World Trade Center Attack

[Guest guest]

I can only echo what others have posted for the last 18 hours now. My

reactions and emotions are the same and words cannot express my pain and

anger.

On a very local level, our dispatch center had a horrific scare tonight.

Of course, today's events is all people are talking about and thinking

about. Around 5:30pm, our little dispatch center, had the scare of a

lifetime. 9-1-1 calls all of a sudden came pouring in. Initial reports

were of an explosion, people seeing airplanes and fighter jets, hearing a

loud " boom, " feeling the ground shake, etc. Our dispatch center is located

30 feet underground so we felt or heard nothing. The reports weren't just

from one area, but throughout the entire county. We didn't know what to do,

and for me being the new rookie at this agency, was overwhelmed to say the

least. For a split second, I feared the absolute worst hearing my 9-1-1

callers screaming in my ear. In those few brief seconds, we received word

that a plane went down in Dayton, Ohio and had crashed into the VA Hospital

located there. We began calling the FAA immediately and were finally given

some answers. Air Force One, flying from Nebraska back to Washington, flew

directly over our county and the city of Richmond. Along with Air Force

One, there were two fighter jets flying along-side. At the most inopportune

time, they broke the sound barrier, and created a " sonic boom " that rocked

our area. Talk about a sigh of relief. Our dispatch center had 5

dispatchers working (our normal load). We took in over 60 9-1-1 calls in

less than three minutes. For some of you in big cities, I know this sounds

petty and an insignificant number, but our little center was near panic.

Thank the good Lord, that things weren't as they appeared for those very

frightful minutes.

Cain

Wayne County EOC

Indiana

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