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American Morning

America's New War: Talk with Two Residents Who've Returned to Lower Manhattan Neighborhood

Aired September 21, 2001 - 09:25   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 missing people reports start to ripple in from abroad, the number missing and presumed dead is now up by 1,000. That number is more than 6,300, with additional 241 people who are confirmed dead, and there is still so much work that has to be done. Let's check in with CNN's Bill Hemmer who is a few blocks away from the rubble of the World Trade Center. What's the very latest from there, Bill?

HEMMER: Paula, good morning again.

A bit of good news for some folks living in the area. Emily Johnson, will be nine on the 6th of October. Happy birthday to you, Emily, and Linda Ensko (ph) Johnson, just slept in their beds for the first time in lower Manhattan last night.

You were back in your neighborhood. but what a different neighborhood it is now.

LINDA JOHNSON, BATTERY PARK CITY RESIDENT: Yes, we were just happy to be home. We've been away for over a week. And it felt good to see our house still there and that very few people in our building came in. Out of 450 residents, only 12 were there. But I'm anxious to get back to our normal routine, our normal life. I run two nursery schools, and they've been running a week after the disaster. They're eight blocks from the World Trade Center. And we're just very happy to be together and able to continue a normal life.

HEMMER: Linda, do you think -- Emily, I will ask you. Do you understand what has happened here?

EMILY JOHNSON, BATTER PARK CITY RESIDENT: Yes. People hijacked the planes, and the World Trade Center fell.

HEMMER: Do you understand why, Emily?

JOHNSON: Because they weren't strong enough to stand up, because -- after the plane sliced them in half and just blew them up.

HEMMER: You are going to be strong enough from here on in, I'm sure.

JOHNSON: Linda, Emily, thank you much for sharing your story this morning, OK, and best of luck. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com