I know it's been a long time since I've emailed, but
it's been a long time since I could get to a computer
not caked with asbestos and paticulized concrete.
 
The only reason I was able to get to a computer today
is because I'm sick. I'm pretty sure it's the flu,
which is preferable to, oh, I don't know, ANTHRAX. As
you might of heard, some random hospital worker died
from it, and no one knows how she got it. To be
honest with you, I get a little jumpy every time I
pass by a post office here.
 
Well, since my computer absence, I've had a couple
questions frequently asked.
 
One is "you mind if I forward your emails to
friends/family?" Of course not. Forward the messages
to anyone you like. I don't think my little essays on
working on the disaster are great works of genius or
anything, but I do know it's real.
 
The second question is "what exactly are you doing?"
Alot of you know that I am an EMT and that I have
worked on ambulances in the past. Unfortunately, I am
not here to work in Emergency Medicine. I'm working
for a company called BMS Catastrophe, and we are
decontaminating a building on the south side of the
world trade center that was heavily damaged by the
explosion and the resulting collapse of the towers.
 
The building I work in is called "One World Financial
Center" and you can find a map of the area here:
http://www.urhere.com/nymap/wtc.htm
 
Almost the entire building is covered with soot and
dust and asbestos, including the inside, since many of
the windows were blown out. My company goes in and
cleans and filtrates the air, and salvages electronics
to the best degree we can.
 
After my relaxing weekend, I was put back on 12 hour
shifts, until today when my illness became a tad too
much. I have yet to be able to take pictures....well,
actually, I probably could, but there are signs
everywhere telling me not to. All the streets leading
up to the WTC have multiple signs prohibiting pictures
and videos; and in the building themselves, your bags
are searched. So, even though I probably could sneak
in some pictures of the wreckage, I won't.
 
There are many people worried here right now,
everybody thought there would be an attack today, on
halloween. So far there hasn't been anything, but I
have carried my BLS bag with me all day, just in case.
 
 
Whether people are taking it lightly or not, there is
a fear in everyone's mind here. Some people are
openly admitting it...not showing up to work, leaving
the city for a couple nights, looking at everyone
suspiciously. Others are taking a more defensive
stance...laughing off more possible attacks, making
jest at the previous attacks...but I can assure you,
everyone is worried. I don't know if it is worse for
me since I see the destruction half-the-day-everyday,
but I walk by the rubble and I still become disgusted,
I still can't stare at the murals, and I still can't
stand the smell.
 
I know there are some people I have been meaning to
call, and I apologize. Either I've been working or
been sick, both of which are not helping my overall
stress level. I should be up and attam in a couple
days, and you will hear from me then.
 
I hope eveyone has a good Halloween.