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CNN Live Saturday
Fund Donations Helpful in Manhattan Area
Aired September 15, 2001 - 16:15 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 ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer knows about the volunteers that are flooding in and the efforts they are making and on the other side of that what still needs to be done. Bill joins us now from the Javits Center, the major convention center in New York.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again from down on street level on 11th Avenue on Manhattan's west side. Two things strike you throughout the day here: One is the continued desperation along with the hope. And the other is the generosity.
Let me show you the desperation. On so many street corners we have seen signs for the missing, people posting them in numerous locations throughout Manhattan trying to hold onto to the possibility ultimately that their loved ones, their fathers, their mothers, their sisters, their brothers may be found alive in the World Trade Center.
The other thing is the generosity. We talked about the enormous outpourings, the small things strike us too, Aaron. On the street corner where the volunteers lined up, there are people in Manhattan offering their apartment if they need a place to sleep, a place to rest for the night here.
We talked about the volunteers throughout the day today. We have one volunteer with us now. Keith is in from Boston and Keith, you wants to step up here a second.
KEITH: Sure can.
HEMMER: You were at the site yesterday. You just got back today.
KEITH: Today.
HEMMER: Give us and idea of what's happening down there and the level of progress?
KEITH: Well, progress: slow going, I mean steady, but everybody's got the same motive there and that's to find survivors and so everybody's morale is good, they're going for what they can, you know.
HEMMER: It is Saturday, the last survivor pulled out was Wednesday, four days ago.
KEITH: That's true.
HEMMER: When you're down there working, knowing that fact, what kind of feeling is generated there?
KEITH: Can't really explain it. I mean all -- you just got to keep in your mind that what it would be like to be in that building, knowing there's people looking. That's what kept me going. I mean, somebody's in there, just -- there's got to be somebody had a live. So you just got to keep going.
HEMMER: Will you come back tomorrow?
KEITH: Yes, I'll be staying here.
HEMMER: As many times as they'll send you in, you'll go.
KEITH: As many times as I can go out there.
HEMMER: Many people throughout the day, Keith, have been coming up to us and making sure we get the word out about what's needed and what things are not needed. The one thing that many people say that is needed is what you are wearing right here -- this respirator.
KEITH: Respirators, yes.
HEMMER: Tell us why that's so useful on the site.
KEITH: What they have for the majority are paper dust masks which are for sanding drywall.
HEMMER: You don't want those?
KEITH: No. These clear out 99.97 percent of the microns that would be in asbestos or whatever, and there's a lot of asbestos down at the Trade Center. It was built with asbestos so that's a major issue.
HEMMER: I'm told though that these canisters are replaceable and that is what you need, because they wear out over time.
KEITH: Yes you'll get a day out of this, out of one canister.
HEMMER: So the canisters, the respirators, what else could you use down there?
KEITH: Flashlights, batteries, respirators.
HEMMER: I'm told hard hats with lights, welding equipment, work boots, goggles?
KEITH: From what I seen, they had a lot of work boots, the welding equipment is taken care of. Hats with lights, that's a little more than you's really, you could get a hat and a flashlight.
HEMMER: Keith, thanks. Best of luck throughout the week. Quickly we want to pass along throughout the day, Aaron, we've been talking about where people can send donations if they want to give. We have been talking about Shea Stadium and Giant's Stadium. We are now told at this time that they don't want anymore donations at that point.
What we just talked about is what is needed. You can bring that here to the Javits Center. Also they are saying they are starting to turn the corner now, away from donations and to the financial end of it. They say if you want to give and want to give money, they are giving out three specific locations: The American Red Cross at the Disaster Relief Fund, the Salvation Army, and the United Way of New York City.
You can address them specifically to the September 11 fund. So those three things are starting to be pushed here on the streets of Manhattan. Aaron, back to you.
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