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American Morning

America's New War: Families of Victims Gathering at Pier 94 in Manhattan

Aired September 26, 2001 - 11:20   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: Right now in New York there is a dreaded pilgrimage going on, leading thousands of families to the water's edge.

A family assistance center has been established at Pier 94 for those who lost loved one at the World Trade Center attacks.

CNN's Bill Hemmer joins us with a glimpse of the emotional and logistical help that is now on hand.

Hi, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Paula, good morning again.

Emotional indeed. Since the past hour that we've talked we've seen several families come by here and head inside of the area known as Pier 94 on Manhattan's west side, and the reaction we're getting is very interesting. Several families, the greater majority I would say, bypass or cameras and continue to walk in. But for those, the few who stop and talk, we talked with one couple who lost their daughter, and they say she was on the 95th. We know where that plane in and we don't anticipate her body ever coming back to us at this point, considering the fact that it's been 15 days later.

Still others, several others, are still holding out hope that the missing may come back.

We talked with a Red Cross counselor here who says, at this point, many are still trying to come to grips with the reality that when they sit at home, they're still waiting for that door to knock or the phone to ring, and perhaps their missing loved one will be on the other side of that door or that telephone.

We also met a guy name Luis Perez just a few minutes ago, a short time ago. He came here not to file the paperwork for a death certificate, rather to express his interest and his desire once again to tell people that he is still holding on to hope that his sister, 23-years-old, on the 59th floor of Two World Trade center, will indeed come back. We talked to him a short time ago. His hope was obvious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUIS PEREZ, BROTHER OF VICTIM: For me and the whole family it's been been very, very rough. It's just waiting for that home phone call right now. We did everything possible as far as e-mailing this postal to everybody, we went to almost all the hospitals; faxes, phone calls, we're still praying. We're still praying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: I asked him also what he thought about the mayor's comment from yesterday, saying it would indeed be a miracle if anyone were found alive inside the World Trade Center buildings, and he said, that's exactly what he is holding on to, the possibility of a miracle at this point.

Attorneys, many of them, up to 70, working for free to help expedite the paperwork here, are working inside, and they started just about 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time this morning, a little bit more than two hours ago. They say that under the current law, this is indeed the quickest way to expedite that death certificate, which is so critical for so many trying to get bank accounts and life insurance forms and trying basically to fulfill their obligations to pay their bills. So many with rent to pay and mortgage payments and electricity bills, things like phone bills. Again, they need access to that money in order to get these bills met at this time.

And again, they're told to bring a marriage license, bring a birth certificate, bring proof that the one you're -- for whom you are missing indeed was at the World Trade Centers back on the 11th of September.

It is a grim task for many, Paula, but for many, also, it is the first step in getting on with their lives -- Paula.

ZAHN: A slow painful step.

All right, thanks, Bill.

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