World
Trade Center Attack Deployment, September 11, 2001
"As
a USAR Team search manager, Jersey City Fire Captain Jim Baston
recalls approaching the disaster scene with other volunteers.
'As we were walking down West Street, we were warned to keep
an eye on one building; they were worried about its stability,
the Easton town resident said. Seven World Trade Center fell
right before our eyes. A 47-story building. It just fell.
It really put a lot of things in perspective.' "
"Kathe
Conlon, 48 of Union, is a USAR nurse and first woman to join
the team. 'Most of the time I was at Ground Zero I went at
night,' she said. 'The site was lit up like broad daylight,
but the surrounding office buildings were completely black.
Every time I came around a corner and saw Ground Zero, it
took my breath away. It was a very sad situation, but I saw
thousands of people come together and help one another. It
gave you a tremendous sense of faith in mankind at the same
time.' "
The
Star Ledger, September 9, 2002 "Words and Deeds"
by Tom Hester
"I'll tell you, failure is not an option with these guys,"
says Task Force Leader Jim Reilly, 56, the retired New Brunswick
Fire Director.
"Task
Force One has five components: planning, logistics, search,
rescue and medical. All volunteers can cross components, except
into the medical one, if needed, say [Mike] Conlin, one of
two logistics managers."
"Task
Force One's advance team of or five can be on the scene of
any disaster statewide within 35 minutes, while a full team
of the minimum of 62 can be there within four hours,"
Riley says.
Asbury
Park Press, September 27, 2001, Task Force One Prepared for
the Unthinkable, by Joseph Sapia
"This is a highly trained, highly equipped and highly
motivated task force," Riley said. The people of New
Jersey need to know that if, God forbid, anything should happen,
we're coming to get them." Newark Star Ledger, October
5, 2001, "After 'Hell', Rescuers Regroup," by Tom
Feeney
"...the Task Force is self-contained for a 10-day period
...members brought to the Javits Center all the food, clothing,
protective equipment, communications equipment and shelter
they would need for their stay. The erected tents that could
sleep 20 inside the convention center, and they rolled out
mattress pads to sleep on...the City of Bayonne sent its decontamination
trailers which had showers hooked up to hot and cold water
for their use when they returned each day to the Javits Center."
Atlanticville,
October 4, 2002 Task Force One Was on the Scene Early, by
Sherry Conohan
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