home watching the morning news. Mosby Sep 11 #61

At The Airport... ProfessorGAC Sep 11 #67

Just some added expetiences/thoughts... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #69

You remember details so well. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #74

Aww, thank you much! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #86

Driving into DC on I-270 ga_girl Sep 11 #73

My son was in lower Manhattan, working at the Village Voice FakeNoose Sep 11 #76

Teaching high school ...we had just got channel one JT45242 Sep 11 #77

Phew, for your brother! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #88

Just got out of x-ray and the staff was standing by the television. I thought it was training. Norrrm Sep 11 #79

Getting ready for school when my mom was watching the news sakabatou Sep 11 #82

Did they cancel school that day? BigmanPigman Sep 11 #83

No cancelation sakabatou Sep 11 #85

14th Street Bridge, Washington DC. bottomofthehill Sep 11 #84

Woah! Scary stuff! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #87

It was scary, the smoke from the Pentagon was one thing bottomofthehill Sep 12 #89

Oh, wow! Had not heard about the car bombs! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #91

That was the crazy part. There were no car bombs bottomofthehill Sep 12 #92

Clarifying - I hadn't heard later on about car bomb rumors. electric_blue68 Sep 12 #93

I worked In a building near Baltimore. Three of us were there, processing for a three-week deployment to Southeast Asia. 24601 Sep 12 #90

I was working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher that day near Whiteman AFB xmas74 Sep 12 #94

I don't blame you! BigmanPigman Sep 12 #95

Base was locked down, xmas74 Sep 13 #104

I've listened to 6 hours of the audio BigmanPigman Sep 13 #105

Woah, that Documentary was amazing, intense! Ty. electric_blue68 Sep 12 #96

I "borrowed" a VHS tape of this from BigmanPigman Sep 13 #97

I'm glad you shared it here.... electric_blue68 Sep 13 #98

I have 2 "I LOVE NY" bumper stickers. BigmanPigman Sep 13 #99

Yep, I do know which one. electric_blue68 Sep 13 #100

I was at work, on the gas distribution crew. Americanme Sep 13 #101

Getting ready to drive on a run to northern Indiana. Emile Sep 13 #102

I was in Manhattan PJMcK Sep 13 #103

I'm angry, too. BigmanPigman Sep 13 #106

My Sept 11 memories: pat_k Sep 13 #107

The calls from passengers on the various flights BigmanPigman Sep 13 #108