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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's New War: The Emotional Toll
Aired September 27, 2001 - 07:39 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: Here in New York there is an emotional toll for the firefighters who are sifting through the 60 acres of heartache. Retired firefighters have come out to dig for sons, for brothers and for thousands of unknown victims. But always when a body is found, there is a moment of respect. This is the latest body pulled from the rubble overnight. But among the thousands, only 300 bodies have been found so far.
And on Wednesday, Dr. Kerry Kelly, the chief medical officer of the fire department, described to members of Congress the fear, the compassion, the sadness that is a part of the scene.
And Dr. Kelly joins us now this morning to talk more about what sometimes can be overwhelming stress. Good morning.
I think we were all so moved when we listened to your testimony yesterday because I think there has been so much focus on the unknown victims and that's appropriate. But the point you were making, in many cases firefighters really were looking for their own, members of their own family.
DR. KERRY KELLY, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, FDNY: I think when you look at the numbers, the 300, it seems overwhelming. But beyond those names and those faces, they are all very 300 plus very important individuals. They are people who are part of our fire department family. The family of the fire department, especially in New York, is very connected. It is the type of occupation or profession that people choose many times because a family member has inspired them.
Over 75 of the people who are missing or dead have brothers, fathers and sons who are on the job. So that the pain that they feel is incredible because they are looking not just for people in their company, but people who are really connected with them.
ZAHN: And yet I've been down at the pile, they call it now, and I've spoken with firefighters and none of them seem to want any attention or credit for what they're doing. They say this is part of their job. And you said, yet said there are almost silent cries for help. What kind of help do these men and women need right now and are they getting it?
KELLY: I think there are different types of help that people need. I think there are people who are grieving for loved ones and we need to offer bereavement counseling for this group. The fire department has always prided itself on taking care of its own and making sure that the widows and the children who are left because of tragedy are taken care of. And now there are companies who are trying to take care of 10 and 11 widows and multiple children. That becomes an overwhelming burden.
And you're right, they don't complain. They just work hard to take care of those needs. But I think at times they then push their own needs aside and that's what you want to be sure that you're taking care of, that you are encouraging people to acknowledge the feelings that they're having.
After an incident such as this it's normal to have certain stress reactions and that's the message that we're trying to get out to people and also help the people who are falling on the wayside, people who have more extreme symptoms, people that have other problems and get them the appropriate help.
ZAHN: We know what you need for the American public now and lord knows the American public has given quite generously to all these various funds that ultimately will help the victims of this and you're talking about the widows and hopefully help put those children through school.
What is it you need from the government right now?
KELLY: I think we need the resources so that we can develop a good network so that we can bolster or add to our counseling services and therefore be able to direct people to the appropriate facilities or the appropriate help. Not everyone needs to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist. But certain people do and certain people at different times need the support and the help of different specialists to get them through crises such as this.
ZAHN: Now that more than two weeks have passed, I think that some of these firefighters have begun to process what it is they've seen, what it is they've done. Describe to us this morning their mind set right now, because we know how seriously they take the commitment of their jobs.
KELLY: I think the sadness is still there. I think we're starting to see some anger about why did this happen and why, as a group, have they suffered so much.
ZAHN: And can you answer that question? I mean I've talked with firefighters who say that you have to start arming firefighters almost like soldiers, that they're not just fighting fires anymore. They are, indeed, soldiers in this new war.
KELLY: I think when we look at terrorism, we need to think about other ways to train people and give people the tools to help them in upcoming encounters. But I don't know that we'll ever become true soldiers. I think the job of firefighting is to go in and rescue people and suppress fire. That's what they do so well and I think they'll continue to do that. But we need to give them the additional training so that they are able to meet the next encounter with the tools that they may need. ZAHN: Dr. Kelly, good of you to join us this morning. We appreciate it.
KELLY: Thank you very much.
ZAHN: And continued good luck.
KELLY: Thank you.
ZAHN: To all those very brave men and women...
KELLY: Thank you.
ZAHN: ... you know the rest of the country is saluting you all. You do feel that, right?
KELLY: I do, yes.
ZAHN: Good.
KELLY: I think they do.
ZAHN: All right, thank you again for your time.
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