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Port Authority to Release Transcripts of 9/11
Aired August 28, 2003 - 14:30 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Acts of bravery -- there were many of them on that infamous September day two years ago. In just a few hours, we expect to hear more of them from the agency in charge of security at the World Trade Center. But not everyone wants to hear about those frantic rescue efforts.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa joins us now live from New York with this developing story -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN URBAN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, this is going to be a very difficult day for a lot of people in new York City. For dozens of families, this will be the very first time that they will learn about the last moments of their loved ones. And this comes exactly two weeks before the two-year anniversary of the attacks.
Now, 84 Port Authority police officers and civilian staff members died on September 11. And at 5:00 p.m. today, the transcripts of many their communications will be released to the public. As a result of a lawsuit by "The New York Times," there will be 2,000 pages of transcripts of 260 hours of radio and telephone transmissions between these now deceased police officers, staff, and dispatchers for the Port Authority. There will also be thousands of handwritten notes from Port Authority employees and their recollections of that day.
Now, the Port Authority was located inside the World Trade Center, so many of these calls were made from inside the building. They are of employees attempting rescues since it was the Port Authority that was responsible for security in the World Trade Center. And they were the ones who knew those buildings inside and out.
Now people who have been able to read the transcripts, and very few of the families have, in fact, but they say that one of the most impressive things that you take away from these transcripts is how, in the face of mayday calls and utter panic all around them, these Port Authority police officers and employees were able to act with professionalism in the face of such a crisis.
But there are a lot of mixed emotions as well among the families. Some are very upset that they are being released to the media without them seeing it first. Others anxious to read about the last moments. Some ready to feel proud of their husbands and wives who tried -- who died trying to help others. But no matter what, these 2,000 pages are going to weigh heavily for these families who are getting them just before a long holiday weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUS DANESE, PORT AUTHORITY UNION: This time of year is very solemn. This is definitely going to open up old wounds. You know, the anniversary itself opens up old wound. This only compounds it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HINOJOSA: We are expecting again, Kyra, these documents to be leased at 5:00 p.m. today, Kyra, just about a mile north from where the World Trade Center once stood.
PHILLIPS: Maria, have any of the families heard any of these tapes?
HINOJOSA: No. These are not audiotapes. These are transcripts of audiotapes. But no audiotapes are going to be released, Kyra. And what we know right now is that the Port Authority is scrambling to get as many copies of these 2,000 pages to the family members. Very few of them have seen them. So they're scrambling to get them out before 5:00 p.m., when the media has been promised that we will get copies of them.
PHILLIPS: Maria Hinojosa from New York, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 28, 2003 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Acts of bravery -- there were many of them on that infamous September day two years ago. In just a few hours, we expect to hear more of them from the agency in charge of security at the World Trade Center. But not everyone wants to hear about those frantic rescue efforts.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa joins us now live from New York with this developing story -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN URBAN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, this is going to be a very difficult day for a lot of people in new York City. For dozens of families, this will be the very first time that they will learn about the last moments of their loved ones. And this comes exactly two weeks before the two-year anniversary of the attacks.
Now, 84 Port Authority police officers and civilian staff members died on September 11. And at 5:00 p.m. today, the transcripts of many their communications will be released to the public. As a result of a lawsuit by "The New York Times," there will be 2,000 pages of transcripts of 260 hours of radio and telephone transmissions between these now deceased police officers, staff, and dispatchers for the Port Authority. There will also be thousands of handwritten notes from Port Authority employees and their recollections of that day.
Now, the Port Authority was located inside the World Trade Center, so many of these calls were made from inside the building. They are of employees attempting rescues since it was the Port Authority that was responsible for security in the World Trade Center. And they were the ones who knew those buildings inside and out.
Now people who have been able to read the transcripts, and very few of the families have, in fact, but they say that one of the most impressive things that you take away from these transcripts is how, in the face of mayday calls and utter panic all around them, these Port Authority police officers and employees were able to act with professionalism in the face of such a crisis.
But there are a lot of mixed emotions as well among the families. Some are very upset that they are being released to the media without them seeing it first. Others anxious to read about the last moments. Some ready to feel proud of their husbands and wives who tried -- who died trying to help others. But no matter what, these 2,000 pages are going to weigh heavily for these families who are getting them just before a long holiday weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUS DANESE, PORT AUTHORITY UNION: This time of year is very solemn. This is definitely going to open up old wounds. You know, the anniversary itself opens up old wound. This only compounds it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HINOJOSA: We are expecting again, Kyra, these documents to be leased at 5:00 p.m. today, Kyra, just about a mile north from where the World Trade Center once stood.
PHILLIPS: Maria, have any of the families heard any of these tapes?
HINOJOSA: No. These are not audiotapes. These are transcripts of audiotapes. But no audiotapes are going to be released, Kyra. And what we know right now is that the Port Authority is scrambling to get as many copies of these 2,000 pages to the family members. Very few of them have seen them. So they're scrambling to get them out before 5:00 p.m., when the media has been promised that we will get copies of them.
PHILLIPS: Maria Hinojosa from New York, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
