Sometimes when people do good deeds, they don’t always end up on top. On September 11, the Twin Towers (World Trade Center) suddenly collapsed when two planes struck the towers. As a result, dust rolled through the streets of New York and a pile of debris burned and smoked for weeks. The New York Fire Department, rescue workers, clean-up crews, and volunteers from all over the United States worked around the clock for many weeks, trying to sort through the debris and remove pieces of The World Trade Center. Individuals sorted through the wreckage on their hands and knees, trying to find loved ones or even a survivor. While people sorted through wreckage, the media and photographers gave people at home around-the-clock information and news updates on the progress of The World Trade Center, which came to be known as Ground Zero. Rescue workers, clean-up crews, and media are suffering from health problems caused by the September 11 attack; psychological problems, respiratory disease, and cancer may be a concern.
Every person that contributed to the clean up and coverage of The World Trade Center has some kind of psychological impact. Photographers, media, and workers had to put their own emotions aside, leave their family issues at home, and complete their jobs to the best of their abilities. Some rescue workers who saw loved ones die right in front of them had to cope with grief and guilt. There was also an emotional toll on the photographers who raced to capture the one image that highlighted the emotional moments and reactions surrounding the collapsed Towers. Workers and the media sometimes needed counseling, a few minutes of silence, a shoulder to lean on, or even someone to talk with. Even though rescue workers are trained to deal with dangerous situations, sometimes fire fighters, police officers, and emergency workers are not prepared to cope with the emotional impact of a traumatic event, like September 11.
Rescue workers and media are only some of the people whose health problems are caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center. The immediate health problems that were created by the collapse of the Twin Towers are respiratory disease and mental health problems; also, cancer may become a health concern for the workers in the future. The nation was impacted and scarred by the traumatic event that etched itself in history, and it will take many people years to recover.
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goodness i couldnt have been a photographer. It would have been to emotional to stand and take pictures.
goodness i couldnt have been a photographer. It would have been to emotional to stand and take pictures.