On September 11, 2001, terrorists used hijacked airplanes as weapons to attack the United States. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City. One plane flew into the side of the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers stormed the cockpit. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack.
In the aftermath, thousands of first responders converged on the sites of destruction, climbing through mountains of smoking debris and rubble in a race to find survivors. Ultimately, 8 EMS providers and 343 firefighters died that day and countless more have succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses from their time working at Ground Zero.
Read the stories of survivors, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents. To share your 9/11 story, email editor@ems1.com.
9/11 survivor and volunteer firefighter Rob Weisberg is supporting first responders and veterans and their service animals
The Beirut incident commander, Dr. Shawky Amine Eddine shares insights from the largest non-nuclear explosion in history
Why technology is the key to avoiding the next 9/11 and MCI preparedness
The law makes firefighters, cops and emergency service officers fatally sickened by the toxic debris pile eligible for the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor
FDNY EMT Felipe Torre , 54, succumbed to Ground Zero-related gall bladder cancer while under hospice care
A bipartisan group is asking their counterparts in Congress to permanently fund the program designed to help responders and other victims of the attacks
On the 17th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, agencies around the country are honoring the day with remembrance posts
Each year at ground zero, victims鈥� relatives infuse the ceremony with personal messages of remembrance, inspiration and concern
The federal government has hired Optum to operate a new clinic in Manhattan for survivors of the 9/11 attacks who have enrolled in an ongoing health program
FDNY EMT Jennifer Dougherty said she is shocked by Mayor Bill de Blasio鈥檚 efforts to block extended sick time for 9/11 responders
鈥淚 am glad that the committee heard this community鈥檚 concerns and acted to keep the World Trade Center Health Program working as is,鈥� Rep. Carolyn Maloney said
Joe Cruz, who retired after 25 years of service, received the medal in the mail after it had been sitting in a drawer ever since the attacks
Sen. Terrence Murphy said the bill is meant to help responders who were sickened by their efforts at Ground Zero get the help they need
The 5K will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which remembers those who lost their lives during the attacks and helps first responders
The comedian joined advocates opposing a proposal they said could threaten health care treatment for 9/11 first responders
Lawmakers say the impact would be dreadful for the more than 83,000 responders and survivors who rely on the WTC Health Program
FDNY EMT Salvatore Turturici was gifted the wheelchair by the Ray Pfeifer Foundation, which specializes in helping sickened first responders
Dr. Michael Guttenberg developed pancreatic cancer after helping with clean-up efforts at Ground Zero
The pension board told Michael Abramowitz that his asthma developed after Ground Zero cleanup was mainly caused by his weight
Record-setting number of climbers raises $110,000 for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at 2017 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in Green Bay
The responders will now be eligible for unlimited paid sick leave with full salary coverage
The memorial will be the first in the country that is dedicated specifically to EMS
Trump often lauds the bravery of New York police officers, firefighters and other emergency responders who rushed to the Twin Towers
Retired FDNY EMT Salvatore Turturici was gifted a motorcycle after wanting to ride one since his cancer diagnosis
Deborah Greenspan allegedly awarded millions of dollars in federal contracts to her own law firms from a fund meant to help those with 9/11 related illnesses
Ground will be broken on the memorial featuring a piece of World Trade Center steel on Sept. 10
Sabrina Payeur, who was an EMT on ground zero on 9/11, is running to raise money for police and veteran training across the nation
Clarence Wilburn II鈥檚 disease was thought to be a result of breathing the dust, smoke and ash at Ground Zero
The museum will be farther away from the World Trade Center memorial but with triple the space
Twenty-five high school students visited the museum thanks to local fire, police and EMS union members
Jamie Hazan, who has a service dog to help with his PTSD, said he has been turned away twice because of his dog
The 9/11 Commission said there鈥檚 a 鈥渓ikelihood鈥� that Saudi-government-sponsored charities funded the attacks
Aric Tegtmeier said he was inspired by his father鈥檚 sacrifice and wanted to continue his legacy
