‘Part of History’

Local EMT Reflects on Ground Zero Experience 25 Years Later

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST
COOPERSTOWN

Twenty‑five years after the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, DC—a coordinated series of suicide attacks perpetrated by the Islamic terrorist organization al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001, killing almost 3,000 people and destroying the Twin Towers—former volunteer EMT Carrie Carney still remembers the moment she felt compelled to go and help.

“What moved me was the desperation of the situation—just all those people and firefighters losing their lives,” she said.

When her agency was contacted to send an ambulance so New York City paramedics could catch a break, she volunteered immediately. Her captain gathered names, and within a day, eight days after the attacks, Carney and her squad were selected to deploy to Ground Zero.

The drive south remains one of her most vivid memories.

“Every single overpass on Route 17 had people waving flags and signs that said thank you for your help,” she recalled. “It was overwhelming.”

Their first stop was Chelsea Piers, where ambulances from across the state lined up through the night. Volunteers slept in their vehicles until morning instructions came: move down the West Side Highway, get fitted for respirators at Stuyvesant High School, receive credentials, grab a meal from a McDonald’s trailer, and then report inside the perimeter.

Their assignment placed them between the Millennium Hotel and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Nothing could prepare them for what they saw.

“The smoke, the devastation, the noise…firefighters, electricians, cranes, construction workers—it was all surreal,” Carney said.

Snow fencing was being hung down the sides of damaged buildings to catch falling glass. In the church courtyard, a foot of ash, paper, plastic and debris covered the ground. St. Paul’s, remarkably, was the only structure within a six‑block radius that had not suffered damage.

Carney and her team were tasked with remaining available in case anyone on “the pile” was injured. They rotated shifts—walking the perimeter, eating, resting—while ensuring someone always stayed with the ambulance. Protective gear was essential.

“There was a lot of smoke, so we had to have our respirators on at all times,” she said.

Hard hats and steel‑toed boots were mandatory due to falling debris.

Carney worked alongside squad members she had known for years: Bob Satriano, Dan Butler, Wolfgang Merk, Jeremy Preston and Lisa Bonin.

“We supported each other by watching out for each other…keeping each other positive about what we were doing,” she said.

Three encounters have stayed with Carney. The first was with a New York Fire Department lieutenant who told her she could photograph the site, but never the firefighters. The second came when they transported a man who had breached the perimeter to St. Vincent’s Hospital. Outside the building, the back wall was covered with photos of missing loved ones, handwritten notes, candles and flowers.

“It was very emotional,” Carney said.

The third happened at a diner on the way home, where strangers offered to buy team members their meals and thanked them repeatedly for volunteering.

At the time, Carney didn’t think the experience affected her emotionally. But months later, at a first‑responder dinner at The Otesaga, she and fellow volunteer Wolfgang Merk realized they had been showing signs of mild PTSD.

“It wasn’t prevalent unless you talked to fellow members who had been down,” she said. “It was hard not to be affected.”

The experience changed her.

“I became more aware of how precious life can be and how necessary it is to help wherever you can,” Carney said.

She kept her respirator, hardhat and photos in a plastic tote, not for preservation, but because they represent her place in history.

“I was there. I saw what happened. I hope we never have to see anything like that again,” she said.

Carney believes the public memory of 9/11 has faded.

“People have gotten more complacent…like Pearl Harbor,” she said. “People forget that people are still dying from the effects of being at Ground Zero.”

Carney’s reflections carry a message that resonates far beyond her own experience. The sacrifices made by volunteers, first responders and survivors should never be forgotten or diminished. The attacks were not just a historical event; they reshaped families, communities and the country itself. Their impact continues to echo through generations, including those who were not yet born at the time.

Carney’s story underscores the importance of remembering not only the tragedy, but the unity that followed. In moments of crisis, people came together to help one another. Her experience is a reminder that such unity is possible, and that honoring the memory of 9/11 means recognizing the humanity, courage, and sacrifice shown in its aftermath.

“We were part of history,” Carney said. “And we should never forget what happened.”

This article was updated on 09/11/2026.