9/11

Back in the old days of the Internet, before Twitter was even a twinkle in Jack Dorsey's eye, we had listservs, which were, for the time period, a very effective way of disseminating information to large groups of people in a somewhat timely fashion.

For many years I was a subscriber to a professional listserv on which members from around the world discussed records management issues. On September 11, 2001, I first learned about the 9/11 tragedies from that listserv.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:21:29 -0500

Anyone out there in Manhatten? What is going on?

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:23:18 -0400

I was just told that a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:29:08 -0400

Two planes crashed into two of the World Trade towers, about fifteen minutes
apart. Looks like terrorism. I'm in midtown so I can't see the wreckage
from here, but I hear sirens headed downtown about every three or four
minutes. MSNBC.com says there's a rumor that the planes were hijacked.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:35:39 -0400

Just saw the live photos on tv. a plane did strike one of the WTC towers'
near the top. heavy black smoke is pouring out of the tower.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 06:36:17 -0700

From what I've been able to find out, it looks like 2
planes crashed into the towers, about 18 minutes
apart.
Suspected terrorism, but that's about all that I've
seen so far.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:35:41 -0400

Make that two. It's devasting...

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:34:00 -0400

A plane just crashed into the Pentagon.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:45:04 -0400

Just announced on TV that a major explosion has occurred outside of the
Pentagon. Large black clouds billowing out. broadcast live on NBC

and yes two planes in a coordinated effort against the WTC.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:47:50 -0500

The pentagon in Washington
was just hit

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:45:46 -0400

My midtown building security office just sent out an announcement that it's
closing all exits except the main one and putting emergency security
procedures into place. It also announced that all subway service has been
cancelled. No confirmation on the subway issue yet.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:52:31 -0500

Pentagon also, White a house evacuated, all planes grounded

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:52:43 -0400

Another plane crash occurred near the Pentagon. They are evacuating all the
federal buildings in Washington.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:01:14 -0400

I am just outside of Washington,D.C. and the Pentagon, State Building and
the White House is being evacuated too. The Pentagon also had a plane hit
it. The FAA has just closed all the airports.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:59:38 -0400

Bombs reported in Boston too................unconfirmed.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:24:23 -0400

I'm sure by now everyone has radios, TV and computers going. We have a
cable hook up here and the latest news is three separate planes (reported to
be hijacked) have crashed into buildings. One into one tower of the World
Trade Center, the second into the other tower of the World Trade Center
(which just collapsed onto the street) and a small commuter plane into the
Pentagon. ABC also just reported of a possible bomb blast at the U.S.
Capitol. All U.S. airports are closed. I am located in a highly militarized
area. All local bases are locked down.

I am sure we have lost colleagues in this horrific disaster. My heart
is very heavy with grief for the innocent people who not only were used as
weapons but who were attacked.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 07:27:43 -0700

Car bomb just went off at State department, UN has been evacuated

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 07:30:26 -0700

In addition, it was confirmed it was a hijacked American Airlines plane,
Flight 11 bound from Boston to Los Angeles that crashed into the WTC and a
US Air 737 crashed into the Pentagon.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:30:22 -0400

Both World Trade Centers are now gone.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:32:42 -0400

The second World Trade Center tower has just collapsed into the street.
This is definitely a confirmed report. I watched it happen on ABC live
coverage.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:36:30 -0400

North tower of WTC has now collapsed. watched it on TV

News websites are jammed

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:30:22 -0400

State of Maine closing all its buildings (except, obviously, hospitals and
emergency services) for the rest of today.

Good luck and God bless,

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:38:06 -0400

Please join me in praying for those who are trapped, fireman and disaster
support staff who are trying to help. Pray for safety for all. My thoughts are
with all south of the border.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:02:34 -0400

From your colleagues across the border in Canada please keep your messages
coming. We are slow at getting news here & I am more informed by the list serve
than my local radio stations.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:10:32 -0400

A further update:

It has now been confirmed by the FAA that there are several airplanes
unaccounted for and a confirmed crash of a plane in Somerset, PA,
southwest of Pittsburgh. All incoming international Atlantic aircraft
are being diverted to Canadian airports.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:11:39 -0400

I agree...just horrendous...my information is coming in from the listserv.
And our prayers go out to the families. We're in the process of evacuating
government buildings around the US embassy here in Ottawa.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:22:46 -0400

It has now been confirmed that Pearson Intl. (Toronto) airport has been closed.
Talks continue as to closing the borders between Canada and the US.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:49:26 -0700

This is not terrorism, it is WAR!

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:53:26 -0400

border between Windsor and Detroit - closed

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:06:03 -0700

Any idea who among our profession were in the Towers? I think now is the
time for deliberate thought and prayer.

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Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:08:39 -0500

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Terrorists struck the United States Tuesday morning in
harrowing, widespread attacks that included at least three commercial jet
crashes into significant buildings.

* In the first attack, a plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center
in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by another plane into the
second tower about 20 minutes later. Both towers later collapsed.

* About an hour later, a plane crashed into the Pentagon, part of which
later collapsed.

* American Airlines told CNN that it lost two planes in "tragic accidents:"
Flight 11 from Boston with 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard and Flight 77
from Washington Dulles airport with 58 passengers and six crew aboard. Both
planes were en route to Los Angeles

* United Airlines Flight 93 airliner headed from Newark, New Jersey, to San
Francisco, crashed near Somerset, Pennsylvania -- police said initial
reports indicated no survivors. It was not known if this was connected to
the attacks. United also said it was "deeply concerned" about Flight l75
from Boston to Los Angeles.

* The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice
Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in
Washington evacuated.

* President Bush cancelled an appearance in Florida to return to Washington,
calling the crashes "apparent terrorist attacks" and "a national tragedy."

* In the first ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide
have been stopped at their departure airports.

* All international flights were diverted to Canada.

* In New York, more than 10,000 rescue personnel rushed to the scene. The
entire downtown area of Manhattan was evacuated as far north as Rockefeller
Center, according to an official at an emergency command post.

* Israel has evacuated all its missions around the world.

* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta was evacuated.
CDC was preparing bioterrorism teams in case they become necessary.

* Philadelphia landmarks were also evacuated.

* In Chicago, the Sears Tower was evacuated; United Nations in New York
evacuated.

* The New York Port Authority said it had closed all bridges and tunnels
into the city.

* U.S. stock markets were closed after the New York attacks

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[notes: messages are listed chronologically (message times reflect the local time zones for the people who posted them). Also, individuals' names have been removed from the messages]