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American Morning
America's New War: Families of Victims Applying for Death Certificates
Aired September 26, 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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Our Bill Hemmer on the ground in New York City dealing firsthand today with some of the families still trying to cope, still trying to understand -- Bill.
BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boy, John, you put your finger right on, trying to cope and trying to deal with the amazing reality we're seeing in New York City.
The filing today of the paperwork to expedite death certificates, such a grim reminder what happened in this city 15 days ago.
Lilianne Lopes (ph) is a counselor with the American Red Cross and she's joins us at this time.
You're here today to help as a counselor inside. How will you help and assist today, Lilianne?
LILIANNNE LOPES (ph) , AMERICAN RED CROSS: We will be providing support, help the people go to the various places that they need to go to get their forms filled out, to stay with them, sit with them, talk with them, to do whatever it takes to make them comfortable. That's mostly our function, and try to just grieve with them.
HEMMER: You said earlier that still at this point many people are still stunned and still are having a very difficult time accepting the possibility that their loved ones are gone.
LOPES: That's true. This is the stage that they go through where they are in denial. They are expecting them -- their loved ones to walk through the door. When the phone rings they expect them to be there. And it will be a long time, I think, with this particular disaster for them to understand what is really going on. It is going to be a long time.
HEMMER: Today, in a sense, is a first step for many. Would you not agree coming here and doing what they are doing with the death certificate?.
LOPES: This day will be the start for many families to begin the rest of their lives. And I -- it will be extremely difficult for them. But we have -- we're offering them a lot of help, I know, and hopefully they can get through that.
HEMMER: Other than time, what advice can you offer?
LOPES: For people who are close to families, I would suggest that they -- I think it is important for them to talk to the people who have lost someone and it's important to ask for those people and talk about those people by name and just say -- instead of saying, I'm really sorry you lost your husband, say, let's -- I'm really sorry you have lost, Robert. I think it's very important to put an identity to that person who was lost and not to isolate people.
HEMMER: You've got a tough job. I wish you luck, OK.
LOPES: Thank you.
Lilianne Lopes of the American Red Cross here on Manhattan's west side.
Officials yesterday had indicated today they could take 500 to 600 families alone, and this will continue on Thursday and Friday of this week.
Difficult for us to tell just how many families will show. We've seen a stream of lawyers come in, counselors and aide workers thus far today. Those lawyers working for free to help expedite this process.
It should also be pointed out that under normal circumstances in the state of New York to get a death certificate without proof of a body could take up to three years' time. This process, however, will enable them to get that paperwork done in about three days.
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