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Breaking News

New York State in State of Emergency

Aired September 11, 2001 - 12:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Governor George Pataki from New York joins us on the telephone. Governor, are you there, you can hear me?

GEORGE PATAKI, GOVERNOR, NEW YORK: Yes, I am here

BROWN: What are you hearing from the trade center area itself

PATAKI: Well, we are still hearing that it's a horrific situation. We are in desperate need of people to help out with the emergency services. The city team is there but we have evacuated our National Guard and our statewide fire and emergency services and we're going to be bringing those in to relieve the city forces as the afternoon goes on. I have been in touch with the Mayor. I've been in touch with White House, and everything that we can do and everything that can be done, is being done at this point.

BROWN: Has anyone given you any idea of how many injured we are dealing with down in --

PATAKI: Not at this point. At this point, the sole goal is to try to help as many people as possible, to get them to the emergency services, to get them the care that they need, to help people who want to leave the area, to leave in an orderly way. And to make sure that we do everything that we can to provide security throughout the city and throughout the state.

BROWN: Governor Pataki, can you tell me the degree to which the state's planning for these sorts of tragedies, and there's obviously a plan in place. New York is, because of its place in the world, is obviously a place that you have to consider a target. Whether that plan envisioned something of the magnitude of what has taken place this morning?

PATAKI: Well, you plan for any eventuality but you never actually expect to see something of this magnitude. But we have coordinated well with the city. We're going to continue to make sure we provide all of the support that we can. We do have emergency services and emergency transportation running. I know the reports have been inaccurate. We do have limited rail service out of Grand Central, to the northern suburbs, limited railroad service out of Brooklyn and Queens to Long Island. We are working to make sure that the bus service, to the extent possible continues and we're trying to get subway service back on track. It's not there yet. But the coordination has been excellent. It's just in a -- an attack of this magnitude, we just have to focus on responding and helping people at this point.

BROWN: And -- and do you have any idea how many people have been hospitalized or how many hospitals are involved, whether they extend beyond the city

PATAKI: Not at this point. But every emergency service, every hospital that can provide assistance is providing assistance. The people have been just terrific in their response, and we're going to continue to make sure that that response is as strong as it can be.

BROWN: Governor, take a moment and tell me, not as the governor necessarily, but as a resident of this state, an important player in a the affairs of this state, what you are thinking today.

PATAKI: This is an enormous tragedy. I have friends in those towers. I have friends who were there this morning that we haven't heard from. And our thoughts go to the people who are there, to the families, to all of those who are suffering at this, at this time, and we'll be there to help. And we'll be there to do everything that we can to make sure that the support and the services necessary are provided

BROWN: Okay. Governor, thank you. Governor George Pataki joining us here.

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