I was waiting for the train in Grand Central Station when the ground began to shake violently. At first there was no sense from those waiting for their trains that there was anything wrong, until the explosion. It felt like nothing I have ever experienced before. Everything shook and some people were knocked off their feet by the percussion. This is when the panic began and people began running for the exits. With 9/11 still fresh in New Yorkers minds, they desperately tried to escape Grand Central Station even if it meant trampling over slower people. Thankfully, I was able to assist an older woman by pulling her closer to the wall and we side stepped up the stairs to avoid the stampede of frantic people. Once we hit the street we witnessed the rising smoke (which I later found out was steam). It was a very scary experience because everyone thought that this was another terrorist attack. I saw the fear and terror in the eyes of everyone fleeing the station. I was extremely happy that I was able to get home safe to be with my family.The one thing that was abundantly clear is that New York is still suffering from the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Although, we are resilient and go through our daily lives like September 11 is a distant memory, we can be transported back in an instant. The fear, the panic and the horror permeated the streets of midtown until information about what really happened was revealed. Let us remain vigilant and diligent about what is going on around us and urge our law enforcement agencies to continue their fight to keep us safe from terrorism.
I commute on a daily basis into Manhattan. If you do also, I am sure that you are well aware of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign. Now I totally agree that always being aware and keeping your eyes open are critical. However, what do you do AFTER something like this happens?
I know that there are certain practices and protocol to follow in emergency situations but this needs to be released to the public on a large scale. I believe that the panic and mayhem I witnessed could be lessened if people had more information on how to react.
In addition, we should all thank the police and fire department who were on the scene immediately and were able to take control of the situation instantly.
Daily News Article: Volcano on 41st Street
3 comments:
Good story
Ditto, great account of a crazy scene.
New York! What a town!
So now we have Con Edison and terrorists to worry about.
It happened on the West side of 41st and Lexington Ave. I was like a block away in the office. At first I thought it was thunder, but it just kept going for like over 20 minutes it seemed, then I was out of the area, but they say it lasted for hours, and it was very very loud.
Very scary, the NYPD says it was not terrorism. They say it was a steam explosion. Smoke and steam went up over the 45th floor. There was no black smoke like a fire though. Out the window I saw people running from the area. It was pretty scary, I was positive while in the area that it was terrorism.
There are pictures of a big craterish hole in the middle of the street with a red tow truck sitting in the hole. Terrorists would have had to go under the street to plant some bomb there. That's not the way they would have done it. We all can think of much more effective and easier ways, and better places.
It happened right around the corner from one of the biggest creators of traffic congestion in NYC.
Will Mayor Bloomberg do anything about Park Ave. being blocked off at 42nd street?
I think Mayor Nanny Bloomie is a very arrogant man. I also highly doubt he rides the subway that much. He's the mayor, I want someone driving him around so he can work and make calls and stuff. New Yorkers shouldn't want him wasting all that time on the subway.
We all have to wonder what Bloomberg is really thinking of with this congestion pricing tax scheme. Maybe he mostly just wants a new tax. Just wrap it up in ‘concern for the environment’, and then people can just demonize those who oppose it.
If he cares so much about traffic jams, congestion and air pollution, why does he let Park Avenue be blocked off? Why doesn’t he do anything about that?
It's true, Pershing Square Restaurant blocks Park Avenue going South at 42nd St. for about 12 hours a day/5 months of the year! This Causes Massive Congestion and Air Pollution!
But apparently it does not bother NYC’s Nanny-in-Chief Mike “Congestion Pricing Tax” Bloomberg?
It certainly supports his claim that the city is hugely congested.
Check out the map! Tell your friends!
http://whataplanet.blogspot.com
http://preview.tinyurl.com/38obfd
Check it out!
Thanks!
:)
wow that must have been surreal
Post a Comment