‰ NOW 35 WPM ‰ TEXT IS FROM SEPTEMBER 2012 QST PAGE 76‰ PUBLIC SERVICE AT GROUND ZERO DISASTER AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ONE HAMS STORY BOB HEJL, W2IK SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, THE DAY OUR WORLD CHANGED, STARTED LIKE ANY OTHER WEEKDAY MORNING I DRAGGED MYSELF INTO WORK AT FARMINGDALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON LONG ISLAND AND BEGAN SETTING UP MY SCHEDULE. I LAZILY TURNED ON A TELEVISION AND HEARD THE NEWS THAT ONE OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTERS TWIN TOWERS IN NEW YORK CITY HAD CAUGHT FIRE. I HALF LISTENED THERE HAVE BEEN FIRES IN SKYSCRAPERS BEFORE. SHORTLY, THE WORLD DISCOVERED IT WAS A TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES. WHEN I SAW THE HORRIFIC SCENE OF THE SECOND PLANE CRASHING INTO THE SECOND TOWER, I QUICKLY SURMISED THAT VICTIMS WOULD GO TO THE VARIOUS HOSPITALS ON LONG ISLAND. I ALSO FEARED THE BEGINNING OF A LARGER SERIES OF ATTACKS THAT COULD POSSIBLY ENGULF LONG ISLAND. I TOOK LEAVE FROM MY JOB AND DROVE TO MY TOWNS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER EOC IN ISLIP. AS AN ARES ASSISTANT EMERGENCY COORDINATOR AEC, I USED MY MOBILE RIG TO DECLARE A RADIO EMERGENCY AND STARTED A NET ON THE REPEATER. LOCAL ARES/RACES MEMBERS BEGAN CHECKING IN. I PLANNED TO SEND OPERATORS TO THE AREA HOSPITALS. WE WERE WELL TRAINED FOR HOSPITAL DUTY THANKS TO ANNUAL DRILLS WITH THEIR FACILITIES AND STAFFS. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE EOC, I TURNED ON A BANK OF RADIOS AND PUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS WAR ROOM IN ORDER. I ASKED ON OUR ‰ END OF 35 WPM TEXT ‰ QST DE W1AW ƒ