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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Recovers: Applying for Death Certificates in New York

Aired September 26, 2001 - 08:11   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back here in New York City, families who have lost someone can get some comfort and counseling at the city's Pier -- that is Pier 94. That is where our own Bill Hemmer continues to stand by.

And you've got a tough job this morning, because I know you want to protect the privacy of so many of these families that are streaming to the Pier this morning.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Paula, good morning.

My job not nearly as tough as the families. So many of them coming to grips with the reality now that not only have they lost loved ones, but the strong possibility out there that even human remains -- their bodies will never be recovered -- never be found.

You know, when we talk about the missing and presumed dead, you're talking about staggering numbers; 6,300 still listed in that overall group of missing and presumed dead, and of that only -- well, less than 300 bodies have been recovered at this point.

Today, the grueling process continues: filing the proper paperwork to obtain a death certificate. It is critical for trying to gain access to insurance claims and banking accounts. An official here described how critical this process is, and how it might work throughout the day today.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ultimately, though, there are reasons why a death certificate is necessary. And I should point out that there may be other estate issues or matters that come up for people that are unique to them, and those will come up in the jurisdictions where people reside and where families are. This will, however, put a death certificate in people's hands, so that they can utilize it for all the reasons a death certificate is used, and also utilize it outside of the state of New York.

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HEMMER: Families are told today to bring proof -- a wedding license, a birth certificate, proof of employment, possibly proof that their loved ones, their father, their mother, their sister, brother, uncle, aunt were working inside the World Trade Center facility back on the 11th of September. And once that death certificate is obtained, a number of people still searching for financial footing will be able to expedite that process much quicker. They're talking possibly even within three days, and in many cases -- normal cases, and we are far from normal at this point -- but in many cases it may take up to three years to get the same paperwork completed here in the state of New York.

A large group of lawyers helping with the process today. They anticipate upwards of 600 families to come today, on Wednesday, and then continuing on Thursday and Friday of this week.

But, Paula, you heard the mayor yesterday saying there is a strong possibility so many of these bodies will never be found.

ZAHN: You got a long day ahead there. Thanks, Bill.

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