DEP Director's Letter on WTC Disaster Response, October 17, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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October 17, 2001

TO: Distribution Department of En^ronmental FROM: Douglas S. Greeley, P.E. "^,4^ Protection Deputy Commissioner and Director 59-17 Junction Boulevard corona. New York SUBJECT: The World Trade Center Disaster 11368-5107

Since the September 11*** attack upon the World Trade Center'we Joel A. Miele Sr., P.E. have all been dealing with the stress of maintaining our routines, Commissioner responding to recovery work, adapting to changes in our lifestyles, and -J I dealing with many different emotions. Douglas S. Greeley, P.E. Deputy Commissioner I am tremendously proud of your contribution to the rescue, Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations recovery and relief effort, and of the exceptional spirit displayed during Tel (718)595-5330 the crisis. Fax (718) 595-5342 [email protected] There are far too many individual and collective acts, both professionally and personal for me to highlight here, and all 1 can say is that I’ve tried to remember each one. Instead, I hope you will see yourself somewhere in the following:

That all our first response from 38^’’ Street survived unharmed. Thank God. To Pike Street, for opening its doors to become a comfort station in the first hours. Thanks! To GS-1, for their logistic support. Thanks. To the Blood Donors who streamed to the donation centers. Way to Go! To the field crews and engineers throughout the Bureau, you did yourselves proud! To the volunteers of all sorts. Thanks! To the people who volunteered, and are still waiting. Thank you! To money, food, or supply donors. Thank you! To mourners, please attend a funeral to support New York’s heroes! To the employees who reported to work as soon as they got the news, and to the employees who found new and inventive ways to come to work. Thank you!

To the prayers, counselors and people who went out of their way to do more, your impact was felt and gave those of us at the site a real boost. Thank you!

This disaster has severely tested our country, city, department an'd bureau. While we are only a small part of the overall effort to recover and rebuild, you have all stood tall and delivered what was needed, when it was needed. You can be very proud of your contributions.

( www.cl.nyc.ny.us/de (718) OEP-HELP

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