On September 11, 2001, terrorists used hijacked airplanes as weapons to attack the United States. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City. One plane flew into the side of the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers stormed the cockpit. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack.
In the aftermath, thousands of first responders converged on the sites of destruction, climbing through mountains of smoking debris and rubble in a race to find survivors. Ultimately, 8 EMS providers and 343 firefighters died that day and countless more have succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses from their time working at Ground Zero.
Read the stories of survivors, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents. To share your 9/11 story, email editor@ems1.com.
FEATURED CONTENT
The job is not to prepare for another 9/11. It is to prepare responders for the next call
Marking anniversaries, like 9/11, is important for honoring those experiences and carrying forward the lessons learned
They searched for survivors, handled remains, supplied emergency equipment and kept the city’s jails operating. Twenty-five years later, their story is still being told.
Narrated by Gary Sinise, the film features firsthand accounts from officers, firefighters and EMS providers who responded on one of the nation’s darkest days
How one day transformed emergency preparedness and the lives of generations of first responders
Richard Allen Pearlman was the youngest first responder killed on 9/11. For a small volunteer ambulance corps, keeping his memory alive has become part of the job.
9/11 NEWS
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito recounts FDNY’s devastating losses, the decisions that saved thousands of lives and why honoring 9/11 means preparing the next generation to meet the moment
Lillian Bonsignore spent weeks working the pile; 25 years later, the area still triggers her brain to recall the smell “like it’s day one”
The familiar images tell only part of the story. These lesser-known accounts reveal how Sept. 11 continues to shape lives and public safety 25 years later.
Research on World Trade Center responders found PTSD and prolonged Ground Zero exposure were associated with signs of accelerated brain aging
The FDNY added 36 names to its World Trade Center Memorial Wall, bringing to 438 the number of fire and EMS members honored after dying from illnesses linked to Ground Zero
FDNY researchers are seeking federal coverage for cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and other conditions as firefighters and EMS members exposed to Ground Zero toxins age
A military judge scheduled Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three alleged accomplices to stand trial beginning June 5, 2028, more than 26 years after the Sept. 11 attacks
FDNY Assistant Commissioner for Communications Steve Gregory reflects on the unsung heroes of the 9/11 response:
“I don’t know what the next level beyond fantastic is”
“I don’t know what the next level beyond fantastic is”
First responders can be trusted voices, separating fact from fiction while keeping the focus on evidence and remembrance
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is transporting a steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center to communities across the United States
Go inside the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the 9/11 Museum Workshop
What began as scribbled names on yellow legal pads ultimately became FDNY’s official missing and deceased list — the 343
Rear Admiral Lisa Delaney discusses eligibility, covered conditions and why some responders are only now seeking care
The Somerset County event brought first responders together at Flight 93 National Memorial to mark 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling on the HHS Secretary to reappoint Dr. John Howard to lead the WTC Health Program
City lawyers say no responsive records were found, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani promises to release Ground Zero air-quality documents before the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks
The new World Trade Center Retired Responders Memorial Wall honors 154 retired FDNY members who assisted in rescue and recovery efforts after Sept. 11 and later died from WTC-related illnesses
City leaders are pushing for funding to determine when officials first knew Ground Zero air quality was dangerous and to release records tied to post-9/11 exposure risks
In Sacramento, nearly 40% of EMS calls were classified as non-emergencies, tying up ambulances and EMS crews, delaying urgent responses
The Secretary of Health and Human Services restores hiring for the World Trade Center Health Program, easing shortages that have delayed care and claims for thousands of responders and survivors
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is urging state officials to search for long-sought documents, as survivors and first responders continue to seek answers about what government agencies knew
Attorneys for survivors say the city is withholding critical Ground Zero exposure data despite previously uncovering dozens of boxes of related documents
Advocates and lawmakers warn staffing shortages at the World Trade Center Health Program are causing treatment delays for sick 9/11 responders and survivors
The FDNY is planning a special ceremony alongside a new commemorative emblem, a Gary Sinise–hosted podcast series and a film on FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge
Only 14 states require 9/11 instruction, and Massachusetts hasn’t until Gov. Maura Healey directed the state to embed September 11 into curriculum framework
Seeing the brave first responders on Sept. 11, 2001, showed me what I wanted to be when I grew up
Ceremonies at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and Shanksville honor nearly 3,000 victims as volunteers nationwide mark the 24th 9/11 anniversary with day-of-service projects
NYC’s pause on $850K Stabilization Fund payments has unions covering medical benefits for widows and children of 9/11 first responders
Guidance for managing the emotions associated with the anniversaries of traumatic incidents
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