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CNN Live At Daybreak
The Role of The Red Cross In Queens
Aired November 13, 2001 - 08:23 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: As Martin just said, first it's September 11; now November 12. How much trauma can people endure here? How do they put shattered lives back together? Well, that is the enormous challenge volunteers face as they help families confront their loss and grieve for loved ones.
Jerry Jacobs is a long-time Red Cross volunteer. He teaches disaster psychology at the University of South Dakota. He has been in New York as a volunteer at the World Trade Center site since September. Thank you very much for being with us this morning.
JERRY JACOBS, RED CROSS VOLUNTEER: My pleasure, Paula.
ZAHN: How did you end up yesterday out at Rockaway?
JACOBS: I happened to be here providing some training for mental health professionals in the community of New York responding to the World Trade Center, and was asked to come over from the training to help set up a psychological support program for the Red Cross.
ZAHN: And what went through your mind immediately after hearing that a level one alert had been called by the city, and that there was a downed airliner?
JACOBS: Well, we certainly had some fears that it might be a terrorist act, but in either way, the services we need to provide to the people remain the same. So we tried to focus on just getting the services provided to the folks that needed it.
ZAHN: And describe to us what you saw when you got to the scene.
JACOBS: Basically, there were many families that had already gathered at the Ramada Inn at the Kennedy Airport, and the Red Cross had already come into place and set up some reception for them, and was already providing psychological support by the time I got there -- basic crisis intervention and support for the families of those who had been on board the aircraft.
ZAHN: I can't even imagine what it has been like for you to move from the World Trade Center, where you've also provided similar help from those families affected by those attacks. Reflect for us for a moment what that has been like for you as you've come here to volunteer your time. JACOBS: Well, it's much the same process, but it's difficult to shift gears to the idea that this was starting over again for another group of families and rescuers. It's definitely a challenge to get the mindset that we have to start over again with another incident.
ZAHN: And, Jerry, I think we need to remind anybody, who is watching this program right now, that this was a community horribly affected by the September 11 attacks. And the mayor telling us this morning that they had lost 60 of their own, that included firefighters and some police officers, but also, families who lost loved ones who were working in the World Trade Center.
How has that magnified the sense of grief there?
JACOBS: Well, I think it's hard to know the impact for certain, at this point, but we certainly know that this will be a real blow to the community, and it really will require some ongoing and prolonged support for the community. And we'll be starting that process today in a significant way.
ZAHN: We said early on in the interview that you came from South Dakota. What have you learned about New Yorkers since you've arrived here after the September 11 attacks?
JACOBS: This is an amazing city, and I've been here on previous disasters as well, like the crash of Flight 800, and the city always rises to the occasion, providing support for each other and drawing together to support each other in these difficult times. It's an amazingly strong community.
ZAHN: Well, we all salute you this morning, because we know how important the volunteers have been in the comforting of our population here. Thank you very much for your time, and I hope, eventually, things quiet down here, so you can go home and resume your normal life and not have to worry about taking care of everybody else.
JACOBS: I hope it quiets down for us all. Thank you, Paula.
ZAHN: Jerry, take care -- good luck.
JACOBS: Thank you.
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